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The article analyzes heat waves in Sarajevo in the period 1901-2018. We presented the trends in the number of heat waves, their length, the highest air temperatures during heat waves and the cumulative highest temperatures during heat waves. We also discussed the trends of the universal thermal climate index for Sarajevo in the period 1961--2018, which show the burdensome thermal effect on humans in a more integral way. In Sarajevo we observe an increase in the number of heat waves, the number of days in heat waves and the cumulative maximum temperatures in heat waves. After 1961, the burdensome thermal effect in the summer months also increases, which also indicates a positive trend in the value of the universal thermal climate index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyses changes of built-up and related areas in Slovenia in the period 2000-2023. Results are prepared on the level of statistical regions and municipalities. Special emphasis is orientated towards original categories of land use, on which builtup and related areas are located today. Finally, we discuss the expansion of built-up and related areas into arable areas, especially those that are extremely important for agriculture and food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents changes in land use in the area of the municipality of Cerkvenjak, Slovenia, in the period 2000-2023. Changes in land use are shown as a function of some natural geographical factors (relief, topoclimatic characteristics...). The directions of changes in land use are also analyzed in relation to the process of extensification, i.e. changes of cultivated land to non-cultivated land. The changes in vineyard areas are specially analyzed. We also included in the analysis older georeferenced and digitized data from the Franciscan cadastre for the area of the present municipality of Cerkvenjak from 1824. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses the changes in land use in the area of the Dravinjske Gorice in the period 2000-2022. Changes in land use are shown depending on the selected natural geographical elements and by cadastral municipalities. The directions of land use change in the considered period and the coefficient of extensification are also analysed. In the past, viticulture was one of the agricultural activities that gave the identity of this region, so for the probe area "Škalce-Bezina-Tepanje" we analysed the changes in the viticulture areas in terms of relative heights, global radiation and viticulture ratings in time profiles 1824-2000-2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light pollution is one of the forms of pollution triggered by man's desire to lengthen the day. Its negative effects on the environment were discovered decades ago. However, the situation in Slovenia, despite the Regulation on limit values of light pollution, is still very alarming. The main source is public lighting. Often various buildings are too much or incorrectly illuminated. The consequences of light pollution are astronomical, biological, environmental, and economic. They can influence human health as well. Based on remote sensing data, field observations and spatial analysis, it was proved that light pollution in the area of the Voglajna valley and the upper Posotelje affects the leaf-development phenophase (leafing), both at the level of the habitat formed by small wooden landscape elements, and at the species level of the common birch (Betula pendula). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In article, we analyse trends of minimum temperatures in Europe between 1961 and 2020 and changes in minimum temperatures until the end of the 21st century. The analysis uses data for 58 meteorological stations with a homogeneous dataset, minimum temperature data from the WorldClim database and minimum temperature projections to the end of the 21st century from the WorldClim database. The results show large differences in seasonal and spatial variations of minimum temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we analyse land-use change in the municipality of Juršinci. In the first part of the article we discuss the changes in land use in relation to some natural-geographical characteristics in the period 2000-2021. We also discuss the most frequent directions of land use change. In the second part of the paper, we look at the changes in vineyard areas. In this context, we compared the extent of vineyard area in 1824 with the current situation. We also analyse the utilisation of quality vineyard areas in the past and today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on determining the degree of correlation between land-use changes and demographic development in Slovenia. The authors conclude that there is still insufficient evidence in the literature for a correlation between these two processes, because quantitative studies addressing these links are very rare and mostly cover small and specific areas. In the case of Slovenia, Spearman's correlation coefficients are quite low, which confirms that land-use change processes are complex and not dependent solely on individual demographic and socioeconomic factors. Despite the low correlation coefficients, our findings indicate that changes in land use are significantly influenced by changes in age structure and population growth. In areas with population growth the share of arable land is shrinking, whereas in areas with depopulation and a rising aging index the share of partially overgrown land is growing. In the following analysis, the authors focus their analysis on a case study of the Mura and Central Slovenia statistical regions, which lie on opposite poles with regard to development, and thus show differing trends in land-use changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper showed land use changes in the Pomurje statistical region in the period 2000-2020. Changes are analysed in 11 categories of land use at the level of the whole region and at the level