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The retreat of ice shelves and glaciers over the last century provides unequivocal evidence of recent global warming. Glacierets (miniature glaciers) and ice patches are important components of the cryosphere that highlight the global retreat of glaciers, but knowledge of their behaviour prior to the Little Ice Age is lacking. Here, we report the uranium–thorium age of subglacial carbonate deposits from a recently exposed surface previously occupied by the disappearing Triglav Glacier (southeastern European Alps) that may elucidate the glacier's presence throughout the entire Holocene. The ages suggest the deposits' possible preservation since the Last Glacial Maximum and Younger Dryas. These thin deposits, formed by regelation, are easily eroded if exposed during previous Holocene climatic optima. The age data indicate the glacier's present unprecedented level of retreat since the Last Glacial Maximum and the potential of subglacial carbonates as additional proxies to highlight the extraordinary nature of the current global climatic changes.

Various ice bodies are an important source of paleoenvironmental data, and their study improves the understanding of present and future environmental conditions. Their changes are an important indicator of climate change. This special issue of Acta geographica Slovenica draws attention to the changing and disappearing cryosphere across the globe, with an emphasis on the southeastern Alps, and the necessity to conduct research in this field before the ice disappears forever. This paper briefly summarizes the current body of knowledge on glaciers, permafrost, cave ice, lake and river ice, and snow in the southeastern Alps, and it presents the contribution of Acta geographica Slovenica to this research and the main highlights of all five papers included in this special issue.

The Skuta Glacier in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps (in northern Slovenia) is one of the two remaining glaciers in Slovenia. It is located in a cirque oriented toward the northwest, which shields it from sunlight for most of the year. The glacier lies at an average elevation of 2070m. In recent years, its average area has measured around 1.5 hectares. Monitoring of the glacier has been performed since 1946. In 1962, regular photographing of the glacier with various cameras started from various non-fixed standpoints. Using the single image interactive orientation acquisition method, in which a single photograph is compared with the projection of a modern digital terrain model, seventeen photographs covering the period from 1970 to 2015 were used to acquire the 3D-perimeters of the glacier. The data shows that the elevation of glacier’s upper edge decreased by approximately 40m in the last half-century. Changes in the glacier’s area and average upper edge elevation were compared with average annual temperature and maximum seasonal snow cover depth.

The Triglav Glacier in the Julian Alps and the Skuta Glacier in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps are among the south-easternmost glaciers in the Alps. Historical data show that ice masses are undergoing mass loss as the overall climate warms. Glacier ice and cave ice contain a wealth of paleoclimatic information, and rapid sampling is needed if any such information is to be saved before the ice is completely melted. We present the first comprehensive geochemical and water isotope data from glacier ice, meltwater, spring water, and cave ice in the Mount Triglav area and glacier ice from the Skuta Glacier. The samples primarily reflect the initial precipitation signal that has been greatly modified by the input of local CaCO3-rich dust with lesser amounts of marine aerosol and vegetation debris.

Various geodetic and lidar measurements performed on the Triglav Glacier (Julian Alps, Slovenia) make it possible to study not only the extent of the glacier but also changes in its thickness and volume. These measurements also make it possible to calculate the geodetic mass balance of the glacier. Thickness and volume changes were calculated using glacier area measurements from 1952, 1975, and 1992, and annually between 1999 and 2016. The mean thickness decreased from 39.2m in 1952 to 2.45m in 2012. The maximum thickness decreased from 48.3 m in 1952 to 5.2 m in 2007. The mean specific mass balance was calculated for the area of 1 hectare that the glacier covered in 2016. From 1952 to 2016, the annual specific mass balance was −0.45m w.e.a−1.

