Biothermal conditions on Mt. Zlatibor based on thermophysiological indices

This paper presents part of the research in the field of human bioclimatology and refers to biothermal conditions in different geographical environments in Serbia: an urban area and a mountain of medium height. The goal of the paper was to show bioclimatic differences during the summer between the city of Belgrade (116 m a.s.l.) and the mountain resort of Zlatibor (1498 m a.s.l.). The basic principle of bioclimatic analysis is the human heat balance between man and environment. This methodological approach is a combination of physiological and meteorological parameters that result in thermophysiological bioclimatic indices: heat load (HL) in man and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). For this analysis, weather data for July, as the warmest month, was obtained, using daily meteorological data for the decade from 2000 to 2010. Results for July indicate a considerable difference between the two abovementioned environments. HL in Belgrade was dominated by degrees of comfort "hot" and "extremely hot, with the highest value of 4.540, while for Zlatibor the dominant degree of comfort was "warm". The UTCI in Belgrade has dominated by strong heat stress and moderate heat stress, compared to Zlatibor where the UTCI is dominated by moderate heat stress. In addition, a significant part of the monitored decade on Mt. Zlatibor was without heat stress, with the exception of 2006 and 2007, indicating favorable biothermal characteristics. Therefore, compared to Belgrade, with its considerably lower overall heat stress Zlatibor has the characteristics of a site with favorable bioclimatic qualities

Zečeva ledenjača - ledenica na Romaniji

Our article describes cave Zeceva ledenjača, located on the southern slopes of the mountain Romanija. This cave is form of pit (a cold speleological object of a static ice pit type). Earlier it was known of ice exploitation, which was (until its artificial production) pulled out of the cave and delivered to hospitals, caterers and butchers in Sarajevo. The paper presents basic geographic, speleomorphological and morphometric characteristics of this cave, including its plan.Rad se odnosi na pećinu Zečeva ledenjača, koja se nalazi na južnim obroncima planine Romanije. Pećina pripada tipu ledenica i snežanica. Ranije je bila poznata po eksploataciji leda, koji se do veštačke proizvodnje istog, vadio iz pećine i prodavao bolnicama, ugostiteljima i mesarima Sarajeva. U radu su predstavljene osnovne geografske, speleomorfološke i morfometrijske karakteristike pećine i priložen je njen plan

A new genus and a species of trechine ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae) from the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

A new genus (Punctoduvalius gen. n.) and a species of trechine ground beetles (Punctoduvalius orlovacensis sp. n.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been described and diagnosed. Punctoduvalius gen. n. is clearly distinct from all other phenetically close genera in many important respects, such as: the presence of depigmented reduced eyes, the presence of a pigmented eye border, the presence of deep and complete frontal furrows, the presence of tiny setae on the genae, the presence of distinct longitudinal fissures on the protibias, the ratio of length/width of the first protarsal article in males, the presence of two elytral discal setae, the presence of numerous setiferous punctures in interstrial spaces, the specific position of the humeral setae, and the specific shape of the copulatory piece. This new genus comprises four species: Punctoduvalius pilifer (Ganglbauer, 1891) (endogean from Mts. Treskavica and Bjelašnica, and from a cave on Mt. Visočica, Bosnia and Herzegovina), P. protectus (Winkler, 1926) (from the Pećina kod Ostojića Cave, Mt. Treskavica, and endogean from Mt. Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina), P. brevipilosus (Knirsch, 1927) (endogean from Lupoglav Peak, Mt. Prenj, Bosnia and Herzegovina), and P. orlovacensis sp. n. (from the Orlovača Cave, village of Donje Biševo, near Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina). The four species clearly differ in many important respects. The following three taxonomic changes are proposed: Punctoduvalius pilifer (Ganglbauer, 1891), comb. n., P. protectus (Winkler, 1926), comb. n., and P. brevipilosus (Knirsch, 1927), comb. n. The new genus and its members belong to an old separate phyletic lineage, distinct from all other existing species groups. Additionally, these forms are relict and endemic to the deep soil and caves of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Environmental Suitability of the City of East Sarajevo for the Location of Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Site Using a GIS Based Multi-Criteria Analysis

World production growth affected a rise in the amount of waste generated. In these circumstances proper waste management becomes a highly important issue. The protection of the environment from degradation requires a multi-dimensional approach to this problem. Integration of multicriteria decision making with the geographic information systems provides a useful methodology and a helpful instrument in waste management, particularly in the assessment of environmental suitability for the location of municipal solid waste disposal sites. Multidimensional approach is realized through analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in the determination of sub-criteria and criteria values and final site selection. Geographic information systems (GIS) provide spatial data input and give an insight into final result of the decision-making process. Integrated methodology is applied in suitability analysis of the City of East Sarajevo for the location of municipal solid waste disposal site (MSWDS). Ten criteria were evaluated through pair-wise comparison matrices and suitability map was obtained using weighted linear combination algorithm in GIS. Extracting high suitability area, the largest locations were evaluated through AHP according to ten criteria and final site selection was made. The results indicate high applicability of integrated multi-criteria analysis and GIS methodologies for coordination of decision-making process in spatially oriented issues of environmental management

