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The present work was aimed at the chemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of some extracts of aerial parts (essential oils from leaves and inflorescences and resins from inflorescences) of two legal hemp (Cannabis sativa) varieties, Tisza and Kompolti, grown in Sardinia. Chemical characterization was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The main constituent was myrcene (11.75% in Tisza and 18.21% in Kompolti); delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was not found, while cannabidiol was present up to 0.36% in Tisza and up to 2.80% in Kompolti. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts against a panel of microorganisms was also determined via minimum inhibitory concentration (M.I.C.) determination. While the results showed minor or negligible antimicrobial activity of the extracts against the Gram+ and Candida strains (M.I.C. values equal to or greater than 4 mg/mL), good antibacterial activity (especially of resins) was recorded against S. aureus (M.I.C. 0.015–0.031 mg/mL); no substantial differences were detected between the chemical compositions of the two Cannabis varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archaeologiai Értesítő is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present work was aimed at the chemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of some extracts of aerial parts (essential oils from leaves and inflorescences and resins from inflorescences) of two legal hemp (Cannabis sativa) varieties, Tisza and Kompolti, grown in Sardinia. Chemical characterization was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The main constituent was myrcene (11.75% in Tisza and 18.21% in Kompolti); delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was not found, while cannabidiol was present up to 0.36% in Tisza and up to 2.80% in Kompolti. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts against a panel of microorganisms was also determined via minimum inhibitory concentration (M.I.C.) determination. While the results showed minor or negligible antimicrobial activity of the extracts against the Gram+ and Candida strains (M.I.C. values equal to or greater than 4 mg/mL), good antibacterial activity (especially of resins) was recorded against S. aureus (M.I.C. 0.015–0.031 mg/mL); no substantial differences were detected between the chemical compositions of the two Cannabis varieties.

A characteristic, panduriform, large (ca 80 μm in length) diatom was sporadically detected in the Hungarian rivers in 2021 and 2022. Surirella tientsinensis Skvortzov emend. Liu was regarded as an Asian endemic species practically from its description until the second decade of the 21st century. Here we present the first Hungarian occurrence of the taxon from 2021, which is the second record for Europe, after the previously published Ukrainian data. In 2022 Surirella tientsinen sis was detected from two other Hungarian river sampling localities. Due to the unmistakable outlook of the species, probably it is a new member of the Hungarian diatom flora, and its parallel occurrences in some localities within a short time, is noteworthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River systems and their floodplains can be studied and evaluated according to different aspects. The natural processes of the Tisza were mostly influenced by the river training and levee construction works named after Vásárhelyi, as well as the main channel regulation works. After the construction of the embankments, the fluvial formation of the natural floodplains ceased, as these processes limited it to areas of the floodplain along the main channel. Another consequence of the river regulations is that the river is forced to deposit the sediment transported during the floods in this narrow floodplain causing increased filling up, so the role of floodplains in flood conveyance has increasingly been reduced. In this study, the author aimed to investigate the bed changes that occurred as a result of the river regulation works, as well as the sediment accumulation in the flood plain, focusing on a typical section of the Middle Tisza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tourism & Rural Development Studies / Turisztikai és Vidékfejlesztési Tanulmányok is the property of CampInvest Kft. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Due to extreme weather, occasionally Hungary's main rivers and lakes grow an ice cover causing severe damage to infrastructure and increased flood hazard. During cold periods in 2017 and 2022, a dangerous layer of ice developed on the main rivers in the country. Since river ice is rare in this region, no permanent ice monitoring system is in operation. Due to their all weather capabilities, active remote sensing instruments provide a good opportunity to monitor ice coverage. ESA's Sentinel-1 radar satellites acquire data with a relatively high spatial and temporal resolution. A method was developed to provide ice coverage information at a regular interval; depending on the satellite revisit, at least once every 5 days, but often also on a daily basis. In 2017, maps were created for sections along the Danube and in 2022 for another section of the Tisza river. The ice coverage was calculated with a spatial resolution of 10 metre and visualised with a spatial density of 100 metre along the rivers. The mapping procedure provides visual information to give a fast overview of the spatial extent of ice coverage and quantitative , tabular information for operational activities to mitigate the damage due to ice packs and ice jams.

