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Erythropotamos is a tributary of river Evros and during the last decade its drainage basin flooded many times, causing extensive damage on properties. In order to assess flood susceptibility in the aforementioned study area, the inundated areas of floods that occurred in 2010, 2017 and 2018 were initially delineated with the aid of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery by applying an established flood delineation methodology. Subsequently, flood susceptibility mapping was conducted for the study area by applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Topographical, hydrological and meteorological factors were used and each one of them was classified into three (3) flood susceptibility categories (low, medium and high). The determination of the importance for each factor over the others, which is the main objective of this research, was decided according to the proportion of the 2010 inundated area, captured by ENVISAT/ASAR imagery, which intersected with each factor's high susceptibility class. Finally, the resulting flood susceptibility map was validated according with the inundated areas of the 2017 and 2018 flood events, captured by SENTINEL - 1 A/B imagery, indicating that approximately 60% of both of these areas intersected with the map's high susceptibility zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on geographical urbanonyms in Ukraine - names of streets, squares, lanes, etc. that refer to the names of other geographical objects like cities, regions, countries, or continents. It shows the role of geographical urbanonyms as a powerful instrument used by political regimes to shape political identity by constructing and legitimizing borders between "us" and "them" at different spatial scales. The analysis revealed a significantly higher presence of geographical urbanonyms in Ukraine compared to former state socialist countries in Central Europe. The widespread presence of street names related to the former USSR proves the absence of post-Soviet decolonization in semiotic space, going beyond the pure decommunization, in the majority of Ukrainian cities since 1991. Regional differences in the dynamics, distribution and structure of geographical urbanonyms in Ukraine are explained by the historical, cultural and (geo)political divisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the integration process of Russian immigrants into Czech society. The integration of immigrants into Czech society is a key topic in the public debate as well as a political issue. Ukrainians, Slovaks, Vietnamese, and Russians are the most numerous groups within the half-million migrant population. Czechia is therefore predominantly attractive to non-EU immigrants. Representing highly educated and financially well-secured migrants who come as entire families, the Russians are distinct from other Eastern European immigrants. However, various factors hinder their integration. The article discusses the factors that shape symbolic and social boundaries in this integration process: (1) the development of Czech-Russian relationships that have been influenced by dramatic past events, (2) the representation of Russians in Czech media, (3) their specific socio-economic status, and (4) Czech immigration and integration policies. Negative experience, socio-economic inequalities, strict implementation of immigration policies towards third-country immigrants, and an unfavourable media discourse affect the attitudes of the majority toward the Russians and limit meaningful encounters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study regional development trends in the Czech region of West Bohemia through the application of the core-periphery concept. In particular, we focus on the peripheral areas of West Bohemia, the development and differences between its core and periphery, and on the processes of peripheralization. We have used both 'scalar' and 'vector' indicators in the hierarchical cluster analysis. It revealed selective convergent and divergent trends of the core and periphery, in which the peripheralization takes place through the geographic expansion of existing peripheries rather than through the emergence of new isolated peripheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines downstream grain-size trends in gravel bars, a typical feature of natural gravel-bed rivers, from two neighbouring heavily channelized rivers: the Lubina River and the Ondřejnice River draining the Czech part of the Outer Western Carpathians. It aims to examine the effects of the grade control structures, significant tributaries, and lateral sediment inputs on the downstream fining trends. Additionally, the relationship between the channel width and the grain sizes in bars was analysed, as well as the depositional trends in frontal, central and distal parts of the examined gravel bars. The Ondřejnice River has, in most cases, higher D50 and median values of grain size of bar sediment and a higher downstream reduction coefficient (D50 = 0.033 mm km-1; D84 = 0.036 mm km-1) than the Lubina River (D50 = 0.026 mm km-1; D84 = 0.032 mm km-1). These intense reduction trends in the grain size are often observed in single and multiple-threaded rivers in the Western Carpathians. On both rivers, the predominant deposition of the highest D50 was detected in the central parts of the bars, and the wider channel widths often corresponded with finer sediment deposition in the Lubina River. The disruption of the downstream fining corresponded in some cases with the frequent grade control structures. However, in most cases, the downstream fining trends were not affected. A tributary and adjacent hillslope area could be possibly linked to the disruption of the downstream fining trend in the Ondřejnice River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents results of the research focused on reading assignments in geography teaching. The approaches of Czech geography teachers to reading assignments are explored by using the method of grounded theory. Altogether 22 teachers from secondary school participated in the research. The typology of teacher approaches and the identification of factors that influence the teacher's inclusion of reading assignments in the disciplines was developed. The teachers' attitudes show that their preferences in the general notion of (not only) geography are reflected, and that the constructs of their beliefs or personal theory play an important role. These factors can take on both supportive and limiting forms, depending on the context that is shown in the article with the aid of a paradigmatic model. The results are situated in relation to the teacher's professional learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution presents a brief overview of investigation and monitoring methods which may help to detect and localise deep-seated rock slides in the surroundings of reservoirs. The identification and localisation of critical slopes and ancient/pre-existing rock slides in the early stage of a project (i.e. feasibility study) is essential to avoid endangering the planned infrastructure project and if necessary, adapting the project. The knowledge about deep-seated rock slides has increased over the decades. In particular, new insight was gained about rock slide geometry, kinematics, temporal deformation behaviour, hydrogeology and geomechanics. Major technical and methodical improvements have been made in recent years concerning the successful application of terrestrial and airborne based remote sensing tools to measure 2D/3D slope deformations on surface and to develop high-resolution digital terrain models for detailed geomorphological-geological mapping and geological-geometrical model design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes the results of the research focused on the realization of the cross-curricular subject Environmental Education (CCSEE) at elementary schools (pupils' age 6-15 years) in Czechia. The introduction of cross-curricular subjects into the Czech educational system is linked to curricular reform and it has been implemented in Czech schools since 2007. CCSEE is one of the six currently implemented cross-curricular topics. The main objective of the present study is to determine which school subjects are involved in its implementation. The study was conducted through an internet questionnaire and responses were received from 640 schools. Data were processed by basic statistical methods. A school typology depending on the subjects involved in implementing EE was developed with the help of cluster analysis. The research shows that EE is implemented through most subjects, but their representation varies considerably for individual schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the 2003-2019 electoral data, this article evaluates the level of pro-Europeanness in Czechia and Slovakia at the regional and sub-regional levels during and after their EU accession period. The TOPSIS multi-criteria evaluation method and cluster analysis were used to quantify the pro-European levels and to create the subsequent categories of territorial units. The results show support for the ideas of European integration primarily in large urban regions (Prague, Brno, Bratislava, Košice), territorial units with a higher concentration of ethnic minorities, larger scale agricultural activities (southwestern Slovakia), and a high degree of religiosity (northeastern Slovakia). The low level of pro-Europeanness was predominant in the less developed north-western Czechia and parts of Moravia. In Slovakia, the Eurosceptic regions were mostly located in the northwest, where the values of statism, egalitarianism and nationalism have a strong tradition. This approach can be used to identify areas of weak support for the EU project at a spatially disaggregated level in other EU countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attendance belongs to the basic quantitative indicators, which are used for assessment of the offer in the tourism. It should be used for monitoring of development, geographical structure, seasonality and from interpretational view also for monitoring of achievement or failure. This paper discusses, emphasizes and evaluates the very current topic of methodological differences in the data collection of tourist attractions attendance. The work focuses especially on the subtopic of annual passes on the example of zoos, which belong to the most visited tourist attractions worldwide and where the sale of annual cards is a typical service. Nevertheless, this article proves on the example of the zoos in German-speaking countries that the rise of attendance does not only have to show the reality. The total number of visits and the positive attendance development is in some zoos connected to the methodological approach.

Morphometric Terrain Analysis was successfully applied in different sectors of environmental studies. However, other disciplines, such as archaeology, might also profit from spatially distributed high-resolution terrain information. In this paper, we show how detailed topographic analysis and simple hydrological modelling approaches help to explain complex terrain pattern and to assess geohazards affecting archaeological sites. We show that Melka Kunture, a cluster of Pleistocene sites in the Upper Awash valley of Ethiopia, is affected by flooding and erosion/sedimentation processes. Moreover, we identified paleo-landscape features, such as changes in drainage pattern and evidences of tectonic activity. The topographic indices indicate especially a different paleo-drainage pattern with a lake or palustrine environment in the upstream areas. Furthermore, a different drainage of the paleo-lake via the Atabella tributary is likely and might be also stressed by the dimensions of the lower Atabella valley with quite large cross sections not corresponding to the present-day drainage situation.

