Measuring winter precipitation with snow cover water accumulation in mountainous areas

Precipitation variability in mountainous regions is much bigger, than it is possible to con-clude from data of a few meteorological stations in this area. There are big differences between windy sides, lee sides and the valleys. During winter, when snow precipitation prevails, snow accumulates on ground as snow cover, which enables us to see the variability of precipitation on small scale. Results of research-ing snow cover give us more precise data and show us new facts about precipitation variability in Julian Alps and their surroundings and in Karavanke

The importance of water accumulation of snow cover measurements in mountainous regions of Slovenia

Snow cover is a frequent phenomenon in Slovenia and even in the lowlands of the interior regions, it can last for several weeks. The properties of snow and winter weather after the snow cover has formed, determine the load of snow upon houses, trees and other objects. Water accumulation of snow cover (WASC) gives us the amount of water in snow and therefore also the weight of snow. Deep snow cover can soak its own melting water from the surface, so WASC does not decrease as fast as one would conclude from the intensity of melting. WASC is also a good indicator of winter precipitation where precipitation stations are rare and precipitation gradients are big. The researches carried out in the winter 2005/2006 showed that precipitation in the central part of the Bohinj ridge in the Slovenian Julian Alps, was about 50% higher than at its northern edge, where the meteorological station Vogel is located

Latent cooling of atmosphere as an indicator of lowered snow line: Case study from Planica and Vrata valleys

A lowered snow line in Alpine valleys as a local weather phenomenon often varies from one valley to another. The relief morphology of the valleys and the intensity of precipitation play a crucial role in the variation. In Slovenia certain valleys are more susceptible to this phenomenon than others, one such example being the Planica Valley. This article examines the occurrence of a lowered snow line in the Planica Valley and the Vrata Valley during the winter seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. Precipitation events accompanying the occurrence of a lowered snow line were analyzed, and data on temperature and precipitation were included in the analysis. Results showed a striking degree of congruence of the phenomenon in both valleys

Klimatske promjene i budućnost zimskog turizma u Sloveniji

Climate changes are affecting many activities in modern society all over the world. In Europe, the Alps are among the most affected regions, where rises in temperature and snow lines (Kohler, Maselli, 2009) and changed distribution of precipitation have already brought changes in society. Alpine tourism has undergone changes due to warmer and greener winters, so ski areas face lack of profit, some have even stopped operating, while others have changed their strategy and shifted their offer to all-year activities instead focusing only on winter (Vrtačnik Garbas, 2008). In Slovenia, most of the ski slopes lie at very low elevations compared with other Alpine countries, so most of these centres are even more endangered by global warming. The article focuses on climate trends in the Slovenian mountains, especially in the ski season months, from December to March.Klimatske promjene utječu na niz aktivnosti modernog društva diljem svijeta. U Europi, Alpe su jedno od područja najviše zahvaćenih klimatskim promjenama, gdje su povišene temperature i snježne linije (Kohler, Maselli, 2009) i izmijenjena raspodjela padalina već dovele do društvenih promjena. Alpski turizam doživio je promjene zbog toplijih, zelenih zima, tako da su skijaška područja suočena s manjim profitima. Neka su prestala s radom, dok su druga promijenila svoju strategiju i prebacila se na pružanje usluga tijekom cijele godine, umjesto orijentacije isključivo na zimu (Vrtačnik Grabas, 2008). Većina skijaških padina u Sloveniji nalazi se na nižim uzvisinama u usporedbi s ostalim alpskim državama, pa je većina tih centara još više ugrožena globalnim zatopljenjem. Ovaj se članak fokusira na klimatske trendove u slovenskim planinama, posebno tijekom skijaške sezone, od prosinca do ožujka

COVID-19 impact on daily mobility in Slovenia

The Slovenian subsample (n=415) of an international online survey about changes in daily mobility during the COVID-19 outbreak in the spring of 2020 was analysed from a  geographical perspective. The dataset was split into three spatial classes (urban, transitional and rural) according to the respondents’ place of residence. People’s behaviour before and during the COVID-19 lockdown was compared and analysed in terms of commuting frequency, changes in mode choice for commuting and style of grocery shopping. The results show that commuting was reduced drastically during the lockdown while the car remained the main transport mode both for commuting and shopping, especially in rural areas. The study provides an unprecedented insight in travel behaviour changes due to the pandemic and congruously argues for improved transport policies to meet climate change and public health challenges