Thermal assessments at local and micro scales during hot summer days: a case study of Belgrade (Serbia)

Increasing thermal risk in cities is endangering the health and well-being of urban population and is driven by climate change and intensive urbanization. Therefore, if we plan to enlarge the capacities of cities to be more climate resilient in the 21st century, more detailed monitoring of urban climate on local and micro scales is needed. For this research we performed two microclimate measurement campaigns in urban area of Belgrade, during hot summer days in 2021. In total, five measurement sites were chosen in different urban designs and different local climate zones (LCZs). For thermal monitoring (air temperature – Ta and globe temperature – Tg) the Kestrel heat stress tracker sensor with 1-min measurement resolution was used, but we used 10-min average values. Obtained results showed distinct thermal differences (up to 7 °C on average) between densely built-up areas and green areas. Differences between built-up LCZs are lower with values from 2 to 4 °C. Important part of this research was microclimate monitoring on sites within the same LCZ (intra-LCZ variability). Results showed that shadows and short- and longwave radiation play a paramount role in thermal variability. Direct and reflected radiations on one measurement site increased Ta up to 6 °C and Tg up to 12 °C when compared to other measurement site (in a similar urban design), which was in the shadow

Thermal assessments at local and micro scales during hot summer days: a case study of Belgrade (Serbia)

Increasing thermal risk in cities is endangering the health and well-being of urban population and is driven by climate change and intensive urbanization. Therefore, if we plan to enlarge the capacities of cities to be more climate resilient in the 21st century, more detailed monitoring of urban climate on local and micro scales is needed. For this research we performed two microclimate measurement campaigns in urban area of Belgrade, during hot summer days in 2021. In total, five measurement sites were chosen in different urban designs and different local climate zones (LCZs). For thermal monitoring (air temperature – Ta and globe temperature – Tg) the Kestrel heat stress tracker sensor with 1-min measurement resolution was used, but we used 10-min average values. Obtained results showed distinct thermal differences (up to 7 °C on average) between densely built-up areas and green areas. Differences between built-up LCZs are lower with values from 2 to 4 °C. Important part of this research was microclimate monitoring on sites within the same LCZ (intra-LCZ variability). Results showed that shadows and short- and longwave radiation play a paramount role in thermal variability. Direct and reflected radiations on one measurement site increased Ta up to 6 °C and Tg up to 12 °C when compared to other measurement site (in a similar urban design), which was in the shadow

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

GEOECOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE ORLOVAČA CAVE

Speleological tourism in the world has a long tradition. Тhe environment of the karst underground has long attracted nature lovers, various researchers and tourists. Orlovača cave is one of the largest and most beautiful cave systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Srpska. Accordingly, in order to evaluate the tourist values of this locality, geoecological evaluation is applied by method of recreational potential and appraisal. The results should indicate the importance of cave tourism on the domestic and international markets, as well as preserving the environment in locality

Informational Technology in Bioclimate analysis of Visegrad for health spa tourism

Previous studies of the health spa resorts have included just balneo analysis. Spas and health resorts ha changed the concept of treatment. The earlier concept was included only long-term treatment and recovering old people and people with diseases. Today, spas and health resorts are based on prevention of illness. They promote service for people of all ages regardless of health status. Natural curative factors such as mineral water, healing mud, healing gases, healing climate (air bath) are important for the treatment of many diseases, recovery after injury illness, stress, prevention and recreation. This paper try to give a biclimatic analysis of the Visegrad in order to point up recreational value of this therapeutic spa. The subject of this paper is analyses of equivalent temperature, comfort zones and zones of stuffiness that are processed on the basis of the meteorological data for thirty years (1961-1990) observation in town of Visegrad. We use software with related database created by authors

Informational Technology in Teaching Geography and Exploring Orlovaca Cave

A typical karst terrains are characterized by largely Republic of Srpska what Speleological indicate different phenomena, which are not fully explored. One of the Speleological facilities of the Srpska is cave Orlovaca. It is located near Pale and Sarajevo, only a kilometre from the regional road and is easily accessible. This cave system with over 2,500 m to the channel now respondents is most tested, complex cave system in the territory of the Republic of Srpska. The aim of this paper is to explore cave using Geographical Information System and to present the results to our students using modern educational technology