The paper focuses on the territorial differentiation of socio-economic development of Poland between the years 2002-2014 and on geographic patterns of this differentiation at the level of Polish subregions (NUTS 3). Nine partial indicators entering the composite indicator and also the average base index are applied. The analysis of the socio-economic development of the subregions along the directional east-west gradient, rural-urban concentric gradients (around big cities) and the sub-bands of subregions along the border of Poland with the surrounding countries is used to explain the observed differentiation. Polish subregions underwent considerable development between 2002 and 2014, but the territorial differentiation of their development changed only partially. The big Polish cities and also their suburban subregions have the best position of all; the worst are still the rural subregions of eastern Poland and the inner peripheries of Poland. The directional east-west gradient, the rural-urban concentric gradients, as well as the higher development of subregions along the German, Czech and sea borders were confirmed.

This paper analyzes push and pull factors of eventual secondary school student´s outmigration from the micro-region of Bystřice nad Pernštejnem in the Czech inner periphery in the light of presupposed depopulation trends and manifestations of peripherality and marginality. The outmigration affects primarily the micro-region's centre while small rural settlements as a whole exhibit a population growth. The lack of prestigious and well-paid jobs and limited cultural activities, entertainment, and sports appear to be the main push migration factors. Possible solutions to this situation are limited and should include efforts to strengthen the relationship of the local population to the territory, to maintain the good quality of the environment, and to enhance the feeling of personal safety. It is argued that similar motivations can be expected in the majority of Czech peripheral micro-regions.

This contribution advances knowledge of contemporary Moldovan migration and is the first comparative description of the situation of Moldovans in Czechia and Italy. Our specific objective is to review evidence about how the concept of the migration-development nexus applies to the Moldovan situation. In the absence of comparable primary data on Moldovan migration our research design uses mixed methods and triangulates data from Moldova and across the main destinations for Moldovan migration, including Italy and Czechia. In addition to confirming prior research on the significance of remittances to the Moldovan economy since 1991, we report three additional findings. First, Moldovan migrants, particularly women who may work as domestic workers are often invisible and undercounted. Second, Moldovan migration is rapidly diversifying, with new destinations, selectivities, and forms and modes of mobility. Third, the global economic recession of 2008 had different implications for Moldovan migration patterns to and from Czechia and Italy. We conclude with a specific call for research that extends the migration-development nexus by examining social remittances and the mobility and labour strategies of Moldovan family reunifiers. The paper also argues for availability of robust data that would allow comparative analysis of international migration and could better support evidence-based debates about migration.

The Eger (Ohře) River terraces originated in varied morphotectonic and climate-morphogenetic conditions that existed during the late Cenozoic evolution of the western part of the Bohemian Massif. In the area between the Smrčiny Mountains and the Sokolovská pánev Basin, these levels of the Eger River terrace system were identified (Table 1): the Pliocene terrace niveau B, the Cheb terrace (I), the Hradiště terrace (II), the Chvoječná terrace (III), Jindřichov terrace (IV), Nebanice terrace (V), Chocovice terrace (VI), Chotíkov Terrace (VII) and the recent flood plain (N). It was determined to be a morphostratigraphical system of 7 river terraces of Quaternary age. Older levels of fluvial sediments, occupying a still higher morphological position in the area between the Smrčiny Mountains and the Sokolovská pánev Basin, have been classified to the Pliocene. A comparison of terrace flights in the longitudinal profile of the Eger River between the Smrčiny Mountains and the Doupovské hory Mountains indicated that the Cheb terrace (I) in the Smrčiny Mountains is tectonically uplifted around 10 m in comparison with its level in the Chebská pánev Basin. In the Chlumský práh Horst area, the oldest Pleistocene terraces, which originated during the Tiglian stage, were uplifted by approximately 15 m. The Chebská pánev Basin originated at the intersection of the Eger rift and the Cheb-Domažlice fault zone and its river network is incised ca 40 m into the planation surfaces of the sedimentary basin. Both volcanic processes and frequent seismic activity in the region are associated with the Late Cenozoic tectonic movements. According to the current stratigraphical scheme of the Quaternary, the Eger terrace system was formed mostly by the Pleistocene (Table 2) during the Tiglian to the Weichselian stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of proximate determinants in moderating fertility decline is well documented in developing countries. In Zimbabwe, however, there is a limited understanding of the role of proximate determinants on fertility levels and trends. This study aimed to examine the role of proximate determinants of fertility (namely marriages, postpartum infecundity and contraception) using the Bongaarts proximate determinants model. The impact of these determinants is studied on a sample of married women aged 15-49 years' and corresponding cross-sectional data obtained through the six consecutive Zimbabwe Demographic Health Surveys (ZDHSs) hold in 1988, 1994, 1999, 2005 and 2015. The results reveal that the overall fertility declined from 5.4, 3.8 and 4.0 children per woman observed among 1988, 1999 and 2015 ZDHSs, respectively. This change was caused by the contraceptive inhibitive effect, which correspondingly increased from 3.00 to 4.65 and 6.45 children per woman. The fertility stalling observed in 1999 and after that is caused by postpartum infecundity and marital fertility inhibition which decreased with time. Moreover, contraceptive inhibition effect increased with education, wealth quintiles, and urban residence. In contrast, marital and postpartum infecundity fertility inhibition effects inversely correlate with education, wealth quintiles, and the place of residence. Therefore, to foster further fertility decline to replacement level, policies should promote contraceptive adoption, more extended breastfeeding periods and delay entry into early marriages. Furthermore, women empowerment, especially the promotion of female education to higher education and female employment, could be useful tools to further fertility decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphometric analysis of lineaments, valleys and signs of erosion taken from a digital elevation model (DEM) made it possible to not only confirm most of the conclusions of the morphotectonic development of the Blue Nile Basin from the previously published results of structural, petrological, tectonic and geochronological analyses, but also to expand our knowledge by applying several new hypotheses. The relative age of the morpholineaments of particular directions was estimated from the character of topographic profiles. Faults, lineaments and valleys are predominantly oriented in a direction compatible to the published concepts of the tectonic development of the area. Overall, the most abundant NE-SW and NNE-SSW lines reflect a change of extension from a NW-SE to WNW-ESE direction during the Pliocene, in relation to the creation and development of the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). This is confirmed by a more developed character of the valleys and less pronounced erosion activity of the NE-SW oriented valleys contrary to the deeper narrower NNE-SSW valleys characterised by downward and headward erosion in the second direction. The most pronounced morphological manifestations of the E-W extension of the MER and western Afar during the Quaternary are confined to the borders of the MER. The directions of the Pre-Neogene rift structures to the NW-SE and WNW-ESE are compatible with the oldest elements of the current landscape and with the relict fragments of the valley network on the SE boundary of the upper Blue Nile Basin, which could have been drained across current shoulders of the MER to the S and E before the Late Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents results of the field mapping of abandoned lands in the administrative district of the city of Kutná Hora in the Central Bohemia, comprising 7 cadastral territories stretching over a total area of 33 square kilometres. Field mapping on the scale 1 : 10,000 was effectively corrected on the basis of the intepretation of detailed aerial photographs. The present survey provides a simple typology of all mapped areas of abandoned lands according to their origination, age and the character of their current vegetation communities. The results confirm a high diversity and relatively high share of abandoned lands in suburban landscape. They cover more than 17% of the surveyed territory and can particularly be found on the outskirts of the city, forming a transition from cityscape to rural landscape. They originated in all 3 defined time periods: before 1990, 1990–2000 and after 2000. Post-agrarian categories represent more than 63%, post-mining 10% and post-industrial 8% of all abandoned lands. The lands have crucial ecological and social functions. Their mapping and documentation can form an interesting basis for nature and landscape protection, as well as for the territorial and landscape planning. Mapování a typologie nevyužitých ploch na území města Kutná Hora V administrativním obvodu města Kutná Hora, který zahrnuje 7 katastrálních území o celkové ploše 3318 ha, byly zmapovány všechny plochy, které více než 2 roky leží ladem a nejsou obhospodařované. V práci je provedena jednoduchá typologie mapovaných ploch podle jejich vzniku, stáří a charakteru současných společenstev. Mapování, klasifikace a následná kvantifikace potvrdily relativně vysoký podíl a značnou rozmanitost nevyužívaných ploch v příměstské krajině. V mapovaném území bylo zjištěno celkem 566,6 ha nevyužívaných ploch, tj. více než 17 % z jeho celkové rozlohy (tab. 3). Rozdíly mezi jednotlivými katastrálními územími jsou způsobeny jejich odlišným reliéfem, historickým vývojem a současným způsobem využívání krajiny. Menší podíl nevyužitých ploch je v zemědělských katastrech Neškaredice, Perštejnec a Poličany, zřetelně vyšší je v typicky příměstských katastrech, z nichž Kaňk a Sedlec byly nejvíce poznamenány hornickou činností. Opuštěné plochy vznikaly ve všech 3 vyčleněných časových obdobích: před rokem 1990, 1990–2000 i po roce 2000. Opět se odlišují zemědělské katastry Neškaredice, Perštejnec a Poličany, v nichž většina opuštěných ploch vznikla již před rokem 1990 z důvodu jejich nevhodnosti pro socialistickou zemědělskou velkovýrobu. Vysoký nárůst nevyužívaných ploch na katastrech Kutná Hora a Sedlec v období 1990–2000 souvisí s rozpadem státního statku, opuštěním části sadů a rybízových plantáží i s restitucemi zemědělské půdy vlastníkům, kteří nemají zájem na ní hospodařit. Podle geneze převládají postagrární opuštěné plochy, které dohromady tvoří přes 63 % nevyužívaných ploch. Nevyužívané plochy se v krajině zatím stále rozšiřují a zaujímají významnou část sledovaného území. Nacházejí se především na periférii města a tvoří přechod od městské k venkovské krajině. Některé nevyužívané plochy směřují svým vývojem k zapojeným lesním porostům, jiné si po desítky let uchovávají lesostepní charakter. Tyto plochy jsou nejcennější z botanického hlediska, vyskytují se na nich některé chráněné stepní druhy rostlin. Mají důležité ekologické, ale také sociální funkce. Jejich mapování a dokumentace může být zajímavým podkladem pro ochranu přírody a krajiny, územní a krajinné plánování.

