DOCSLIB.ORG

Climate Change and Hungary: Mitigating the Hazard and Preparing for the Impacts (The “Vahava” Report)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Climate Change and Hungary: Mitigating the Hazard and Preparing for the Impacts (The “Vahava” Report) CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUNGARY: MITIGATING THE HAZARD AND PREPARING FOR THE IMPACTS (THE “VAHAVA” REPORT) Budapest 2010 vvahava-2010-12.inddahava-2010-12.indd BB11 22010.12.08.010.12.08. 111:26:251:26:25 The VAHAVA Report is the outcome of the VAHAVA Project, which was implemented in the period of 2003-2006 with some follow-up activities during 2007-2008. The basic objective of the Project was the synthetisation of the scientifi c results on the climate change hazard, assessment of its impacts in our region, and the science-based national mitigation and adaptation response policy options. Edited by TIBOR FARAGÓ, ISTVÁN LÁNG, LÁSZLÓ CSETE The VAHAVA Report is based on the contributions of the following experts: István LÁNG (Foreword) Tibor FARAGÓ (1. International climate policy cooperation and Hungary) Judit BARTHOLY and Rita PONGRÁCZ (2. Climate change scenarios for the Carpathian Basin) István LÁNG (3. The “VAHAVA” project) Gábor VIDA (4. Nature conservation and the climatic factors) Kornél HARKÁNYI (5. Water management and climate change) Márton JOLÁNKAI (6. Agriculture, soil management and climate change) György VÁRALLYAY (7. Soil functions, soil management and the climatic factors) Ernő FÜHRER (8. Forestry and climate change) Tamás JÁSZAY (9. Energy and climate change) Bálint PETRÓ (10. Architecture: climatic impacts and response measures) Katalin TÁNCZOS (11. Traffi c, transportation and the climatic factors) Anna PÁLDY (12. Health, health protection and the climatic factors) Ágnes SALLAY (13. Climate change and tourism) István BUKOVICS (14. Tasks of catastrophe defence in light of global climate change) László CSETE (15. Creating reserves) Zoltán DEZSÉNY (16. Insurance implications of climate change) Viktória SZIRMAI (17. Climate-conscious thinking and the Hungarian society) Ferenc LIGETVÁRI (18. Climate change and the tasks in research and development) Zsolt HARNOS (19. Climate change and risk) János SZLÁVIK and Mária CSETE (20. Climate change and economics of rehabilitation and reconstruction) Miklós ZÁGONI (21. The national strategy on climate change) The editors express their gratitude to Géza Jolánkai for preparation of the English version of several chapters of this publication. ISBN vvahava-2010-12.inddahava-2010-12.indd BB22 22010.12.08.010.12.08. 111:26:321:26:32 CONTENTS FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................ 3 1. INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE POLICY COOPERATION AND HUNGARY .............4 2. CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIOS FOR THE CARPATHIAN BASIN ..................... 12 3. THE “VAHAVA” PROJECT ...........................................................................................22 4. NATURE CONSERVATION AND THE CLIMATIC FACTORS ................................ 27 5. WATER MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE ............................................... 32 6. AGRICULTURE, SOIL MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE ......................38 7. SOIL FUNCTIONS, SOIL MANAGEMENT AND THE CLIMATIC FACTORS ..... 46 8. FORESTRY AND CLIMATE CHANGE .......................................................................50 9. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...........................................................................55 10. ARCHITECTURE: CLIMATIC IMPACTS AND RESPONSE MEASURES ..............61 11. TRAFFIC, TRANSPORTATION AND THE CLIMATIC FACTORS .........................66 12. HEALTH, HEALTH PROTECTION AND THE CLIMATIC FACTORS .................... 70 13. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TOURISM .........................................................................76 14. TASKS OF CATASTROPHE DEFENCE IN LIGHT OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE .........................................................................................................................82 15. CREATING RESERVES ............................................................................................... 85 16. INSURANCE IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ...........................................89 17. CLIMATE-CONSCIOUS THINKING AND THE HUNGARIAN SOCIETY ............94 18. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE TASKS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT .. 100 19. CLIMATE CHANGE AND RISK ................................................................................104 20. CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECONOMICS OF REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION .......................................................................................... 109 21. THE NATIONAL STRATEGY ON CLIMATE CHANGE .........................................114 22. CONCLUSIONS AND PROPOSALS ............................................................................118 vvahava-2010-12.inddahava-2010-12.indd 1 22010.12.08.010.12.08. 111:26:321:26:32 vvahava-2010-12.inddahava-2010-12.indd 2 22010.12.08.010.12.08. 111:26:321:26:32 FOREWORD Climatic variability and the occurrence of various extreme meteorological and hydrometeorological events had always their signifi cant imprints on socio-economic activities and the natural systems in the Carpathian basin. According to observations, the number and intensity of these extreme events have increased for the recent decades. Such a tendency could be detected especially for droughts, fl oods, heavy rainfalls and heat waves. Concerning the longer-term tendencies, there is a clear increasing trend in the annual average surface temperatures detectable from the beginning of the systematic observations in the region. These tendencies well coincide with the regional characteristics derived from the climate change scenarios, which are developed by means of various global and regional climate models. The research community called attention long ago to the hazard of global climate change, its man-made factors and its potential adverse implications. Based on the scientifi c results, high-level decisions-makers agreed on initial measures in order to cope with this hazard and adopted a framework convention on climate change in 1992 with the subsequent Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The latter one included concrete emission control commitments for the developed countries. After acceding to the European Union, Hungary fulfi ls the relevant national mitigation policies by taking into account the specifi c Community instruments, such as the EU’s emission trading scheme (by specifying emission quotas for various installations), provisions regulating the use of renewable energy sources etc. Mitigation measures should be set and implemented for quite many economic sectors, for instance, for energy management (both