The retreat of ice shelves and glaciers over the last century provides unequivocal evidence of recent global warming. Glacierets (miniature glaciers) are an important component that highlights the global retreat of glaciers, but knowledge of their behaviour prior to the Little Ice Age is lacking. Here, we present subglacial carbonate deposits from a recently exposed surface previously occupied by the disappearing Triglav Glacier (southeastern European Alps) that may elucidate the glacier’s existence throughout the entire Holocene since their maximum uranium-thorium (U-Th) ages suggest their possible preservation since the Last Glacial Maximum and Younger Dryas. These thin deposits, formed by regelation, are easily eroded if exposed during previous Holocene climatic optima. The age data indicate the glacier’s present unprecedented level of retreat since the Last Glacial Maximum, and the potential of subglacial carbonates as additional proxies to highlight the extraordinary nature of the current global climatic changes.

© 2018 The European Association for Conservation of the Geological Heritage The region of Eastern Serbia is a highly dominant karst terrain with numerous geological and geomorphological features, especially caves. The speleotourism potential of these caves and other geosites still remains fully unrevealed. In this paper, we analyzed several caves with immense geotourism potential. These caves include Ceremošnja Cave, Ravništarka Cave, Resavska Cave, Rajkova Cave, Lazareva Cave and Vernjikica Cave. The aim of this paper is to emphasize the speleotourism potential of Eastern Serbia and to determine the current state and speleotourism potential of caves located in this area by applying the modified geosite assessment model (M-GAM). The results indicate that further speleotourism development should primarily be focused towards Rajkova Cave which has the highest main values. The results also emphasize the importance of additional (tourist) values which are currently at a low level among all analyzed geosites. This especially refers to tour guide service, interpretive panels and promotional activities which proved to be key elements at these types of destinations. Major improvement of these elements is necessary in the future in order to attract a larger number of visitors to these sites.

Dolines are depressions in karst landscapes that are of high value for conservation, providing habitats and supporting species not found in the surrounding landscape. This is due to their high microhabitat diversity and ability to decouple microclimate from regional climate changes, making them potential refugia for biodiversity. Nevertheless, local anthropogenic disturbances have had considerable impact on the species composition and vegetation structure of many dolines. Here we investigate the conservation value of dolines in three European karst areas, where different levels and types of anthropogenic disturbances have been shaping the vegetation for centuries, using the number of plant species that are cool-adapted, moist-adapted and of high conservation importance (i.e. vulnerable species) as indicators. We found that anthropogenic disturbances generally have a negative impact, reducing the number of vulnerable species supported by dolines. However, more cool-adapted and moist-adapted species were found in some dolines planted with non-native Picea abies than in less disturbed dolines, indicating that anthropogenic disturbances can also have positive consequences for biodiversity. We conclude that anthropogenic disturbances alter the capacity of dolines to support vulnerable species, and that this will impact survival of species in landscapes under global warming. In this context, the effects of various disturbances on species composition and diversity need to carefully considered to determine the best conservation and/or management options.

Slovenia is characterized by an abundance of water in a great variety of forms. The river network comprises almost 28,000 km of watercourses (1.4 km/km2). However, these are not equally distributed because about 40% of Slovenia is karst and therefore almost without surface waters. Rivers from four–fifths of Slovenian territory flow several hundred kilometers to the Black Sea and from less than one fifth into the nearer Adriatic Sea. The few small natural lakes are either tectonic, glacial, or karst. The once-extensive swamps and marshes have shrunk significantly due to water regulation, and climate change has also caused the two Slovenian glaciers on Mount Triglav and Mount Skuta to shrink drastically. The population’s water supply relies heavily on groundwater. This is divided into aquifers with intergranular porosity, karst fissure porosity, and fissure porosity, all of which are threatened by pollution. Slovenia has a small share of coastal water: part of the Adriatic Sea’s Gulf of Trieste. Many parts of the country are threatened by different types of floods. The right to drinkable water is mentioned in the Slovenian constitution as a fundamental right.