The Tisza and Dacia mega-units constitute a central part of the Alps-Carpathians-Dinarides orogenic system. Polyphase medium-grade metamorphism observed in mineral assemblages from the crystalline basement is often correlated with Variscan and pre-Variscan events. However, a mid-Cretaceous Sm-Nd garnet age (103.6 ± 1.8 Ma) from the Apuseni Mountains is at odds with this interpretation. Electron-microprobe U-Th-Pb dating of monazite in samples from the Apuseni Mountains, the Rodna Mountains, as well as the Şimleu Silvaniei, Ticău and Preluca inselbergs revealed a complex pattern of Alpine and pre-Alpine age clusters. Pre-Variscan and Variscan ages were obtained from the core of zoned monazite grains and from samples that apparently escaped Alpine overprinting. Relic monazite in the latter is often replaced by rhabdophane and/or surrounded by allanite coronas. Permian to Early Triassic monazite ages correlate with the intrusion of granitic melts and pegmatites. Early Cretaceous ages from rims of chemically zoned grains and from monazite inclusions in garnet, biotite and staurolite represent newly formed metamorphic grains that crystallized on the prograde path during Alpine metamorphism. Petrographic observations of prograde allanite breakdown reactions, Sm-Nd garnet analyses and thermobaric estimates (500-550 °C/5-8 kbar) from parts of the Tisza and Dacia mega-units constrain medium-grade conditions during Early Cretaceous times. Exclusively mid-Cretaceous monazite ages from the inselbergs and the Rebra-Unit of the Rodna Mountains, allow extending the Alpine prograde overprint across the Transylvanian basin. Together with other studies from the basement of the Pannonian basin, this implies that the Dacia Mega-Unit and parts of the Tisza Mega-Unit experienced a medium-grade metamorphic overprint and synkinematic garnet-growth during late Early Cretaceous times. The Alpine prograde medium-grade overprint is pronounced in the contact zone between the Tisza and Dacia mega-units and forms a continuous belt with the Cretaceous metamorphic imprint in the Eastern Alps, when back-rotated to its original position during the Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection against floods along the Tisza, Danube and their major tributaries have become an issue of state security significance since nearly 2.5 million lives are affected. The floods of 1999 and 2000 on the Tisza and the 2013 flood on the Danube demonstrated that the 150-year-old system was corrected at the expense of outstanding financial investment and human effort although it is clear that the flood-protection structures built observing contemporary prescriptions are not able to provide the necessary protection. With the rising flood levels and other reasons (including climate change, tectonic movements, changes in river mechanism and others), their protection potential will be further reduced in the future. The warning signs are getting more and more frequent. Since 1864 there have been almost 30 disastrous floods on the Tisza alone. Over the past quarter of a century there happened ten high floods, during which the flood-control system could not ensure the safe conveyance of flood waves. The changes on the Danube were also very remarkable in spite of the major water engineering interventions along the Hungarian section of the river.

The extreme weather conditions caused by the climate change have strong impact on the everyday life of people. This study aims to analyse the changes in the life quality of those who live in the villages and towns affected by the 2001 floods in north-east Hungary. The study is based on statistical data and a survey conducted in nine settlements of the afflicted area. The floods had strong impact on the built environment and on local communities as well. According to our results, the majority of locals have experienced the negative effects of floods and had their homes ruined or damaged. The respondents experienced flood-related migration in the studied area and their impression was that mainly poor and unemployed people inmigration to the studied area.