Although sediment transport in the uppermost parts of mountain basins may be supply- limited, bedload transport in small torrents represents a potential hazard during extraordinary floods. The authors attempt to review recent worldwide research of bedload and hydraulics the results of which could potentially be applied in local steep channels. Approaches to the calculation of flow resistance (Manning relationship, logarithmic and power-law relationships) and critical conditions of the incipient motion of a bed particle (critical shear stress, stream power, flow velocity and discharge) are closely discussed in order to describe hydraulic and bedload transport conditions in steep headwater streams. Difficulties are pointed out in connection with the estimation of critical conditions of bedload transport in headwater streams with poorly sorted bed material and more or less developed bedforms. In the second part of the paper the authors present two pilot studies from the Western Carpathians and test potential applicability of specific formulas in this region. Results of the formulas point to relatively nonselective character of bedload transport during high magnitude floods in Beskydian headwater streams. An important role is played by the intensity of sediment delivery to active channels in limited sediment-supply conditions. The authors also point out that a majority of bedload transport and flow resistance equations were originally created on the basis of flume experiments or they were tested in Alpine torrents and therefore it is supposed that they might work well in local torrents after being calibrated to local conditions. Dnový transport sedimentů a drsnost koryt bystřinných toků – úvod do problematiky v kontextu horských povodí středoevropského regionu Dnový transport sedimentů v bystřinách představuje potenciální riziko během mimořádných povodňových událostí i přes často omezenou dotaci sedimentů do horských segmentů toků. Autoři přistoupili ke zhodnocení současného stavu poznání problematiky hydrauliky bystřinných toků a kritických podmínek pro počátek transportu dnových sedimentů v těchto tocích. Podrobněji jsou popsány přístupy vyjádření vztahu drsnosti koryt vzhledem k rychlosti proudění (Manningův vztah, logaritmický a mocninný rychlostní profil) a kritické podmínky pro uvedení klastu o určitých rozměrech do pohybu (kritické tečné napětí, jednotkový výkon toku, rychlost proudění a jednotkový průtok). Vzhledem k velké variabilitě koryt vysokogradientových toků, ať už z hlediska heterogenity dnových sedimentů nebo výskytu dnových forem (stupně, tůně), je obtížné tyto kritické podmínky přesně determinovat. Ve druhé části textu jsou prezentovány dvě pilotní studie z oblasti Západních Karpat, ve kterých byly mimo jiné testovány některé z výše uvedených vztahů a zhodnoceno jejich použití pro tento region. Bylo zjištěno, že většina testovaných rovnic může být uplatněna ve zdejších bystřinách, byť některé z nich je třeba přizpůsobit místním podmínkám. Výsledky rovněž poukázaly na relativně nezávislý charakter dnového transportu sedimentů z hlediska rozměrů přeplavených valounů a balvanů během mimořádných povodní, kdy i velmi drobný tok (A < 1 km2) dokáže během takové události transportovat téměř všechny velikostní frakce dnového materiálu. Velmi významný je i vliv přímé donášky materiálu do aktivního koryta vzhledem k faktu, že horské segmenty toků jsou většinou chápány jako systémy s nízkou dotací sedimentů.

One of main topics of interdisciplinary project NIVA – Water Retention in Floodplains and Possibilities of Retention Capacity Increase is the assessment of flood wave transformation in the floodplain. The project focuses on broad field of floodplain ecosystem services and flood mitigation is a phenomenon which is researched by the team from Czech Technical University from different points of view and using different methods. Despite the fact that the main influence on flood wave transformation is flow retardation due to the flow velocity decrease, the retention in surface depressions within floodplain has been analyzed to get better overview of whole transformation process. Detailed digital relief model (DRM) has been used for given purposes to be able to analyze terrain depressions volumes. First, the methodology of analysis was prepared and tested on artificial surface. This surface was created using random raster generation, filtration and resampling with final resolution of 1,000 × 1,000 units and height of maximum 10 units above datum. The methodology itself is based on analysis of areas inundated by water at different elevation levels. Volume is then calculated for each depression using extraction of terrain elevations under corresponding water level. The method was then applied on the area of Lužnice River floodplain section to assess the retention capacity of real floodplain with natural character which usually means higher surface retention capacity in comparison to trained rivers. Results obtained from above mentioned analysis applied on Lužnice river are presented in this paper. The importance of floodplain retention capacity for flood transformation is low as results from obtained values. Stanovení retenční kapacity niv řeky Lužnice Předmětem článku je odvození a popis metody pro stanovení retenční kapacity niv založené na aplikaci prostředků GIS. Metoda vychází z analýzy digitálního modelu terénu. Prezentována je aplikace na úsek toku řeky Lužnice mezi Suchdolem nad Lužnicí a dopravníkem mezi pískovnou SV od Nové Vsi nad Lužnicí a silnicí č. 103. Délka tohoto úseku činí cca 9 km nivy. Na základě zjištěných výsledků se prokázal prvotní předpoklad, že retenční kapacita nivy nemá u toků takovéto velikosti příliš velký význam, jelikož celkový potenciální retenční objem je velmi malý ve srovnání s objemy povodňových vln pro doby opakování 20 a 100 let, které byly pro posouzení získány od Českého ústavu.

In contrast to the swiftly expanding set of studies devoted to the knowledge sources for high-tech industries in highly developed regions, the aim of this paper is to provide insights into the geography of knowledge sources of low-tech industry in the European semi-periphery. Czech outdoor equipment producing firms are primarily SMEs, often based on a tradition of homemade manufacturing from the period of state socialism. Nevertheless, some of them now compete on a global market. Qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with the company owners/managers was applied. The results show a significant role of global temporary clusters for enhancing competitiveness of low-tech firms competing in mature markets. In the case of Czech outdoor equipment industry, the “global buzz” at international trade fairs is accompanied by the informal networks of relationships stemming from the climbers’ community in times of state socialism. Geografie zdrojů znalostí českých výrobců outdoorového vybavení: klíčová role dočasných klastrů a národní sítě neformálních vztahů Na rozdíl od rychle rostoucího souboru studií věnovaných geografii zdrojů znalostí v high-tech průmyslu ve vysoce rozvinutých regionech se tato práce zaměřuje na geografii zdrojů znalostí lowtech průmyslu v prostředí Evropské semi-periferie. České firmy vyrábějící vybavení do přírody jsou především malé a střední podniky, často založené na tradici domácí výroby z období komunismu. Některé z nich však nyní soutěží na globálních trzích. Musely tedy nezbytně udělat obrovský skok kupředu v oblasti konkurenceschopnosti během relativně krátké doby. Tento článek se proto zaměřuje na strategie, které tyto firmy použily pro dosažení vyšší konkurenceschopnosti a na roli různých zdrojů znalostí. Jádrem metodologie byl kvalitativní výzkum založený na polostrukturovaných rozhovorech s vlastníky či manažery firem. Výsledky ukazují na velký význam „nad-regionálních“ zdrojů znalostí pro konkurenceschopnost low-tech firem ležících mimo jádrové oblasti daného průmyslu. Nejvýznamnější identifikovaný zdroj znalostí, „globální bzukot“ na mezinárodních veletrzích, je v případě českých výrobců outdoorového vybavení doplňován sítí neformálních vztahů založených na sociální blízkosti „lezců ze staré školy“, kteří za socialismu představovali relativně malou komunitu, avšak s velmi výraznou vnitřní identitou.