The rocks that can be seen on Slovenia’s surface today formed from at least the early Paleozoic to the Quaternary, or the present. The oldest metamorphic rocks probably date even back to the Precambrian. Sedimentary rocks predominate, covering 65.1% of Slovenia’s surface. Among these, two carbonate rocks are especially common: limestone and dolomite. Loose sediments fill the tectonic depressions and river valleys, covering 29.2% of Slovenian territory. Metamorphic rocks account for 4.1% and are mostly concentrated in northeast Slovenia. Igneous rocks account for the smallest share, covering only 1.6% of the territory. Intrusive igneous rocks can only be found on the surface along the Periadriatic Seam and in the Pohorje Hills, whereas extrusive igneous rocks (or volcanic rocks) are scattered across smaller areas of the Alpine hills and mountains. Slovenia lies at the intersection of the following geotectonic units: the Dinarides, Southern Alps, Eastern Alps, and Pannonian Basin. All of these units form part of the Adriatic microplate, and their current distribution was achieved only as late as the Neogene—that is, during the past 20 million years.

Slovenia has very heterogeneous landforms because it lies at the intersection of the Alps, Dinaric Alps, Pannonian Basin, and Adriatic Sea Basin, all characterized by unique geology, tectonics, and geomorphic processes. Four major geomorphic landscape types can be defined based on their genesis. More than half of Slovenian territory has fluvial characteristics dominated by valleys and ridges. This is followed by karst terrain on roughly two-fifths of the territory, dominated by dolines, caves, and the absence of surface drainage. Glacial and coastal landscapes, dominated by glacial valleys and moraines and by coastal cliffs, respectively, are the least common types at the national scale. In addition, human activities such as mining, agriculture, and urbanization have influenced the landscape over the years, playing an important role in today’s cultural landscape as an anthropogenic landscape.

The diverse physical geographical characteristics of Slovenia result in diverse soil types. Due to widespread karst landscapes, the basic division of soils is carbonate and non-carbonate. However, the pedogeographical classification of Slovenian soils is based on topography and has three groups of soil types: soils of plains and valleys, soils of hills and mountains, and soils of karst plains and plateaus. The most common soil types are Chromic Cambisol and Rendzina alternation (33.6%), followed by Dystric Cambisol (24.2%) and Eutric Cambisol (13.3%). Most Slovenian soils formed during the Quaternary and are relatively rich in humus. Soil sealing, soil contamination, and soil erosion are the main forms of soil degradation in Slovenia.

Almost all types of natural hazards that are typical for Europe also occur in Slovenia, with the exception of some major events such as volcanic eruptions or ocean-related natural hazards such as large tsunamis. The greatest economic damage is caused by natural hazards affecting agriculture, such as drought, hail, rainstorms, and frosts. Great damage is caused by floods in settlements and by landslides and avalanches in mountain areas. Periodically earthquakes occur, and heat waves are increasingly frequent. Large differences exist among Slovenian regions with respect to the types and intensity of natural hazards. In the Alpine mountains in the west and north of the country, there are frequent rockfalls, landslides, debris flows, and avalanches. Landslides and torrential floods are characteristic for the Alpine hills in central Slovenia. The Dinaric regions in the south of the country are characterized by flooding of poljes. Fires characterize the Mediterranean landscapes in southwestern Slovenia. The Pannonian lowlands in the southeast are subject to flooding, whereas the drier and agriculturally more intensive Pannonian region in the northeast of the country is most often affected by drought. Seismic hazard is high in the western as well as central and southeastern parts of the country.

Cave ice samples collected within karstic terrain have major ion and nutrient concentrations showing that the ice originates from local precipitation modified by the addition of Ca2+ and HCO3&minus, from the dissolution of the local bedrock. Isotopic profiles of Paradana Cave ice are similar to those described in other ice caves in central and eastern Europe, where the profiles are developed through the freezing of cave pool or &ldquo, lake&rdquo, waters from the top downward during the onset of the cold portion of the year. Stable isotope data suggest future studies may yield a long-term paleo-environmental record for this location.