Rivers on territory of the Republic of Serbia can be separated to three sea drainage basins: Black, Adriatic and Aegean. Majority of rivers belong to the Black Sea drainage basin. The Danube is the most important river in Serbia and one of the most important rivers of Europe. All rivers investigated in this paper represent direct or indirect tributaries of the Danube River and as that, they are belonging to the Black Sea drainage basin. In this study, the water quality status and the spatial and temporal trends of seven major rivers in Serbia were assessed through the application of ten parameters of Water Quality Index. Ten year (2004-2013) public database of environmental data was used. Into considerations were taken differences between every river individually and difference between sample positions on every single river. Based on the chemical parameters of water quality, it can be seen that the biggest rivers in Serbia show different values of WQ parameters. The highest WQ value is measured on the Drina River, while the lowest value is measured on the Južna Morava and the Tisza River. Analyses of parameters per period of year show that there is a statistically significant difference between values during warm and cold periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The “two-fluid model” of superfluidity was first introduced by Laszlo Tisza in 1938. On that year, Tisza published the principles of his model as a brief note in Nature and two articles in French in the Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences , followed in 1940 by two other articles in French in the Journal de physique et le Radium . In 1941, the two-fluid model was reformulated by Lev Landau on a more rigorous basis. Successive experiments confirmed the revolutionary idea introduced by Tisza: superfluid helium is indeed a surprising mixture of two fluids with independent velocity fields. His prediction of the existence of heat waves, a consequence of his model, was also confirmed. Then, it took several decades for the superfluidity of liquid helium to be fully understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Ar-Ar muscovite and Rb-Sr biotite age data in combination with structural analyses from the Apuseni Mountains provide new constraints on the timing and kinematics of deformation during the Cretaceous. Time-temperature paths from the structurally highest basement nappe of the Apuseni Mountains in combination with sedimentary data indicate exhumation and a position close to the surface after the Late Jurassic emplacement of the South Apuseni Ophiolites. Early Cretaceous Ar-Ar muscovite ages from structurally lower parts in the Biharia Nappe System (Dacia Mega-Unit) show cooling from medium-grade conditions. NE-SW-trending stretching lineation and associated kinematic indicators of this deformation phase (D1) are overprinted by top-NW-directed thrusting during D2. An Albian to Turonian age (110-90 Ma) is proposed for the main deformation (D2) that formed the present-day geometry of the nappe stack and led to a pervasive retrograde greenschist-facies overprint. Thermochronological and structural data from the Bihor Unit (Tisza Mega-Unit) allowed to establish E-directed differential exhumation during Early-Late Cretaceous times (D3.1). Brittle detachment faulting (D3.2) and the deposition of syn-extensional sediments indicate general uplift and partial surface exposure during the Late Cretaceous. Brittle conditions persist during the latest Cretaceous compressional overprint (D4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 2016 field season, we investigated the influence of intense nest digging predation at a Sand Martin colony that is situated in natural habitat along the Tisza river. Over this season, foxes dug a large number of holes which either partly or fully destroyed 39% of burrows in a large colony, comprising over 1,500 pairs. This high level of predation caused death and/or injury to between 7% and 44% of breeding individuals and lowered the reproductive success of the colony as on average 20% (between 5% and 43%) less nestlings were fledged. The level of digging showed a negative exponential growth with burrow density. Our observations show that the burrows were most at threat between 0 m and 0.4 m from the top and between 0 m and 1.4 m from the bottom of the wall. These observations show that it is critically important to decrease the number of foxes and other potential nest predators, whose numbers have increased well above 'natural' levels over the last decade, in regions where Sand Martins are nesting as this species is in drastic decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River flow dynamics play an important role for aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Climate change is projected to significantly alter river flow regimes in Europe and worldwide. In this study, we evaluate future river flow alterations in the entire Danube River basin by means of ecologically relevant river flow indicators under different climate warming scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5). The process-based watershed model SWIM was applied for 1124 sub-catchments to simulate daily time series of river discharge for the Danube River and its tributaries under future scenario conditions. The derived hydrological data series were then statistically analyzed using eight eco-hydrological indicators to distinguish intra-year variations in the streamflow regime. The results are used to: (a) analyze the possible impacts of climate change on the ecologically relevant flow regime components; and (b) identify regions at the highest risk of climate change-driven flow alterations. Our results indicate that climate change will distinctively alter the recent ecological flow regime of the Danube River and, in particular, the tributaries of the Middle and Lower Danube basin. While for the RCP 2.6 scenario the projected flow alterations might still be considered moderate for many rivers, the impacts might strongly accelerate if global mean temperatures rise more than 2 °C compared to pre-industrial times. Under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 warming scenarios, the recent ecological flow regime might be highly altered, posing a serious threat to river and floodplain ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 19th century deforestation in the Carpathians and the growing population made flood control and river regulation an urgent task in the Carpathian Basin. As a result of shrinking active floodplains and cut-offs, the natural sedimentation/erosion equilibrium have been upset over the Hungarian Plain. The modified conditions have also changed the erosion patterns on minor floodplains. The present paper will outline the necessity for flood control, its effects and consequences for bank erosion. The present conditions and forms of bank erosion along the Hungarian rivers are considered and an overview is provided on the most important factors affecting bank protection with their socio-economic consequences in Hungary.