of municipalities. The directions of land use change are also analysed. Changes in arable land are shown using the extensification coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the state of light pollution in the Pomurje statistical region in 2019. We analyzed the radiance parameter by statistical regions in Slovenia and by municipalities within the Pomurje statistical region based on the night channel data of the Suomi satellite. Radiance data on the municipal level were correlated with the public road network. The brightest and darkest areas were identified. However, the results show significant differences in radiance in the Pomurje statistical region, with less intense light pollution in Gorièko and more illuminated area in the surrounding larger settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses the minimum temperature trends at the Maribor-Tabor meteorological station in the period 1961-2019. The minimum temperatures rise at a higher rate than the maximum temperatures, which is a result of the interaction of global climate change and the intensification of the urban heat island phenomenon. Trends in the number of days with minimum temperatures below -10.0 °C, the number of days with minimum temperatures below 0.0 °C (cold days), the number of days with maximum temperatures below 0.0 °C (ice days) and the number of days with minimum temperatures above 20.0 °C (tropical nights) are also analysed. Data show a markedly lower number of days with a minimum temperature below -10.0 ° C and a higher number of tropical nights. The frequency of tropical nights is increasing at an exponential rate. These trends otherwise affect the shortening of the heating season and lower heating costs in winter, but in summer, due to increased stress, reduce the quality of the living environment. Thus, people with health issues, the elderly, children and pregnant women are additionally exposed to heat stress, which may even increase mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon has been gaining intensity because of population growth, continuous urbanization and inappropriate urban planning and design. Geospatial models can importantly contribute to solving the negative impacts left behind by these developments in the urban environment. Here, the influence of different weather patterns (anticyclonic, cyclonic and advective), occurring as a consequence of regional synoptic conditions, on UHI intensity and morphology was studied. The previously published geographically weighted regression UHI model was used in order to predict the behaviour of the urban–rural temperature anomaly in different weather patterns in a small city named Ljutomer (8 km2 of built‐up area occupied by 3,500 inhabitants) located in the northeast part of Slovenia. As expected, UHI intensity was significantly higher in the anticyclonic weather pattern compared to cyclonic and advective conditions. The urban–rural temperature contrast was at least recognizable under a turbulent windy atmosphere. Surprisingly, Ljutomer's UHI can be most accurately modelled in the cyclonic weather pattern, followed by advective and anticyclonic conditions, and statistically significant cold‐spots can be better predicted, with selected predictor variables, than hot‐spots. Weather patterns significantly affect the UHI phenomenon in Ljutomer (northeast part of Slovenia [46 ° 31 ′ N, 16 ° 11 ′ E]). Differences in UHI intensity under anticyclonic, cyclonic and advective weather type are evident. Accordingly, different spatial patterns of the studied UHI phenomenon emerged. These can most accurately be modelled in the cyclonic weather pattern, followed by the advective and anticyclonic conditions, and statistically significant cold‐spots can be better predicted, with selected predictor variables, than hot‐spots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses changes in wine-growing areas in the area of wine-growing districts and subdistricts in Slovenia in the period 2000-2019. Viticulture has represented an important sector in Slovenian farms since the ancient age. In recent decades, wine-growing is associated with a tourism. Wine-growing areas are shrinking everywhere, and the problem is the growing age of vineyards, as their renovation is linked to high costs. There are significant differences between wine-growing districts and subdistricts in Slovenia in the stages of the abandonment of winegrowing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light pollution as a relatively new form of environmental pollution has been an increasing environmental problem since the 1980s. The source of light pollution in Slovenia is primarily public lighting along roads and cultural or sacral buildings, which are illuminated at night. In the article we were focused on the analysis of the state of light pollution in the Pohorje region, which mainly belongs to the protected area of Natura 2000. We analyzed the situation on the basis of satellite data by considering the night spectral channel. We especially discussed the impact of night skiing in the Mariborsko Pohorje and Rogla ski resorts on the actual state of light pollution. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of selected illuminated buildings in the Pohorje region, which are habitats of bats, on the current state of light pollution in the direct vicinity of these facilities and in their surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the state and trends in the frequency of occurrence of heat waves, their duration and intensity in Maribor, based on data from the meteorological station Maribor-Tabor in the period 1961-2018. All three indicators show a clear positive trend. Particularly severe are trends in heat wave frequency and intensity. The average length of heat waves in Maribor is increasing as well, but the trend is less pronounced. Some local differences in the intensity of the urban heat island phenomenon during a heatwave period in Maribor were detected by applying remotely sensed data and the resulting land surface temperature variable