It is well known that small glaciers of mid latitudes and especially those located at low altitude respond suddenly to climate changes both on local and global scale. For this reason their monitoring as well as evaluation of their extension and volume is essential. We present a ground penetrating radar (GPR) dataset acquired on September 23 and 24, 2013 on the Triglav glacier to identify layers with different characteristics (snow, firn, ice, debris) within the glacier and to define the extension and volume of the actual ice. Computing integrated and interpolated 3D using the whole GPR dataset, we estimate that at the moment of data acquisition the ice area was 3800 m2 and the ice volume 7400 m3. Its average thickness was 1.95 m while its maximum thickness was slightly more than 5 m. Here we compare the results with a previous GPR survey acquired in 2000. A critical review of the historical data to find the general trend and to forecast a possible evolution is also presented. Between 2000 and 2013, we observed relevant changes in the internal distribution of the different units (snow, firn, ice) and the ice volume reduced from about 35,000 m3 to about 7400 m3. Such result can be achieved only using multiple GPR surveys, which allow not only to assess the volume occupied by a glacial body, but also to image its internal structure and the actual ice volume. In fact, by applying one of the widely used empirical volume-area relations to infer the geometrical parameters of the glacier, a relevant underestimation of ice-loss would be achieved.

In 2015 the nationwide aerial laser scanning (lidar) of Slovenia became publicly available. These data enable a wide range of detailed geomorphological studies, also in areas that are less accessible or covered with dense vegetation. This makes it possible to identify potential rock glaciers and protalus ramparts in the Slovenian mountains. The laser scanning products, the grey-shaded terrain model and the classified point cloud were used to identify and measure these features. All the mountainous areas at elevations of approximately 1200 m above sea level (a.s.l.) were evaluated. During the Alpine Late Glacial period these were in glacial and periglacial conditions. The mountain ranges of the Julian Alps, Karavanks, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Pohorje and Dinaric mountains (Trnovski Gozd and Snežnik) were evaluated. Twenty potential rock glaciers and eight potential protalus ramparts were found. They are the most abundant in the Karavanks, followed by the Julian Alps, with one potential rock glacier also on the Snežnik plateau. The majority of the potential rock glaciers are probably relicts, due to the heavy vegetation cover, the low mean elevations (between 1040 m and 1850 m a.s.l.) and because their slopes are directed more towards southern directions (65 % of rock glaciers). The identified rock glaciers rarely exceed 600 m in length. The terminus slope angles of the identified objects are from 20° to 40°. Three of the identified protalus ramparts can be regarded as relict, due to the total vegetation cover; the remaining five can be regarded as intact. The potential protalus ramparts are found at elevations between 1220 m and 1950 m a.s.l. All the identified protalus ramparts are directed towards southern directions, with terminus slope angles from 30° to 40°. The spatial distribution of the discussed permafrost objects in Slovenia with regards to the bedrock composition presented on the geological map of Slovenia (scale 1 : 250 000) reveals that 75 % of all objects can be found in thick-bedded Dachstein limestones with transitions to dolomite, while almost all the remaining objects are found in Triassic dolomite.

One of the frequently used bioindication methods is Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs), which are commonly applied in Central Europe as bioindicators of ecological characteristics. However, very few studies have tested EIVs as a bioindication of human-induced soil degradation. We tested the ability of EIVs to distinguish between localities of degraded karst depressions (dolines) and localities of semi-natural (agricultural) soils in preserved dolines on the Kras Plateau (Classical Karst, SW Slovenia). We compared the results of bioindications of soil nutrient content (N), soil reaction (R) and soil moisture (M) with measured soil parameters. Low values of organic carbon, a slightly alkaline soil reaction and low organic sulphur content are chemical indicators of soil degradation in dolines, in comparison with preserved reference dolines (high organic carbon, slightly acid reaction, higher S). EIV reaction is the most reliable plant indicator value that can distinguish between degraded and non-degraded soil plots. According to a regression tree, sulphur (S) and C/N are the most important factors for division on the basis of EIV reaction. By applying the EIV reaction of diagnostic plant species, we significantly improved bioindication of soil degradation, although in the case of EIV nutrients, bioindication was not improved.