Clime change represents a current and important issue; in addition to the disputed global warming, at local or regional levels, floods could also be a consequence of this phenomenon. If the potential effects are assessed in terms of exposure, sensitivity, and vulnerability, a GIS methodology, based on statistical indicators and GIS modelling was used to assess the overall vulnerability of the Tisza river basin and define the flood-prone area. Even though specific indicators exhibited high values in some NUTS III units, the overall vulnerability of the regions appears to be low.

This article explores the elements limiting adaptive governance in the Tisza sub-basin, considers policy options available to the sub-basin, and concludes that more attention must be paid to frameworks governing adaptation in transboundary sub-basins where resources are limited. The Tisza is the largest sub-basin in the Danube River basin, and faces increasing water management pressures exacerbated by climate change. The Tisza countries have experienced challenges with managing climate change adaptation in a nested, consistent and effective manner pursuant to the EU Water Framework Directive. This is due to inefficiencies in climate change adaptation, such as weakened vertical coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection against floods along the Tisza, Danube and their major tributaries have become an issue of state security significance since nearly 2.5 million lives are affected. The floods of 1999 and 2000 on the Tisza and the 2013 flood on the Danube demonstrated that the 150-year-old system was corrected at the expense of outstanding financial investment and human effort although it is clear that the flood-protection structures built observing contemporary prescriptions are not able to provide the necessary protection. With the rising flood levels and other reasons (including climate change, tectonic movements, changes in river mechanism and others), their protection potential will be further reduced in the future. The warning signs are getting more and more frequent. Since 1864 there have been almost 30 disastrous floods on the Tisza alone. Over the past quarter of a century there happened ten high floods, during which the flood-control system could not ensure the safe conveyance of flood waves. The changes on the Danube were also very remarkable in spite of the major water engineering interventions along the Hungarian section of the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River flow dynamics play an important role for aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Climate change is projected to significantly alter river flow regimes in Europe and worldwide. In this study, we evaluate future river flow alterations in the entire Danube River basin by means of ecologically relevant river flow indicators under different climate warming scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5). The process-based watershed model SWIM was applied for 1124 sub-catchments to simulate daily time series of river discharge for the Danube River and its tributaries under future scenario conditions. The derived hydrological data series were then statistically analyzed using eight eco-hydrological indicators to distinguish intra-year variations in the streamflow regime. The results are used to: (a) analyze the possible impacts of climate change on the ecologically relevant flow regime components; and (b) identify regions at the highest risk of climate change-driven flow alterations. Our results indicate that climate change will distinctively alter the recent ecological flow regime of the Danube River and, in particular, the tributaries of the Middle and Lower Danube basin. While for the RCP 2.6 scenario the projected flow alterations might still be considered moderate for many rivers, the impacts might strongly accelerate if global mean temperatures rise more than 2 °C compared to pre-industrial times. Under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 warming scenarios, the recent ecological flow regime might be highly altered, posing a serious threat to river and floodplain ecosystems.