from the Landsat 8 satellite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses land use changes in areas of strategic importance for agriculture and food production in the period 2000-2017 and which, as such, require special treatment in the event of possible changes of cultivated land in non-agriculture land. Land use data published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food is used. Changes in land use are presented at the level of the entire country and at the level of statistical regions. The degree of utilization of these areas for agriculture is shown in particular. The direction of land use changes during the period considered is also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light pollution represents a new form of environmental pollution which is the result of excessive use of artificial lighting at night. The light pollution is the emission of light from the light sources that increases the natural illumination of the environment. Light pollution causes to human vision distraction illumination and a feeling of glare, it threatens the safety in traffic due to the glare, endangers the natural balance, disrupts the professional or hobby an astronomical observation and unnecessarily consumes power. In article are presented results of measurements of the light pollution, with the Sky Quality Metres in the area of the city of Maribor. Presented are also the results of the analyses of the light pollution roses and resources consumed for public lighting in the area of the municipality of Maribor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern Ljutomersko-Ormoške gorice are among the most vital vineyard areas of Northeastern Slovenia. Nevertheless, the region has not been spared from the processes of deagrarization and subsequent land use changes which are going in the direction of the abandonment of cultivated areas, greening, overgrowth and afforestation. The article analyses land use changes in the area of Eastern Ljutomersko-Ormoške gorice between 2000 and 2015 in relation to selected physiographic features. Main focus was on cultivated areas, particularly vineyard areas. The directions of land use changes for the studied period are also analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, we analysed the land use in areas of great flood hazard in Slovenia in the year 2014. We mainly examined inappropriate land use in the areas of great flood hazard. We showed the trends in land use changes in the flood regions between the years 2000 and 2014 and analysed the trends in the municipalities mostly threatened by floods. Further on, we separately analysed the current state of land use in the flood region along Drava River in November 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human population is increasing. The ongoing urbanization process, in conjunction with climate change, is causing larger environmental footprints. Consequently, quality of life in urban systems worldwide is under immense pressure. Here, the seasonal characteristics of Maribor's urban thermal environment were studied from the perspectives of surface urban heat island (SUHI) and urban heat island (UHI) A remote sensing thermal imagery time series and in-situ measurements (stationary and mobile) were combined with select geospatial predictor variables to model this atmospheric phenomenon in its most intensive season (summer). Finally, CMIP6 climate change scenarios and models were considered, to predict future UHI intensity. Results indicate that Maribor's UHI intensity maximum shifted from winter to spring and summer. The implemented generalized additive model (GAM) underestimates UHI intensity in some built-up parts of the study area and overestimates UHI intensity in green vegetated areas. However, by the end of the century, UHI magnitude could increase by more than 60% in the southern industrial part of the city. Such studies are of particular concern, in regards to the increasing frequency of heat waves due to climate change, which further increases the (already present) heat stress in cities across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island phenomenon (UHI) is a consequence of anthropogenic activity and local climatic conditions. Most UHI studies address large metropolitan areas. However, the data show that UHI magnitude can reach high values even in small urban systems. The study focused on the seasonal dynamics of the UHI magnitude variable (average, maximum and minimum temperature anomaly) in the town of Ljutomer by considering different weather types. Under anticyclonic or advective air circulation pattern, predominantly in summer, UHI magnitude in Ljutomer can reach values comparable to midsize or large urban systems (up to 8°C). The results of such studies are of particular concern in regard to increasing frequency of heat waves as a consequence of climate change, which further increases the already present heat stress in cities all over the Globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change also affects food production. However, what will be the response of agricultural crops to future climate conditions across Europe is one of the key issues for the development, implementation and proper implementation of the new European agricultural policy. This paper addresses the potential response of selected European agricultural crops (wheat [Triticum aestivum L.], maize [Zea Mays L.], potato [Solanum tuberosum L.] and olive [Olea europaea L.]) to climate scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) in the second half of the 21st century (2070) by considering different global climate models (CC, HE and MP). Bioclimatic data from the ECOCROP database (temperature and precipitation ranges) for each considered crop and the WorldClim climatic database for Europe were used to develop maps showing the future potential crop climate suitability. The results confirm existing assumptions that, in general, the optimal climatic conditions for the production of selected crops will shift towards higher latitudes or