Three very small Alpine glaciers in the Julian Alps are presented: the Eastern and the Western Canin glaciers in Italy and the Triglav glacier in Slovenia. The history of measurements using a measuring tape and via geodetic means on Canin glaciers is presented in brief; the majority of the paper deals with the acquisition of glacier boundaries from archive non-metrical images. The acquisition is based on interactive orientation method (mono-plotting) using lidar DTM. Seven archive non-metrical images of Mount Canin from 1893 to the mid-1970s and two aero-photogrametric images from periodic aerial photogrammetric surveys of Slovenia from 2000 and 2011 were used to determine the glaciers’ areas. In addition, a map of Canin glaciers from 1908 was geo-referenced. Five archive non-metrical images of Triglav glacier from 1897 to 1962 were used to determine the glacier area. Problems with obstructed areas are presented, and possible solutions are also given for deriving areas behind the obstructions. The usefulness of archival imagery for long-time monitoring of glaciers is presented, and the importance of old mountaineering publications as a source of such images is emphasized.

The Triglav glacier is situated in the Julian Alps in the northwest of Slovenia. Presented are the results of investigations and measurements of the Triglav glacier done between the years 1999 and 2012. It was for the first time during this period that its depth was measured by means of georadar. Its area was measured on a yearly basis by means of various land surveying methods which are stated in detail. We explained the dynamics of the glacier’s shrinking on the grounds of weather conditions of each respective year. Due to the glacier’s concave form, snow in the past few years remained all until the late summer, particularly in the central and lower sections of the glacier. If such weather conditions continue, and the amount of winter precipitation further increases, the remainder of the Triglav glacier, though small in size, will continue to exist for a few years.

This study identifies factors that affect the speed of rockwall retreat of flysch cliffs between Kane Point and Strunjan on the Slovenian coast. Individual factors were combined in a geographical information system with mapped recent erosion features. The results indicate the influence of individual factors on the formation of erosion rills, gullies, surfwave breaks, slumps, and rockfalls; that is, flysch coast retreat processes. Special attention is dedicated to the occurrence of major slope processes, specifically slumps and rockfalls, which are an important contributing factor in cliff retreat. The article also presents the threat to individual sections of coast due to rockfalls and slumps.

In the last century and a half, average summer temperatures have slowly been rising worldwide. The most observable consequence of this is the change in glacier sizes. For monitoring glacier area and volume, various measuring techniques exist—from measurements with a measuring tape and geodetic measurements to remote sensing and photogrammetry. A comparison of different measuring techniques on two Slovenian glaciers (the Triglav and Skuta glaciers) and two Austrian glaciers (the Gossnitzkees and Hornkees glaciers) is made. A long-term glacial retreat trend is presented for the Gossnitzkees, Hornkees, and Triglav glaciers because these glaciers can be monitored throughout the entire twentieth century by means of archival data. Despite their different sizes, the annual trend of glacial retreat was approximately the same in the period between 1929 and 2006.

In 2005 and 2006 intensive measurements were made of various erosion-denudation processes in the Dragonja River basin. The measurements included geomorphic processes in the badlands: the rockwall retreat of steep bare flysch slopes, movements of flysch debris along erosion gullies, and geomorphic processes on talus slopes. At the same time, measurements of soil erosion were made in three different land use areas: bare soil in an olive grove, an overgrown meadow, and a forest. The results are presented in two parts. Part One presents the measurements of soil erosion, and Part Two in the next issue of the journal (No. 49-2) will present geomorphic processes in the badlands. The measurements of soil erosion made on one-meter-square closed erosion plots south of the village of Marezige revealed that the greater part of the annual erosion was caused by only a few major erosion events. Between May 2005 and April 2006, interrill erosion amounted to 9,013 g/m2 (90 t/ha) on bare soil in an olive grove with an inclination of 5.5o and an average weekly proportion of specific runoff of 23%, 168 g/m2 (1.68 t/ha) on an overgrown meadow with an inclination of 9.4o and an average weekly proportion of specific runoff of 8%, and 391 g/m2 (3.91 t/ha) in a forest with an inclination of 7.8o and 415 g/m2 (4.15 t/ha) in a forest with an inclination of 21.4o with an average weekly proportion of specific runoff of 6% regardless of the inclination. The amount of precipitation during the reference year was slightly below the long-term average.