The original distribution of Caucasian dwarf goby (Knipowitschia caucasica) is the marine and brackish water habitat types of coastal areas, but also common in the lower, estuarine reaches of rivers. The first record of the species in the Carpathian Basin was in the Hungarian section of the River Szamos in 2009. The Caucasian dwarf goby had become a species of mass occurrence in the Lake Tisza reservoir located at the middle section of the River Tisza in 2013. The fast downward spread had been detected, so it was occurred from the the lower section of the River Tisza at the Serbian border. We collected the first specimens in the Serbian river sections at Senta and Kanjiža in March 2015. As a result of our collection at the Vojvodinan reach of the River Tisza can be stated that a new invasive goby species had naturalized in Serbia and its further spreading can be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lower Tisza valley in the Hungarian Great Plain consists mainly of small patches of seminatural grassland and forest fragments embedded in a matrix of agricultural fields. We tested the effect of landscape and habitat attributes on the structure of spider assemblages. The fieldwork was carried out in nine forest fragments within two regions in the southern part of the Hungarian Great Plain, near the river Tisza. The epigeic spider fauna was collected with pitfall traps. The traps were arranged in three groups of five traps at each fragment. Landscape attributes had the strongest effect on spider species composition at the scales between 250 and 750 m, with a peak at 500 m buffer. Spider species composition differed between regularly flooded and non-flooded fragments. Vegetation cover and the proportion of neighboring forests had significant effect on the rarefaction diversity of spiders. Flooding, soil moisture, vegetation cover, and the proportion of forests within 500 m buffer significantly affected spider assemblages. Our results suggest that both habitat and landscape attributes affected spider species richness and composition in lower Tisza valley. Preserving many forest types is essential to maintain the high number of species in the regional pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable resources management requires a major transformation of existing resource governance and management systems. These have evolved over a long time under an unsustainable management paradigm, e.g., the transformation from the traditionally prevailing technocratic flood protection toward the holistic integrated flood management approach. We analyzed such transformative changes using three case studies in Europe with a long history of severe flooding: the Hungarian Tisza and the German and Dutch Rhine. A framework based on societal learning and on an evolutionary understanding of societal change was applied to identify drivers and barriers for change. Results confirmed the importance of informal learning and actor networks and their connection to formal policy processes. Enhancing a society's capacity to adapt is a long-term process that evolves over decades, and in this case, was punctuated by disastrous flood events that promoted windows of opportunity for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and relationship between an alluvial plain and a neighboring alluvial fan was evaluated on the case of the Lower Tisza Region and the Maros alluvial fan. The paleo-channels on the surface differ in their size and channel-pattern, enabling us to reconstruct the paleo-direction changes and fluvial activity of the rivers. Based on the OSL dating the exact period of the fluvial activity could be determined, and the morphometric parameters of the channels refer to bankfull discharge values. On the surface of the Maros alluvial fan the oldest paleo-channels (a-d) run towards north and northwest, and carried much higher discharge (2-3500 m3/s), than of the present-day Maros. At the same time along the Tisza large meanders were developed, carrying also significant discharge (10-15000 m3/s). At the boundary between the Pleistocene and the Holocene the Tisza incised and the floodplain became two-leveled. At the same time the discharge did not change, thus the incision was probably induced by tectonic activity. As the erosional base of the Maros lowered, the Maros had changed its course considerably, as 8.5 ± 1.1 ka ago it turned to south (e-f paleo-channels) towards the most intensively sinking lower floodplain section of the Tisza River. At this time due to the increased slope the pattern of the Maros became braided for a short time. During the Holocene the discharge of the rivers continuously decreased to the present values (Tisza: 1980 m3/s, Maros: 680 m3/s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New zircon and apatite fission-track (FT) data, including apatite thermal modelling, are combined with an extensive literature survey and reconnaissance-type structural fieldwork in the Eastern Apuseni Mountains. This leads to a better understanding of the complex structural and thermal history of a key area at the boundary between two megatectonic units in the Balkan peninsula, namely the Tisza and Dacia Mega-Units. Following Late Jurassic obduction of the Transylvanian ophiolites onto a part of the Dacia Mega-Unit, that is, the Biharia nappe system, both units were buried to a minimum of 8 km during late Early Cretaceous times when these units were underthrust below the Tisza Mega-Unit consisting of the present-day Codru and Bihor nappe systems. Tisza formed the upper plate during Early Cretaceous ('Austrian') east-facing orogeny. Turonian to Campanian zircon FT cooling ages (95-71 Ma) from the Bihor and Codru nappe systems and the Biharia and Baia de Arieş nappes (at present the structurally lowest part of the Dacia Mega-Unit) record exhumation that immediately followed a second Cretaceous-age (i.e. Turonian) orogenic event. Thrusting during this overprinting event was NW-facing and led to the overall geometry of the present-day