Suburbanization is the most typical process that defines the development of urbanized areas in Central and Eastern Europe. However, in Ukraine, except for the largest cities, suburbanization processes seems to be underestimated. This paper is trying to estimate the actual extent of suburbanization in Ukraine, find out the relationship between the city size and the development of suburbanization, as well as evaluate successfulness of the common urban evolution theories in explanation of empirical evidence from one of the largest Eastern European countries. Analysis is based on the data on migration dynamics in urban cores, peri-urban areas and hinterlands of 66 cities with a population of over 40.000 located in 22 regions of Ukraine. It was found out that suburbanization processes in Ukraine are extremely widespread and define general course of current urban dynamics. Migration growth of peri-urban area comparing with main city and hinterland is observed in majority of studied cities (68%), including all cities with population over 100.000. The dependence of the stage of urban evolution from the city size appears to be rather statistical than absolute. In general, larger population corresponds with the further progression of cities in their evolutionary path and, consequently, with greater probability of suburbanization as the main or additional process. Despite of some regional specifics and irregularities, we may see a high correlation between identified stages of urban evolution and common theoretical models. Verification of these conclusions can be done through further in-depth research of certain cases.

Aim of the paper is to describe methodology for calculating significance of environmental factors in landslide susceptibility modeling and present result of selected one. As a study area part of a Jemma basin in Ethiopian Highland is used. This locality is highly affected by mass movement processes. In the first part all major factors and their influence are described briefly. Majority of the work focuses on research of other methodologies used in susceptibility models and design of own methodology. This method is unlike most of the methods used completely objective, therefore it is not possible to intervene in the results. In article all inputs and outputs of the method are described as well as all stages of calculations. Results are illustrated on specific examples. In study area most important factor for landslide susceptibility is slope, on the other hand least important is land cover. At the end of article landslide susceptibility map is created. Part of the article is discussion of results and possible improvements of the methodology.

This paper deals with the occurrence of hydroclimatic extremes in the upper Hron River basin in Slovakia in 1951/61–2010. Select trends in hydroclimatic parameters in 1931/61–2010 are also studied. Emphasis is placed on the occurrence, frequency, and seasonality of dry episodes and flood events. The de Martonne index, the relative precipitation index, base flow index, low flow index, linear regression, the Mann-Kendall test and IHA software were used in the analyses. Mann-Kendall test pointed to significant changes in runoff of the upper Hron River basin. The annual runoff has decreased. Changes in minimums and maximums have had a fundamental influence on this decrease, particularly in the cold half year. Major changes occurred in Q1, QMax, Q75pct and 1-day, 3-day and 7-day maximum values. Approximately since the 1980s there has been a decrease in discharge events equal to or greater than one-year flood Q1. Events where discharges were equal or greater than Q5 occurred only in the first period 1951–1980 (in 1954 and 1974). The de Martonne index, the relative precipitation index and the low flow index show similar results, the longest aboveaverage period of annual values reached from 2007 to 2010 and the longest below-average period from 1990 to 1993.

Supraglacial lakes greatly affect the rate of glacier ablation and a potentially dangerous (GLOF – Glacier lake outburst flood) proglacial lake often forms through their development. The main part of the paper recapitulates the factors of the formation and drainage of supraglacial lakes, as well as the mechanisms of their development through a review of the scientific literature. In total there are five factors of the formation of supraglacial lakes and four factors (three of them alternative to one another) of the drainage. Three factors delimit the maximum extent of the emergence of supraglacial lakes, two of them determine the detailed distribution of localities suitable for hosting supraglacial lakes. The circumstances leading to the drainage mainly reflect the decisive role played by englacial voids. According to the current degree of scientific knowledge there are no factors controlling the development of supraglacial lakes. The complete process of the expansion of a supraglacial lake may be viewed as a positive feedback loop consisting of three major mechanisms. In the final part all of the factors are provided with quantitative intervals responding to the respective probability scales, which enable a relatively objective assessment of the probabilities of formation/drainage of supraglacial lakes. The most frequent application is the case of the assessment of the probability of the formation of a large supraglacial lake, due to its likely development into a proglacial lake.