This article is a continuation of the article on soil erosion in submediterranean Slovene Istria from the first issue of the 2009 (49-1) journal. In this article we present geomorphic processes in the badlands of the same area (Dragonja River basin, SW Slovenia): sediment production from steep bare (Eocene) flysch slopes (rockwall retreat), movements of flysch debris along erosion gullies, and geomorphic processes on talus slopes. Sediment production of flysch rocks was determined by measurements on erosion plots and totals around 80 kg/m2 per year on average, which means that steep bare flysch rockwalls retreat at a speed of 35 to 50 mm per year. The badlands not only contain flysch walls but also slopes already eroded by erosion rills and gullies. A dam in one of the erosion gullies with the catchment area of 0.1 ha captured 20 tons of debris in fourteen months. Monitoring on talus slopes of the badlands revealed their dual character because erosion here alternates with accumulation.

Steep bare rocky slopes that are badlands at the same time, are a morphogenetic particularity of the flysch part of the Istrian Peninsula. On them, microrelief forms are of a short life cycle, since erosion processes are fast. On the basis of measurements of sediment production in flysch rocks on four erosion plots in the Rokava watershed situated south of the village of Marezige, we show in this paper how fast these processes are. The annual sediment production in flysch rocks is on average around 80 kg/m2, which means that the slope retreat rate is about 35 mm/year. Furthermore, weekly measurements of sediment production in flysch rock for the period of 15 months (from February 2005 till April 2006) are shown, as well as weekly and seasonal averages. Linear statistical correlations between sediment production in flysch rocks and weather conditions are also presented.

In the last century and a half, average summer temperatures have slowly been rising worldwide. The most observable consequence of this is the change in glacier sizes. For monitoring glacier area and volume, various measuring techniques exist—from measurements with a measuring tape and geodetic measurements to remote sensing and photogrammetry. Many of these techniques were used to monitor very small glaciers in the Julian Alps through the twentieth century. At least eight very small glaciers existed in Julian Alps in the previous century. Since the second half of the twentieth century some have disappeared, but some still exist. In this chapter we focus on three small glaciers: two on Mount Canin (NE Italy) and one on Mount Triglav (NW Slovenia). We present the changes in glacier sizes since the end of the nineteenth century with the use of archived non-metrical images. The acquisition is based on interactive orientation method (mono-plotting) using detailed digital terrain models (DTM).

V clanku predstavljamo hidro-geomorfne procese, ki so povezani z naravnimi in umetnimi pregradami. Ob zajezitvah, ki nastajajo za pregradami, prihaja zaradi razlicnih vzrokov, kot je nihanje vodne gladine, do proženja zemeljskih plazov in skalnih podorov. Taksni pojavi lahko povzrocijo prelitje ali podrtje naravnih pa tudi umetnih pregrad. V tem oziru posebej poudarjamo Vajontski zdrs, ki je zaradi cloveskega vzroka, velikosti in katastrofalnih posledic eden bolj znanih tovrstnih pojavov v Evropi. Predstavljamo tudi povecini spregledane pojave v Sloveniji ter nekaj vecjih pojavov po svetu. The article presents hydro-geomorphic processes associated with natural and artificial dams. Landslides and rockfalls are triggered behind the dams due to different causes, e.g. fluctuation of the water level. Such phenomena can cause overspilling or demolish natural and artificial dams. In this regard, the article presents the Vaiont rockslide, which is due to human-related causes, its size and the catastrophic consequences one of the most well-known phenomena in Europe. Some other examples from the world and in Slovenia are presented.