nappe stack in the Apuseni Mountains. Zircon FT ages, combined with thermal modelling of the apatite FT data, show relatively rapid post-tectonic cooling induced by a third shortening pulse during the latest Cretaceous ('Laramian' phase), followed by slower cooling across the 120°-60 °C temperature interval during latest Cretaceous to earliest Paleogene times (75-60 Ma). Cenozoic-age slow cooling (60-40 Ma) was probably related to erosional denudation postdating 'Laramian' large-scale updoming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clime change represents a current and important issue; in addition to the disputed global warming, at local or regional levels, floods could also be a consequence of this phenomenon. If the potential effects are assessed in terms of exposure, sensitivity, and vulnerability, a GIS methodology, based on statistical indicators and GIS modelling was used to assess the overall vulnerability of the Tisza river basin and define the flood-prone area. Even though specific indicators exhibited high values in some NUTS III units, the overall vulnerability of the regions appears to be low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since it is Hungary's second largest river, the River Tisza is important both as a river and because of its active floodplain. The contaminations endanger the aquatic and the related living nature as well as the farming in the active floodplain. The water quality of the river is examined regularly by the competent authority but far less information is available about the active floodplain. More data is necessary in order to estimate the potential danger. In this paper the River Tisza and its tributaries were examined, especially considering the metal accumulation and its relation to the soil characteristics. We started to create the database in 2004 and several tasks were achieved: the metal content of the root zone in the active floodplain (horizontal distribution); the metal content of the upper 1 m zone in the active floodplain (vertical distribution); the general water chemical and isotope analyses and the metal content of the oxbow lakes near the River Tisza; the metal content of the sediments of the oxbow lakes. More than 300 surface soil samples, 18 soil profiles (18 x 50 samples) and 45 oxbow lakes were examined up to now. Cu, Co, Fe, Ni, Mn, Zn contents were determined in every case and As, Cd, Pb determinations were also carried out in reasonable cases. ArcGIS 9.0 was applied in order to create the spatial database and the statistical analyses of the data were carried out with SPSS. In this paper some case studies will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade more and more science deals with the problems of the floodplain sedimentation and the higher peaks of the flood water-level, with the same discharge drew the attention to these issues. This process can be explained by the diminution of the cross-section. Since the width of the active floodplain is stabile, the diminution is the consequence of the alluviation (the rise of the bottom level). The chosen sample areas - three floodplain dilatations (the water slows down here so the sedimentation is more considerable) - are situated in the right bank of the River Tisza between Tarpa and Jánd. We tried to prove the existence of the sedimentation with Digital Elevation Model (DEM) made from 1:10000 maps, comparing the mean altitude of the active floodplains and reclaimed sides. Regarding the supposable that the altitudes of the two areas were the same before the diking of the artificial levees, the recent differences occurred in the period passed from the diking of the levees to the mapping served as a basis of the DEM. The examination based on digital base was completed with the sedimentology analysis of the drilled layers of an alluviating floodplain dead bed. Regarding the altitudes of the active floodplain and the reclaimed side in the three sample areas the same results were yielded using two different methods. The mean altitude of the active floodplains exceeded with 0.2-1.1 m the altitude of the reclaimed sides. Going downstream the rate of the sedimentation is decreasing with the decrease of the gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear genetic variation and population structure were assessed in 140 individuals from 16 populations across the range of the Danube crested newt (Triturus dobrogicus) using 40 enzyme loci. Intraspecific hybridization with other crested newt species (Triturus carnifex, T. cristatus, T. macedonicus and T. arntzeni) affected 33 individuals in 11 populations at the range edge and reduced operational sample size to 107 T. dobrogicus in 14 populations. Allele diversity was high, and we inferred a high level of gene flow among T. dobrogicus populations, possibly associated with flooding conditions and the relatively continous habitat along rivers. Triturus dobrogicus showed weak but significant genetic structure between tributaries of the three main river systems of Danube, Sava and Tisza. The highest genetic diversity was observed in the Sava drainage, suggesting that this area might have been a Pannonian refugium during the most recent glacial maximum. The relatively high level of genetic variation observed suggests that a genetic bottleneck during this period has not been extreme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ecological changes in the natural environment of the Great Hungarian Plain. It describes the effect of river regulation of the Danube River system on the Tisza river lowlands, the history of land use in human settlement patterns, and the effect of the channelization of the river system on the marshes and farmlands of Bodrogköz, Hungary. Water drainage patterns are discussed, along with the economic value of the Tisza river. Other subjects under discussion include the pasturing of flood plain areas through geomorphological processes, the social aspects of isolated villages, and the allotment of farm land in the 19th century.