The study examines the relationship of the inhabitants of socially and geographically distinct areas (regions) of Czechia and their relation to regional identity. That is understood as identifying oneself with the region where the inhabitants live, however, we also examine the relationship to hierarchically differing territorial levels. The research was conducted at a regional level, by means of a questionnaire survey, demographic and sociological analyses. Four regions are defined in the study, according to the nature of their environment (devastated, recreational, suburban, and landscape types). The study monitored the population's identification with a region, or regions of higher orders (NUTS, Czechia, EU, etc.). It was found that the type of landscape has an important role for regional identity, together with some other socio-economic and cultural aspects of the population. The research results have generally confirmed the hypothesis about the impact of selected variables on regional identity. However, the hypothesis about the impact of the natives has not been fully confirmed. The highest values of the identification with the region have been detected in agricultural and suburban landscapes. The devastated landscape turned out to be the worst. When monitoring the hierarchy, it is possible to see the decrease of identity with a growing scale. Therefore, Europe and the EU ended up being the worst. The research is carried out on the example of Northwest Bohemia - Ústí Region, which represents a significantly differentiated space with different types of landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined tourists use and perception of public transport services in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. It strived to find out factors that influence their level of satisfaction with public transport services. Data were collected from a study of tourists using a self-rating questionnaire with an intercept survey at chosen tourist sites in Lagos. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis and discriminant function analysis. The results depict that tourists were not satisfied with public transport services in the city of Lagos. Principal component analysis results identified five underlying components - accessibility, journey comfort, traveling security, traveling information, and customer services − that impact on tourists' contentment with public transportation services. The study recommended extensive improvement of public transport systems that will enhance satisfaction of tourists and help to address tourists and local users' problems of using public transport systems get to their destinations in the city of Lagos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andean highland ecosystems (known as paramos) have a great potential to store water and organic carbon, which fulfill the inherent functions associated to the regulation of carbon and water cycles, characteristics linked to their parent material (volcanic ash). However, paramos are at high risk of degradation associated with land use dynamics that affect organic carbon quality in the surface soil. Changes in vegetation cover, with transition from natural forest to tillage and then pasture, make the soil vulnerable to degradation by compaction, erosion, and carbon dioxide emissions associated with increased anthropogenic activity. Despite this cover change, information on soil carbon dynamics in paramos is scarce, impeding conservation management strategies in these ecosystems. This study evaluates the impact of different soil uses within a transect in the Guerrero paramo estimated from soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in the upper meter and carbon condition (expressed as stratification ratio, SR) in the surface soil. Carbon storage varied from 165.2 to 721.9 t ha−1 in the upper meter of soil with SR1(0-10/10-20cm) between 0.92 and 2.01 and SR2(0-10/20-30cm) between 0.99 and 2.05. Results of this study highlighted that in the fragile ecosystems than Andean paramos, the geomorphological position in relation to soil uses and management practices conditioned soil carbon availability, affecting pedogenetic processes. SR of SOC associated to anthropogenic intervention activities it does not indicate by itself C sequestration. In future researches it is necessary include additional parameters than net primary productivity and historic vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a fungal inoculation on the litter decomposition in three plantations of avocado (Persea americana) cv. Hass in Colombia at different altitudes (Támesis 1340 m, Jericó 1900 m, and Entrerríos 2420 m). These processes are key in the proper functioning of soil biogeochemical cycles. The litter was either uninoculated or inoculated with the fungus Mortierella sp., then transferred into litter bags and finally deposited in the field sites where remained for 430 days. Residual dry matter (RDM) and nutrient content was monitored overtime. Five regression models of litter decomposition were employed: single, double, and triple exponential models and two continuous models. Although, all models properly fitted the data variation, the double exponential was the most effective based on regression parameters (mean square error and Akaike index). In all three sites the rate of decomposition was higher when the litter was inoculated with the fungus. Thus, the RDM was significantly lower when the litter was inoculated with Mortierella sp. At day 430, the uninoculated RDM in Tamesis, Jerico, and Entrerrios was 0.48, 0.47, and 0.50, respectively; while the inoculated RDM was 0.47, 0.44, and 0.46, respectively. The rate of decomposition followed the decreasing sequence: Jericó > Támesis > Entrerríos. The nutrient release pattern was: K > Ca > Mg > N > P > Cu > Mn > Zn > Fe. While K was rapidly released, Ca, Mg, and N were slowly released; P, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Fe were immobilized during the decomposition process. However, fungal inoculation on the litter significantly reduced the magnitude of nutrient accumulation for P, Mg, S, Mn, and Zn. This effect was variable overtime and among sites. Litter N and P contents and the N:P ratio were good indicators of the decaying process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates interregional inequality among Macedonian regions in the period 2008-2014 by employing statistical measures of regional inequality, including the coefficient of variation, Gini coefficient of concentration and Theil index. Regional inequality is analyzed by using socio-economic indicators, namely the GDP per capita, registered unemployment rate, gross fixed capital formation and entrepreneurial activity. The results show the changing interregional inequality at the level of NUTS 3 regions. The strong polarization between Skopje Region and the rest of the country is the most remarkable feature of regional development in Macedonia between 2008 and 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the 2014 revolution, a massive renaming of toponyms related to the communist ideology took place in Ukraine. The results of this renaming help understand the essentiality of Ukrainian delayed post-socialist and post-colonial transition and, in particular, national and regional identities that Ukrainians are going to build, and ideology that local and national authorities are going to impose. This study covers the 36 largest cities in Ukraine with a population of more than 100,000 and focuses on the new street names that appeared as the result of de-communization. It was found that in south-eastern Ukraine, the renaming strategy was targeted to avoid the commemorative names, especially those related to military-political events and personalities, as well as to depoliticize urban toponyms, by using non-commemorative categories of street names, like topographical or poetic ones, or restoring the historical toponyms. On the contrary, new toponyms in western and central Ukraine reflect the legacy of the national liberation movements of the 20th century. However, urban toponyms in the most eastern regions, including Donbas, continue to retain close links with the Soviet period. The memory of the Cossack era and Ukrainian Peoples Republic seems to be the well-perceived and common-shared strata of national identity. At the same time, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and the Soviet legacy remain topics dividing the Ukrainian society. The street renaming process in post-revolutionary Ukraine shares some common characteristics with other post-socialist European countries, such as the appeal to the pre-socialist period in order to reinforce the national identity, replacement of political and military place-names with those related to local and national culture and heritage, and the increased importance of local and regional toponyms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infiltration of water into the soil is a necessary parameter for irrigation systems design. Characterizing its spatial behavior allows a site-specific management of water according to soil conditions and crop requirements. The aim of this study is to establish the spatial distribution of infiltration in an Andisol by means of two geostatistical approaches: on the one hand by means of functional kriging, taking as input infiltration curves (obtained after a smoothing stage), and on the other hand by using classical ordinary kriging on the parameters of the Kostiakov and Phillip models. The comparison between these methodologies is carried out taking as a criterion the sum of squared errors of a leave-one-out cross-validation analysis. The results show a high correlation between observations and predictions (R2 values around 99%), which indicates that the use of functional geostatistics in this context could be a good alternative. Moreover, from a descriptive point of view, we can point out that the contour maps of basic infiltration (BI), cumulative infiltration (Ci), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and sorptivity (S) obtained with the observed data, as well as the predictions by functional geostatistics, show a very similar behavior, which empirically validates the use of this methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last quarter century, women's reproductive behaviour underwent a marked change in Czechia. The 2011 census showed a fall in cohort fertility below two children per woman by the end of her reproductive span. Factors behind changes in fertility, particularly from a cohort perspective, have not been sufficiently analyzed. The aim of this article is to determine the main factors influencing cohort fertility in Czechia. The main objective is to test the impact of the most frequently discussed factors of fertility at the individual level. The analysis is based on anonymised individual-level data from the 2011 Czech Population and Housing Census. We used the method of causal modelling to monitor the impact of various factors on cohort fertility. It was confirmed, that the key factor behind fertility levels was the marital status (married women are more likely to become mothers than single women). Other important factors included woman's income (a higher income raises the chance of remaining childless or having only one child) and achieved educational level (the level of childlessness increases as the level of education rises). Future fertility rates in Czechia will depend mainly on the extent to which university educated women will be capable to reconcile work and family life in order to fulfil their reproductive ambitions. By analysing the differences in cohort fertility among various population groups and identifying the factors that may affect fertility levels across these subpopulations, it is possible to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms behind changes of reproductive behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the proportion of immigrants among the inhabitants of today’s cities is growing, they have to find and form new bonds and social relations once established in their new place of residence. Their integration into the majority society can be significantly facilitated by policies implemented in their favour by local governments. This paper evaluates and compares the practices in two different French regions: in the capital of Paris and in the towns of the rural region of Basse-Normandie. The research has shown that the attitude of town halls in the cities studied is significantly influenced by the size of the immigrant population, how long it has been in the city and its composition, as well as by the political persuasion of the city leaders. The most striking difference between national level policy and that implemented in daily practice was found in the city of Paris. In the region of Basse-Normandie there was also a statistically significant correlation between the helpful attitude of the city government to the immigrants and the activity of immigrants themselves, as shown by the number of local non-profit organizations founded by immigrants. The French experience can serve as a lesson and an inspiration for cities in other parts of world.

This paper compares suitability of multispectral data with different spatial and spectral resolutions for classifications of vegetation above the tree line in the Krkonoše Mts. National Park. Two legends were proposed: the detailed one with twelve classes, and simplified legend with eight classes. Aerial orthorectified images (orthoimages) with very high spatial resolution (12.5 cm) and four spectral bands have been examined using the object based classification. Satellite data WorldView-2 (WV-2) with high spatial resolution (2 metres) and eight spectral bands have been examined using object based classification and per-pixel classification. Per-pixel classification has been applied also to the freely available Landsat 8 data (spatial resolution 30 metres, seven spectral bands). Of the algorithms for per-pixel classification, the following classifiers were compared: maximum likelihood classification (MLC), support vector machine (SVM), and neural net (NN). The object based classification utilized the example-based approach and SVM algorithm (all available in ENVI 5.2). Both legends (simplified and detailed ones) show best results in the case of orthoimages (overall accuracy 83.56% and 71.96% respectively, Kappa coefficient 0.8 and 0.65 respectively). The WV-2 classification brought best results using the object based approach and simplified legend (68.4%); in the case of per-pixel classification it was the SVM method (RBF) and detailed legend (60.82%). Landsat data were best classified using the MLC (78.31%). Our research confirmed that Landsat data are sufficient to get a general overview of basic land cover classes above the tree line in the Krkonoše Mts. National Park. Based on the comparison of the data with different spectral and spatial resolution we can however conclude that very high spatial resolution is the decisive feature that is essential to reach high overall classification accuracy in the detailed level.

This paper summarizes the results of research focused on the evaluation of anthropogenic impacts on the formation and process of the flood. The HEM-F methodology, partially modified and supplemented by identifying potential risk parts which during the floods could complicate the water convection, was applied on part of the Bílina River. During mapping were evaluated selected reaches of the Bílina River, and determined watercourse characteristics and the degree of anthropogenic river alterations. The conclusions of the research indicate that more than 50% of the river length shows no significant risk factors that could have influence on the development and flood events.

In this paper, we put together the most important facts that lead to the research on chernozem. Thanks to the work of V. V. Dokuchaev (1846–1903), chernozem stands at the forefront of pedology. In 1883, Dokuchaev introduced the first concept of chernozem: he defined chernozem as a steppe soil with pedogenesis dominated by a dry continental climate and steppe vegetation, with calcareous parent material. Chernozem is a soil well known for its high agronomical potential; therefore the perception of chernozem as something extraordinary valuable goes back far into history. Our review presents the key factors of the pedogenesis of chernozem by explaining the causes of the high stability of its organic matter and the role of vegetation and fauna in this process. Moreover, it shows that chernozem can have many aspects due to various (a) textures, (b) chemical compositions, (c) influence of water, (d) fauna, or (e) anthropogenic factors. We examine the position of chernozem in numerous national and international soil classifications over time. We have found out that chernozem had been classified, according to its properties, as a “steppe soil”, as a “calcic soil” or as an “isohumic soil”.