Measurements of erosion and denudation processes in Dragonja river basin are presented. Measured were interrill erosion on three different land uses, rockwall retreat on steep flysch slopes, movements of debris in erosion gully and chemical denudation. Measurements took place between February 2005 and May 2006. The purpose of the article is to draw attention to the speed of some geomorphic processes. Due to this, we should lay more stress upon their role in morphogenesis of the landscape. Predstavljene so meritve erozijsko-denudacijskih procesov v porečju Dragonje. Meritve so obsegale površinsko spiranje na treh različnih rabah tal, umikanje strmih golih flišnih pobočij, premikanje gradiva po erozijskem jarku in kemično denudacijo v porečju. Meritve so potekale od februarja 2005 do maja 2006. Namen članka je opozoriti na hitrost nekaterih geomorfnih procesov, zaradi katere bi bilo treba bolj poudariti njihov pomen pri oblikotvornosti površja.

The article presents two deterministic methods for the elaboration of landslide and rock-fall source area maps and, considering human activity in the landscape, for the elaboration of landslide and rockfall risk maps. Risk maps are one of the fundamental bases for protection against natural disasters since they illustrate the risks to areas of human activity due to various natural processes. Using the weighting method and for the first time the matrix method, we established the extent of land-slide and rockfall source areas in the Upper Savinja Valley and the risk due to these processes relative to settlement, roads, land use, and rivers and streams. The methodology for elaborating maps using both approaches is described in detail as well as the differ-ences between them. The basic purpose of risk maps is to direct human encroachment in the landscape to safe areas.

Slovenia was struck by big floods in September 2010, which affected large parts of the country. This chapter presents a geographical analysis of the event through identifying the main causes, types, and consequences of floods. The floods were characterized by exceptionally high water levels, long duration, and great variety of flash floods, lowland (riverine) floods, karst floods, and urban flooding. Case studies are presented from the Ljubljana Marsh and Dobrepolje karst polje in central Slovenia. The legislative framework for flood risk protection in Slovenia is also presented along with text analyses of newspaper articles about the 2010 floods.

Slovenia is the locus classicus of karst phenomena and karst ­geomorphology is the most intensively practiced branch. According to their general morphology, hydrology and evolution, Alpine karst, isolated karst, and Dinaric karst are distinguished. New measurement techniques revealed changes in the intensity of corrosion, for example, a reduction in intensity in many caves at the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary. The study of unroofed caves provided information on the dynamics of karst systems. Fluvial geomorphic processes are also intensive. Landslide hazard is the greatest in the alpine region, where surfaces susceptible to landslides cover one fifth of the area. In spite of intensive postglacial erosion, some traces of Pleistocene glacial and periglacial processes are still found in the Slovenian Alps and Dinaric Mountains.

Damage caused by natural disasters in Slovenia is frequently linked to the ignoring of natural factors in spatial planning. Historically, the construction of buildings and settlements avoided dangerous flood areas, but later we see increasing construction in dangerous areas. During the floods in 1990, the most affected buildings were located on ill-considered locations, and the majority was built in more recent times. A similar situation occurred during the floods of September 2007. Comparing the effects of these floods, we determined that damage was always greater due to the urbanization of flood areas. This process furthermore increasingly limits the "manoeuvring space" for water management authorities, who due to the torrential nature of Slovenia's rivers can not ensure the required level of safety from flooding for unsuitably located settlements and infrastructure. Every year, the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia issues more than one thousand permits for interventions in areas that affect the water regime, and through decrees the government allows construction in riparian zones, which is supposedly forbidden by the Law on Water. If we do not take measures with more suitable policies for spatial planning, we will no long have the possibility in future to reduce the negative consequences of floods. Given that torrential floods strike certain Slovene regions every three years on average and that larger floods occur at least once a decade, it is senseless to lay the blame on climate change.