Primerjava poletne onesnaženosti zraka z dušikovim dioksidom v Ljubljani med letoma 2005 in 2013

V Ljubljani je glavni vir onesnaževanja zraka z NO2 promet, zato se prispevek osredotoča na prometno obremenjevanje zraka v treh različnih tipih mestnega prostora: urbanem ozadju, na odprtem prostoru ob cestah in v cestnih koridorjih. Predstavljene so tudi meritve koncentracij prečno na glavno cesto. Prispevek primerja rezultate meritev NO2 v Ljubljani v merilnih obdobjih poleti 2005 in 2013 ter skuša pojasniti vzroke za razlike v obsegu onesnaženosti različnih tipov mestnega prostora in pomemben upad koncentracij v vseh obravnavanih tipih

Long-Term Assessment of Bioclimatic Conditions at Micro and Local Scales in the Cities of the Western Part of the Balkan Peninsula during the 21st Century

Thermal comfort assessments at local or micro-scales within urban areas can provide crucial insights for the urban adaptation strategies pertaining to climate-conscious urban planning and public health. However, the availability of long-term or mid-term daily or hourly meteorological data sets from urban environments remains a significant challenge even in the 21st century. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the thermal conditions in cities across the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, encompassing five countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro), by utilizing the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) index. Meteorological data sets, comprising air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and cloudiness, were collected from 32 national meteorological stations/measurement locations spanning the period from 2001 to 2020. The PET calculations were conducted based on meteorological data measured three times per day (7 a.m., 2 p.m., and 9 p.m.). Upon conducting a spatial analysis of the meteorological stations, it was observed that most of them (25 stations) were situated within built-up areas or urban suburbs, rendering them highly relevant for local or micro-scale climate and bioclimate assessments. The findings revealed that urban locations exhibited slightly higher PET heat stress levels, particularly during the summer season and at 2 p.m. Moreover, higher average PET values were observed in both urban and non-urban stations situated within a continental climate during warmer periods, such as summer. In contrast, during the colder seasons, namely winter and spring, higher PET values were prevalent in the Mediterranean region. Furthermore, the PET frequency analysis revealed a greater prevalence of extreme and severe heat stress levels in stations within continental climates, particularly those located in urban areas, as compared to stations in Mediterranean climates. In contrast, during the winter and spring seasons, monitoring stations in close proximity to the Adriatic Sea, characterized by a Mediterranean climate, exhibited significantly lower levels of cold stress compared to inland stations. Evidently, in addition to the climatic characteristics and surrounding terrain, the urban morphology significantly impacts the thermal conditions within cities

Predhodno poročilo o raziskovanju minimalnih temperatur v mraziščih pozimi 2004/2005 = Preliminary report about measuring extreme nocturnal temperatures in concave relief shapes in winter 2004/2005

Temperature conditions in concave relief shapes differ very much from the conditions thatare known as typical for Slovenia. Processes of nocturnal cooling in radiative type ofweather are more intensive, relief shape enables undisturbed and strong cooling until morning,which results in big temperature differences in relation to area outside the relief shape.Experimental results made in winter 2004/2005, confirmed that when right meteorologicalconditions are fulfilled, temperatures in such relief shapes are much lower than in areaswhere absolute minimums measured within the national observing service net

Blaž Komac, Karel Natek, Matija Zorn: Geografski vidiki poplav v Sloveniji

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Minimalne temperature v slovenskih mraziščih v zimi 2006/07

Člani Slovenskega meteorološkega foruma, Oddelka za geografijo Univerze v Ljubljani in Gozdarskega inštituta Slovenije smo v letu 2004 pričeli z meritvami v slovenskih mraziščih. Mreža meritev se je v obdobju 2004-2006 razširila, z meritvami pa smo nadaljevali tudi v zimi 2006/2007. Meritve so potekale v več kot 30 mraziščih dinarskega, alpskega in tudi submediteranskega sveta. Kljub mili zimi 2006/2007, so temperature v mrazišču Hribarice padle pod -35°C