Flooding is a natural phenomenon that occurs with varying intensity and at irregular time intervals. Floods are the natural disasters that pose the greatest direct threat to the Czech Republic. They may cause serious critical situations during which not only extensive material damages are incurred, but so too is the loss of human life in affected areas as well as vast devastation of the cultural landscape including environmental damages. The information issued by flood forecasting services about the character and size of flood areas for individual N-year flood discharge events and specific flood scenarios is important for eliminating the potential threats and consequences of such events. Hydrodynamic models provide an adequate image of depths and flow velocities at the longitudinal or cross profiles of the watercourse during a flood event. This is why information obtained from hydrodynamic models occupies a privileged position from the viewpoint of protecting human life and mitigating property damage. Altimetry data are the basic input into hydrodynamic models. One way to obtain such data is through the method of aerial laser scanning (ALS) from the digital terrain model (DTM). This method is considered one of the most accurate methods for obtaining altimetry data. Its major drawback is however its inability to record terrain geometry under water surfaces due to the fact that the laser beam is absorbed by the body of water. The absence of geometric data on watercourse cross sectional area may perceptibly affect results of modelling, especially if the capacity of a missing part of the channel represents a significant cross sectional area. One of the methods for eliminating this deficiency is sufficiently calculating channel depth by means of software tools such as CroSolver. This paper deals with the construction of a hydrodynamic model using fifth generation DTM data and compares outputs from this model at various discharges with a model based on the altimetry data modified using CroSolver. Outputs from the two hydrodynamic models are compared using HEC-RAS software with the use of depth estimate data and with the use of the unmodified DTM. The comparison is done on two watercourse reaches with different terrain morphology and watercourse size. A complementary output is the comparison of inundation areas issuing from both model variants. Our results indicate that differences in the outputs are significant, namely at lower discharges (Q1, Q5), whereas at Q50 and Q100 the difference is negligible with a great role played by the morphology of the modelled area and by the watercourse size.

This paper presents preliminary results of an assessment of the groundwater – surface water (GW-SW) interaction processes of the Lužnice River floodplain during a selected time period, comprising high and low stream flow. It analyses various events that reflect the spatial and temporal variations in water flows to and from the floodplain. Hydrological exchange processes in the floodplain of a groundwater – surface water system are studied on the basis of an experimental site. The chosen study area comprises a c. 10 km long section of the Lužnice River floodplain, located in the south part of the Czech Republic. Water stages in Lužnice River were continuously measured with limnimeters installed upstream, downstream and in the middle of the floodplain length. Five boreholes were drilled along a transect perpendicular to the river to monitor the water table fluctuation in the floodplain. Water level variations of a wetland pool, located at the floodplain left margin in the transect were also continuously recorded. The results indicate that observed groundwater levels are closely associated with the river flows and the assessed reach was gaining most of the time. Downstream flood wave attenuation was not observed during the period of the highest flows due to the large lateral subsurface inflow contribution. Hodnocení hydrologické interakce mezi řekou a okolní nivou na příkladu středního toku Lužnice Článek prezentuje předběžné výsledky hodnocení hydrologické funkce údolní nivy a věnuje se analýze faktorů, ovlivňujících interakci povrchové a podzemní vody. Studovaným územím je přibližně 10 km dlouhý úsek přirozené nivy Lužnice na jejím středním toku. K hodnocení vlivu přirozené údolní nivy na hydrologický režim hlavního toku byly v zájmovém území během roku 2008 instalovány automatické hladinoměry s dataloggery. Ty zaznamenávaly vodní stav na třech místech v řece, dále na jejím jediném povrchovém přítoku ve studovaném území, v nivní tůni a hladinoměry byly též osazeny i vrty v okolní nivě a přiléhající terase, kde monitorovaly výšku hladiny podzemní vody v transektu přibližně kolmém na hlavní tok. Úhrn srážek spadlých na studovaném území byl měřen instalovaným srážkoměrem. Vodní stav na Lužnici byl v zájmovém území monitorován na horním (vstupním) profilu, dolním (závěrovém) profilu a přibližně uprostřed území – v místě příčného transektu. Pro hodnocení vlivů okolní nivy byly srovnávány průtoky řeky na horním a dolním měrném profilu během vybraného období od května do září 2009. V průběhu tohoto období došlo k dlouhodobému zaplavení údolní nivy. Během vysokých vodních stavů na Lužnici prošly územím tři povodňové vlny, u nichž byly analyzovány změny jejich kulminačních průtoků po průchodu sledovaným územím a jejich postupová doba. Vzhledem k vysokým denním úhrnům srážek ve sledované oblasti a jejím okolí během nástupu povodňové vlny došlo k výraznému zvýšení hladiny podzemní vody v terasách lemujících nivu a velký hydraulický spád k nivě a ke korytu řeky měl za následek silný podpovrchový přítok do nivy a eliminaci zdejších retenčních kapacit. To se na dolním profilu projevilo zvýšením kulminačních průtoků u všech tří povodňových vln a zkrácením jejich postupových dob. Ke zřetelné transformaci průtokové vlny tak ve sledovaném období došlo pouze počátkem srpna, kdy se během vybřežení toku plně projevila retenční kapacita a hydraulická drsnost údolní nivy. Specifický je hydrologický režim nivních mokřadů a tůní v nivě, které nad poměrně dobře propustným kolektorem vytváří díky kolmataci dna, a tedy velmi nízkým koeficientům filtrace, stropní izolátor freatické vody. Teplotní režim toku a podzemní vody v nivě indikuje změny v jejich vzájemném hydraulickém spojení. Pro přesnější hodnocení vzájemné hydraulické interakce toku a okolní nivy je nezbytný dlouhodobý monitoring a analýza delších časových řad. Nicméně je zřejmé, že retenční potenciál nivy a její vliv na transformaci povodňové vlny je při vyšších průtocích zřetelně omezený.

This paper describes the evaluation of the anti-erosion effect of vineyards, represented by the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), covermanagement factor (C factor), and support practice factor (P factor). The calculations are based on measured soil loss data. The erosion and deposition rates were evaluated from aboveground vineyard poles as their exposure lengths change between the year of vineyard plantation and the year of measurement. The lengths increased on the erosion areas, because the soil had been washed away. On the deposition areas the poles had been covered by soil, so the exposed lengths for aboveground poles decreased. The measurements were taken in Horný Ohaj vineyards, which belong to the Vráble viticultural district. The calculations were based on a comparison between the measured erosion, and the erosion modelled with USLE model. The cover management factor was evaluated for ploughed vineyard. Different C factor values were substituted to the USLE until the root mean squared error between measured and modelled data was minimal. The support practice factor for hoed and rotavatored vineyard was calculated simultaneously. The cover-management factor was determined to 0.692. The support practice factor for ploughed vineyard is 1.000, for hoed vineyard is 0.586, and for rotavatored vineyard is 0.719. Výpočet protierozního účinku vinic na základě naměřených údajů – případová studie z vinohradnického okrsku Vráble (Slovensko) Vinohrady Vrábelského vinohradnického rajónu, který patří do Nitranské vinohradnické oblasti, jsou vysazené na sprašových půdách Hronské pahorkatiny. Výzkum intenzity půdní eroze a depozice ve vinohradech byl realizovaný v letech 2008 a 2009 na úzkopásových soukromých vinicích v katastru obce Horní Oháj, severovýchodně od města Vráble. V předložené studii je hodnocena míra eroze, respektive protierozní vliv vegetačního krytu a způsobu obhospodařovaní vinohradů, jako hlavní faktor pro erozní modely založené na univerzální rovnici ztráty půdy (USLE ). Protierozní účinek vinic byl hodnocený porovnáním naměřených hodnot intenzity eroze a depozice s hodnotami zjištěnými pomocí erozního modelu půdy USLE . Intenzita eroze a depozice byla měřena změnou nadzemní výšky viničních sloupů způsobenou odnosem půdy na erozní části svahu a akumulací na depoziční části svahu. Do modelu USLE byly vloženy různé hodnoty faktoru vegetačního krytu (C faktor) a vlivů protierozních opatřeni (P faktor), až byla dosažena minimální střední kvadratická chyba mezi naměřenými a namodelovanými údaji. Tímto způsobem byl vypočítán faktor protierozního vlivu vegetačního krytu vinic a zpracování půdy orbou, pomocí rotavátoru a okopáváním. Vinice snižují erozi přibližně o čtvrtinu v porovnání s půdou nechráněnou vegetací (hodnota vegetačního faktoru je 0,692), orbou po spádnici se eroze nesnižuje (hodnota faktoru protierozní opatření je 1,000). Okopáváním lze snížit erozi takměř o polovinu (hodnota faktoru je 0,586), protierozní účinek zpracování půdy pomocí rotavátoru je nižší (hodnota faktoru je 0,719).