One of the greatest river regulation schemes of Europe was implemented in Hungary during the second half of 19th century. River control, flood protection and other human interventions on the watershed brought unambiguous and measurable changes in the natural regime of Hungarian rivers. The most evident outcome has been the regular increase in the maximum of flood stages. Simultaneously with flood level increase the level of low waters decreased while their duration increased. As a consequence of flood level increase and low water level decrease the regime of Hungarian rivers has become more extreme. Increasing water level fluctuation is the most obvious on the Tisza and its tributaries. The flood hydrology of alluvial rivers is further complicated by their tributaries as well as the water level of the trunk river. For example a flood wave on the Danube, as it occurred in 2006, can impound the water of the Tisza and affect reaches 100 km upstream of the estuary. The city of Szeged is on the both part of the Tisza river at the mouth of the Maros river. The history of the city is closely linked to flood control activities. The flood section at Szeged was developed after the flood events. The levee system lost its defence capacity during the biggest flood event in 2006. The development of the flood section is indispensable for the safety of the fourth biggest city of Hungary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic hazards such as floods and droughts have always been a primary matter of concern for human populations. Severe floods damage settlements, transport networks, and arable land. Although devastating droughts are harmful primarily for agriculture and terrestrial ecosystems, they can also lead to local water supply shortages. Despite significant achievements in science and technology and success stories in environmental management in the 20th century, people still continue to suffer the consequences of climate hazards worldwide. This paper provides an overview of existing practices for coping with floods and droughts, compares strategies in different river basins, and outlines the areas that need improvement. First, the existing protection measures and response strategies against floods and droughts are briefly described. An overview is given of expected climate change and existing coping strategies for floods and droughts in seven case study basins. Four of the basins, namely the Elbe, Guadiana, Rhine, and Tisza, are located in Europe the Nile and the Orange are in Africa; and the Amudarya is in Central Asia. Analysis of the coping strategies shows that structural measures exist in all seven river basins, but that nonstructural measures are generally not very extensive and/or advanced. Finally, the success stories in dealing with climatic hazards and lessons learned, taken partly from the seven case study basins and partly from literature, are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable resources management requires a major transformation of existing resource governance and management systems. These have evolved over a long time under an unsustainable management paradigm, e.g., the transformation from the traditionally prevailing technocratic flood protection toward the holistic integrated flood management approach. We analyzed such transformative changes using three case studies in Europe with a long history of severe flooding: the Hungarian Tisza and the German and Dutch Rhine. A framework based on societal learning and on an evolutionary understanding of societal change was applied to identify drivers and barriers for change. Results confirmed the importance of informal learning and actor networks and their connection to formal policy processes. Enhancing a society's capacity to adapt is a long-term process that evolves over decades, and in this case, was punctuated by disastrous flood events that promoted windows of opportunity for change.

Climatic hazards such as floods and droughts have always been a primary matter of concern for human populations. Severe floods damage settlements, transport networks, and arable land. Although devastating droughts are harmful primarily for agriculture and terrestrial ecosystems, they can also lead to local water supply shortages. Despite significant achievements in science and technology and success stories in environmental management in the 20th century, people still continue to suffer the consequences of climate hazards worldwide. This paper provides an overview of existing practices for coping with floods and droughts, compares strategies in different river basins, and outlines the areas that need improvement. First, the existing protection measures and response strategies against floods and droughts are briefly described. An overview is given of expected climate change and existing coping strategies for floods and droughts in seven case study basins. Four of the basins, namely the Elbe, Guadiana, Rhine, and Tisza, are located in Europe; the Nile and the Orange are in Africa; and the Amudarya is in Central Asia. Analysis of the coping strategies shows that structural measures exist in all seven river basins, but that nonstructural measures are generally not very extensive and/or advanced. Finally, the success stories in dealing with climatic hazards and lessons learned, taken partly from the seven case study basins and partly from literature, are summarized.