altitudes. Indeed, this potential spatial shift is, of course, species specific and depends on many other natural and socio-economic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite differences in regional climates, cities world-wide have developed one common characteristic - the urban heat island (UHI). Its magnitude is related to city size, especially under cloudless sky conditions on a regional basis, although individual cities may be impacted by such local factors as proximity to large water bodies or prevailing winds. The UHI pattern in the small city of Ljutomer was examined in order to assess its intensity and morphology and to test the utility of the geographically weighted regression (GWR) method in modeling the regression relationships between mean air temperature and related influence factors in this small-scale urban example. Significant differences in mean air temperature between urban and rural areas were measured. It turned out that built-up areas in Ljutomer are on average 1 °C warmer than the rural surroundings in winter time. The regression analyses confirmed the important role of local non-stationary explanatory variables - distance to urban area, topographic position index and land-cover diversity - and global stationary variables - building volume per area and northness - in explaining spatial variation in mean air temperature. The relationships between mean air temperature and these five explanatory variables produced an overall model fit of 91%, utilizing the semiparametric GWR method, which was tested on the smallest scale so far published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural conditions play an important role as determinants and cocreators of the spatiotemporal road traffic accident Hot Spot footprint; however, none of the modern commercial, or open-source, navigation systems currently provides it for the driver. Our findings, based on a spatiotemporal database recording 11 years of traffic accidents in Slovenia, proved that different weather conditions yield distinct spatial patterns of dangerous road segments. All potentially dangerous road segments were identified and incorporated into a mobile spatial decision support system (SLOCrashInfo), which raises awareness among drivers who are entering or leaving the predefined danger zones on the street network. It is expected that such systems could potentially increase road traffic safety in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half of today's global human population lives in urban areas. As a result, built-up areas are expanding and thus creating the urban heat island (UHI) effect. This effect is known as one of the most widely recognized local meteoroidal phenomenon caused by anthropogenic activity. Owing to global climate change, the UHI phenomenon is intensifying, which poses even bigger threat to vulnerable social groups of citizens. It is also affecting the urban economy, especially energy consumption. For successful planning of mitigation and adaptation measures, urban design and sustainable development, analytical studies of the UHI phenomenon, using a combination of in-situ measurement data and remote sensing data, are crucial. When using the latter, we are often limited by the spatial resolution of the corresponding thermal bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring sufficient productivity growth is central to economic development. However, these process leaves behind characteristic environmental footprints which differ between economic systems driven by different political ideologies. To assess such landscape-level political-economic impacts, a homogeneous cultural landscape, shared by countries with different land use management systems, must be studied. The Trilateral Park Goričko-Raab-Örség represents an ideal investigation polygon for such research questions. In this paper, the time-sequences of LANDSAT satellite multi-spectral imagery were applied to calculate landscape change dynamics represented with spectral change magnitude and direction variables. The results show significant differences in both indicators, between countries (or political-economic systems) and between studied time intervals (1984-1992, 1992-2007, 2007-2020), despite the fact that, after the collapse of socialism in Yugoslavia and real-socialism in Hungary, there were no radical changes in land use or parcel ownership. Our findings have an addition value, since such an objective methodological approach can be practically transferred to all politically marginal areas that share a homogeneous cultural landscape and leave behind different spatial footprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of weather satellite recordings has been growing rapidly over the last three decades. Determining the patterns between meteorological and topographical features is an important scientific job. Cloud cover analysis and properties can be of the utmost significance for potential cloud seeding. Here, the analysis of the cloud properties was conducted by means of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite recordings. The resolution of used data was 1 km2 within the period of 30 years (1989–2019). This research showed moderate changing of cloudiness in the territory of Serbia with a high cloudiness in February, followed by cloudiness in January and November. For the past three decades, May has been the month with the highest cloudiness. The regions in the east and south-west, and particularly in the west, have a high absolute cloudiness, which is connected with the high elevation of the country. By means of long term monitoring, the whole territory of Serbia was analyzed for the first time, in terms of cloudiness. Apart from the statistical and numerical results obtained, this research showed a connection between relief and clouds, especially in the winter season. Linear regression MK (Mann-Kendall test) has proven this theory right, connecting high elevation sides with high absolute cloudiness through the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]