The article aims to describe changes in the ways people in developed countries spend their free time and the associated impacts on free time and tourism industries. The first part of the paper is devoted to general trends and theoretical concepts. The second part compares German and Czech societies and shows the impact of changes in the utilization of free time on free time and tourism industries in Germany and Czechia. Data acquired from public surveys in both countries were used for this comparison. Average household expenses for particular services and products, provided by the German and Czech Statistical Offices, were used as a second primary data source. Změny ve způsobu trávení volného času v Německu a v Česku Článek se věnuje problematice způsobu a změn v trávení volného času obyvatel vyspělých zemí a jejich dopadů na průmysl volného času a cestovního ruchu. První část je věnována obecným trendům a teoretickým konceptům. Druhá část je zaměřena na porovnání německého prostředí s českým a naznačení konkrétních dopadů změn v trávení volného času na průmysl volného času a cestovního ruchu. Pro zpracování této části byla využita data vycházející z průzkumů volného času mezi obyvateli obou zemí a data o spotřebním chování obyvatel. Hlavním přínosem studie by měla být určitá predikce vývoje ve zkoumané oblasti a naznačení dalších možných směrů výzkumu.

In this paper, we discuss environmental injustice in relation to residential segregation in Czechia. First, we pay attention to the concepts of environmental justice, social justice and residential segregation and their mutual relations. The core of our argument revolves around the case study of a segregated Roma community that was resettled by the municipal authority from an old dilapidated inner city block of flats to newly built housing on the industrial edge of the town and to isolated peripheral villages. We document multiple situations of environmental injustice and multiple causalities and contingencies in their production. Procedural injustices directly shaped by the public sector were central to the production of distributional injustices in terms of the quality of housing and residential environment, and socio-spatial isolation from the majority population. Environmentální spravedlnost a rezidenční segregace v Česku: případ přestěhování Romů ve Vsetíně Příspěvek je studií environmentální nespravedlnosti a rezidenční segregace na příkladě případu přestěhování – Romů ve Vsetíně z chátrajícího domu ve vnitřním městě do nově postavených bytových jednotek na periferii města. Teoretická část příspěvku diskutuje koncepty sociální spravedlnosti, environmentální spravedlnosti a rezidenční segregace a jejich vzájemné vztahy. Zaměřuje se zejména na nerovnosti v přístupu k bydlení. Studie je zasazena do kontextu segregačních procesů probíhajících v Česku v období post-komunistické transformace. Romové ve Vsetíně byli na podzim 2006 z rozhodnutí městské samosprávy přestěhováni ze starého zanedbaného domu v centru do nově postavených bytových domů v průmyslové zóně na okraji města a do několika vesnic v periferních oblastech. V původním bydlení se vyskytovaly plísně, dům hrozil zřícením a v okolí chyběla např. dětská hřiště. Romové nicméně bydleli téměř ve středu města, v blízkosti služeb a v bezprostředním kontaktu s majoritou. Po přestěhování do nových domů došlo k prohloubení sociálního vyloučení od většinové společnosti vzhledem k prostorové izolaci lokalit nového bydlení. Byty vyššího standardu než v původní lokalitě vznikly na okraji města v sousedství čistírny odpadních vod, železnice a silnice a ve větší vzdálenosti od školy, obchodů a další služeb. Článek poukazuje na rozmanitost situací označovaných jako environmentálně nespravedlivé. Zatímco v prvém případě se bydlení Romů vyznačovalo nekvalitním bytovým fondem v centrální lokalitě umožňující sociální integraci, po přestěhování se sice zvýšila kvalita vlastních bytů, nicméně umístěných v periferní lokalitě ovlivňující míru sociálně-prostorového vyloučení. Hodnocení environmentálních nespravedlností vyžaduje srovnání odlišných vlastností životního prostředí, v našem případě kvality bytů a jejich lokalizace v prostoru města. V obou případech byly distributivní environmentální nespravedlnosti utvářeny procedurálními nespravedlnostmi vyplývajícími z přístupu městské samosprávy k bydlení Romů. Původní koncentrace Romů do domu v centru města vznikla částečně kvůli praktikám přidělování bytů. Samozřejmě, svůj význam měla i výměna bytů mezi nájemníky a samovolné sestěhování Romů. Nevhodný stav domu a jeho exponovaná poloha pak vedla ke konfliktům s většinovou populací, což vyvolalo další reakci radnice. Ta s podporou státní dotace sice Romům zajistila bydlení, přitom jim ale neumožnila zapojit se do spolurozhodování o budoucnosti jejich bydlení, veřejně deklarovala cíl vystěhovat romské obyvatele ze Vsetína a nezvážila potenciální hrozby vznikající segregace. Článek ukázal, jak je poznání mechanismů procedurální nespravedlnosti zásadní pro pochopení vzniklých distributivních nespravedlností.

Significant changes in the wealth, variety and level of graphic form of city maps are noticeable in recent years, particularly those from Central and Eastern European countries. This is a consequence of the political and economic transformation, resulting in the abolition of censorship and introduction of the free market. Such transformations have also brought significant changes to the city maps’ content, notably, features whose representation had been forbidden could finally be represented. City maps published in Western Europe have evolved as well during the aforementioned period due to higher political and economic stability. The paper compares city maps content of 21 European countries. Differences in the cartographic representation of Western and Central and Eastern European cities are distinct. The influence of a S oviet cartographic style is easily visible in post-communist countries. This is expressed, among other things, by the presentation of detailed content and the considerable amount of point symbols. By contrast, the content demonstrated in Western European city maps is narrower. Taking into account importance of city maps among other cartographic products it seems surprising, that there are no analyses, which could help in finding answers to the following questions: which factors have considerable influence on differentiating the content of the European city maps? Which objects and characteristics are common for each city maps? Do city maps reflect character of the presented city, or there are no important regional differences?

Existing literature on the formation of gated communities primarily focuses on the demand side. Mainstream theories pay attention to the fear of crime or social prestige. However, little attention has been paid to the role of supply factors. Prague, as a post-socialist city, has experienced a rapid growth of gated communities in recent years. This paper identifies the main driving forces behind the creation of gated communities in Prague. Our empirical research demonstrates that the creation of gated communities was not primarily initiated from supply side. We argue that the role of developers was critical in the formation of gated communities in Prague during the 2000s. Role developerů na vytváření uzavřených rezidenčních areálů (gated communities) v Praze Článek hodnotí příčiny a podmíněnosti vzniku uzavřených rezidenčních areálů (anglicky gated communities) v současném Česku, a to především v Praze, kde je koncentrace těchto areálů nejvyšší. Výzkumy v USA, Latinské Americe či Jihoafrické republice zdůrazňují, že na vzniku uzavřených rezidenčních areálů mají hlavní vliv rezidenti, kteří si tento typ bydlení vybírají, především ze strachu z kriminality či zvyšováním sociální prestiže spojeného s prostorovým odlišováním se od majoritní společnosti. Role developerů při výstavbě uzavřených rezidenčních areálů je v literatuře podceňována. Přitom jejich vliv na vytváření prostorové struktury města a vznik uzavřených areálů je mimořádný. Jsou aktérem, který aktivně ovlivňuje a vytváří očekávání a touhy zákazníků. V článku jsme vycházeli z několika výzkumných metod. Jednak jsme za pomocí obsahové analýzy vytvořili databázi všech uzavřených rezidenčních areálů v Česku a jednak jsme provedli několik rozhovorů s developery, zástupci místních samospráv, odborníky na pražský realitní trh a rezidenty vybraného uzavřeného areálu. První uzavřené rezidenční areály v Česku začaly vznikat v Praze ve druhé polovině 90. let 20. století, přičemž se jednalo o luxusní rezidenční projekty určené především pro bohaté Čechy a cizince ze západní Evropy a USA. Od roku 2004 postupně dochází k zásadnímu přerodu, kdy začíná nová výstavba uzavřených rezidenčních areálů, které jsou dostupnější i méně majetným obyvatelům. Od roku 2007 se uzavřené rezidenční areály pomalu stávají standardem na pražském realitním trhu. Od této doby 15–22 % ze všech nově postavených rezidenčních objektů v Praze má prvky, jako je uzavření areálu nebo přítomnost soukromé bezpečností agentury. Postupem času také dochází k rozšiřování uzavřených rezidenčních areálů do dalších českých měst (82 % ze všech českých uzavřených rezidenčních areálů je ovšem stále lokalizováno v Praze). Náš výzkum ukázal, že lidé nevyžadují nadstandardní prvky, jako je uzavření areálu či přítomnost bezpečností agentury. Jedinými poptávajícími po tomto nadstandardním bydlení byli relativně bohatší západní cizinci (především zaměstnanci nadnárodních firem), kteří vyžadovali vyšší bezpečnostní vybavení, protože nebyli tolik obeznámeni se situací v postsocialistickém prostoru. Hlavním motivem zákazníků ochotných si připlatit za tyto nadstandardní prvky, není primárně strach z kriminality. Rezidenti od bydlení v uzavřených rezidenčních areálech spíše očekávají kvalitnější fyzické a sociální prostředí s dostatkem soukromí. Ukázalo se, že jsou to především developeři, kteří jsou hlavní hnací silou při výstavbě uzavřených rezidenčních areálů v Praze. Tento typ bydlení je chápán jako inovativní realitní produkt, jako něco, čím se odlišují od své konkurence. Na vzniku uzavřených areálů v Praze mají zájem především menší a častokrát i méně zkušení developeři, kteří se tak snaží proniknout na realitní trh. Menší developeři jsou flexibilnější a přizpůsobivější než developeři s mechanizovanými procesy produkce bydlení. Poptávka po uzavřených rezidenčních areálech není v Praze vysoká.

Geological hazards such as landslides pose potential threats to people and infrastructure, and, accordingly, are a high priority for scientific study. However, the very presence of that infrastructure in developed areas can potentially influence landslide behavior, complicating efforts to assess the natural triggering and displacement mechanics of landslide events. Protected areas – such as natural reserves, conservation areas, and national parks – are particularly valuable as laboratories for landslide studies because they typically exhibit only those natural factors important for understanding landslide behavior. In this paper we examine the importance of protected areas as natural landslide laboratories, consider the benefits of long-term landslide investigation, discuss how protected areas may be used to monitor different landslide types, and present some of the key investigational and operational characteristics of suitable natural landslide laboratories.

The long-time formation of a multiethnic population in Kazakhstan during the Soviet period formed a potential source for population outflow while a sizable Kazakh diaspora abroad was a potential source of immigration to Kazakhstan after 1991. Since the 1991 independence of Kazakhstan, the strategic demographic goals have been to increase its population size and stabilize its ethno-demographic situation. The migration processes that occurred can be divided into two chronological periods. First, the 1990s were marked with a mass outflow of the European population from Kazakhstan. It was a sign of shift towards liberalization in socio-economic, political and other spheres of life as well as the economic downturns related to the collapse of the ruble zone, and the impact of the Asian and Russian financial crises in 1997–1998. The second period marked with the emergence of new migration trends started in the beginning of the 2000s despite the fact that Kazakhstan had still been losing its population due to emigration. The net migration became positive in 2004 and even increased in the following years. The volume of immigration among ethnic Kazakhs under the state policy on ethnic return migration increased. The aim of the second part of the paper is to trace the changes in the total population and its ethno-demographic structure in Kazakhstan from the beginning of the independent state in 1991, and to determine the role of migration in these changes. We also present a conceptualization of the migration policy. Rozsáhlé etnicko-demografické změny v Kazachstánu v průběhu 20. století: dramatický příběh masivních migračních vln 2. část: Mezinárodní migrace v Kazachstánu od roku 1991 Pestré národnostní složení obyvatel Kazachstánu s vysokým zastoupením etnik pocházejících především z evropské části tehdejšího Sovětského svazu se formovalo v průběhu značné části 19. a 20. století. Již několik desetiletí před rozpadem svazku sovětských republik bylo vysoké zastoupení alochtonních etnik významným faktorem migračního odlivu obyvatelstva z dotčeného území. Nehledě na tento vývoj, představovala etnická struktura potenciálně velmi významný zdroj emigrace i v samém závěru sovětské éry. Na druhé straně početná kazašská diaspora nacházející se především v sousedních zemích byla považována za významný zdroj přistěhovalectví. Od samého počátku existence nezávislé Kazašské republiky zároveň patřilo k jejím explicitně formulovaným strategickým cílům růst počtu obyvatel a stabilizace etno-demografické situace. Touto stabilizací se rozumělo především zvýšení podílu kazašského etnika, jehož příslušníci byli podle výsledků posledního všesvazového sčítání z roku 1989 v zemi svého původu v porovnání s příslušníky evropských národů v menšině. Rozpad Sovětského svazu tak znamenal uvolnění migračního potenciálu na obou stranách hranice. Následný migrační vývoj můžeme rozdělit do dvou období. V prvním z nich, které zahrnuje celá 90. léta, docházelo k masovému odlivu obyvatel evropského původu. Byl to důsledek posunu směrem k liberalizaci v sociálně-ekonomické, politické a dalších oblastech života, jakož i důsledek hospodářského útlumu v souvislosti s kolapsem rublové zóny a dopadu asijské a ruské finanční krize z let 1997–1998. Druhé období začalo na začátku 21. století. Navzdory tomu, že Kazachstán v prvních letech po roce 2000 stále ještě své obyvatelstvo emigrací ztrácel, začaly se v té době postupně projevovat zcela nové vývojové tendence, které vedly ke změně celkové migrační bilance. Kladné saldo migrace bylo zaznamenáno poprvé v roce 2004 a v následujících letech pak dále rostlo. Souviselo to jak poklesem počtu vystěhovalých ze země v důsledku její postupné ekonomické stabilizace a značného vyčerpání původního emigračního potenciálu, tak také s růstem přistěhovalectví etnických Kazachů v rámci repatriační politiky státu. V kontextu popsané intenzivní migrační výměny obyvatelstva a jejích vývojových změn si druhá část naší práce klade za cíl vysledovat a popsat změny celkového počtu obyvatel Kazachstánu a jeho etnodemografické struktury od vzniku samostatného státu v roce 1991 a podíl migrace na těchto změnách. Významná pozornost je věnována také vývoji migrační politiky Kazachstánu v daném období a jeho konceptualizaci.

This paper will discuss the rural and touristic context in which current changes and tensions pose methodological challenges to anthropological research. The canton of Valais, in Switzerland, is a rural mountain region that has undergone deep transformations, particularly during the second half of the 20th century. The Alpine valleys have seen intense construction activity: traditional farming systems have decreased drastically whereas tourist facilities have significantly increased in number. The recent changes in agricultural policies have amplified farmers’ discontent and a new law on construction restrictions in mountain settings has brought to light a marked cleavage between the inhabitants of the Swiss Plateau and mountain dwellers. Economic and environmental interests create substantial tensions. Given these tensions, carrying out research in this setting became quite sensitive and politicised. I will present some results of exploratory research conducted in Valais in September 2012, as well as the challenges that have to be taken into account when organising long-term ethnographic research. It is proposed that one way to overcome personal and discipline-related obstacles is to carry out multidisciplinary research with social geographers, specialists of environmental sciences, agronomists and experts in regional planning and land use. Accordingly, interdisciplinarity and the comparison of various rural contexts are crucial in order to achieve relevant results.

The aim of this paper is the characterization of Carbic Podzols in the Ralsko region (Czech Republic) and their role in the soil carbon balance. The emphasis was put on soil carbon density and storage in the subsurface mineral horizons. Soil organic carbon density calculated for the studied podzol in the Ralsko region was 49.97 t ha−1. More than 53% of this carbon is located in the subsurface horizons, below the depth of 30 cm. The soil organic carbon density was visualised for all soil horizons. The reasons for spatial variability in soil carbon densities were sketched. Carbon density, besides other things, depends on the soil horizon’s thickness which is very variable in the case of Carbic Podzols. Therefore, the horizon thickness and its course were visualised as well.

This paper proposes a spatial data infrastructure (SDI) module for management of a continuous flow of geospatial images and related metadata. Continuously acquired map scans from the digitalization process of an old maps collection or the satellite imagery retrieved through a receiving station are examples of such data flows. Storage of the raster data in a database is a key feature of the system, which enhances the usual tasks and usability of SDI systems. The analytical procedures deployed within the data store perform automated raster analysis and content-based metadata extraction. This functionality is illustrated with two experiments – improving the display of early map scans and snow and cloud detection from satellite images. Applications of the proposed approach and utilization of the prototype application by geographers and cartographers are discussed.

The purpose of the paper is to identify differences in hydraulic conditions in the areas closest to already-developed gravel bars situated in a small, mountain stream in the area of the Polish part of the Carpathian Mountains. Basic hydraulic parameters of flowing water, including velocity, shear stress, Froude number, Reynolds number and flow resistance coefficient were examined within the region of two different gravel bars in a mountain stream. At the same time, sediment samples were drawn from the riverbed in the area in which the hydraulic measurements were taken. After analysing the data, several conclusions were presented concerning sedimentation of gravel and hydraulic parameters within the cross section of a mountainous stream. The study was undertaken on Skawica-Jałowiecki Stream in the Polish part of the Carpathian Mountains called the Beskidy Mountains.