production and consumption), transport, industry, agriculture, forestry (in terms of its carbon sequestration capacity). Besides mitigation approach, it is already unavoidable to make preparations for adaptation to the anticipated changing environmental conditions. It is essential also for many sectors, which are especially vulnerable to the impacts of the above-mentioned extreme events; these include for example water management, agriculture, forestry, health. Obviously, these measures can be implemented effi ciently only if their interrelations are taken into consideration and there are also proper mechanisms for coordination. In June 2003 the Hungarian Ministry for the Environment and Water Management and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences have launched a joint research project under the title of “Global climate change, Hungarian impacts and responses”. The name “VAHAVA” of this project is an abbreviation of the Hungarian fi rst letters of the key words ”Changes-Impacts- Responses” (VÁltozás-HAtás-VÁlaszadás). The primary purpose of this endeavour was to consolidate the scientifi c basis for policy-making in context of the climate change hazard. The project mobilized the experts representing all key scientifi c disciplines. Apparently, the project considerably contributed to raising the public awareness on this critical issue and it also resulted in elaboration of a national climate change strategy. This publication presents the basic thematic areas and it also summarizes the main fi ndings of the project. István Láng member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences principal coordinator of the VAHAVA project vvahava-2010-12.inddahava-2010-12.indd 3 22010.12.08.010.12.08. 111:26:321:26:32 1. INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE POLICY COOPERATION AND HUNGARY Scientists had long ago called attention to the possibility of the global climate change, caused by human activities, but nearly a century had to be elapsed until politicians and decision makers also started to deal seriously with this issue. From the early 1970s some high ranking politicians recognized the signifi cance of this hazard and took more seriously the increasing amount of information from the scientifi c circles on the changes of quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the long-term trends of global climate characteristics and the scenarios derived from the simple early numerical models. At the UN Conference on Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972 and in the documents adopted by the participants, the risk of the changing climate as caused at least partially by anthropogenic activities was mentioned already in very general terms. The need to cooperate at international level on emerging large-scale environmental problems – that time primarily focusing on the acidifi cation - has been reinforced in the Final Act of the Helsinki Conference in 1975. Complex fi eld experiences and dynamic climatological modelling studies were carried out in the second half of the 1970s in the framework of the interdisciplinary and intergovernmental Global Atmospheric Research Programme (GARP) that was
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Relationship Between Landslide Activity and Weather: Examples from Hungary
    Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (2003) 3: 43–52 c European Geosciences Union 2003 Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences The relationship between landslide activity and weather: examples from Hungary J. Szabo´ Department of Physical Geography, P.O. Box 9, H-4010 Debrecen, Hungary Received: 27 November 2001 – Revised: 7 May 2002 – Accepted: 8 May 2002 Abstract. The paper presents the impact of irregular rainfall by them may be largely variable in the geomorphic evolution events triggering landslides in the regional context of land- of regions where conditions are favourable. Rock quality, slides in Hungary. The author’s experience, gathered from stratification, slopes with high variability locally (e.g. as a decades of observations, confirms that landslide processes result of lateral river erosion) lead to various landslide types, are strongly correlate with precipitation events in all three and the changing weather conditions affect them in different landscape types (hill regions of unconsolidated sediments; ways. high bluffs along river banks and lake shores; mountains of The paper investigates some aspects of the relationship be- Tertiary stratovolcanoes). Case studies for each landscape tween landslides and weather in the regional context of land- type underline that new landslides are triggered and old ones slides in Hungary (Szabo,´ 1992, 1993, 1996a). In addition, are reactivated by extreme winter precipitation events. This the author introduces some case studies, particularly from the assertion is valid mainly for shallow and translational slides. northeastern part of the country. Wet autumns favour landsliding, while the triggering influ- ence of intense summer rainfalls is of a subordinate nature. A recent increasing problem lies in the fact that on previously 2 Methods unstable slopes, stabilised during longer dry intervals, an in- The author has been investigating landslides and the fea- tensive cultivation starts, thus increasing the damage caused tures produced by them for more than thirty years.
    [Show full text]
  • Budapest, 1900-1918
    The First Nyugat Generation and the Politics of Modern Literature: Budapest, 1900-1918 Maxwell Staley 2009 Central European University, History Department Budapest, Hungary Supervisor: Gábor Gyáni Second Reader: Matthias Riedl In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts CEU eTD Collection 2 Copyright in the text of this thesis rests with the Author. Copies by any process, either in full or part, may be made only in accordance with the instructions given by the Author and lodged in the Central European Library. Details may be obtained from the librarian. This page must form a part of any such copies made. Further copies made in accordance with such instructions may not be made without the written permission of the Author. CEU eTD Collection 3 Abstract This thesis investigates the connections between arts and politics in fin-de-siècle Hungary, as expressed in the writings of the First Nyugat Generation. Various elements of the cultural debate in which the Nyugat writers participated can illustrate the complexities of this relationship. These are the debate over the aesthetics of national literature, the urban-versus-rural discourse, and the definition of the national community. Through close reading of the Nyugat group’s writings on these topics, two themes are explored, relating to the ambivalence with which the Nyugat writers implemented their project of westernizing Hungarian culture. The first is the dominant presence of the nationalist discourse within an ostensibly cosmopolitan endeavor. This fits in with a general artistic trend of Hungarian modernism, and can be explained with reference to the ambiguous position of Hungary within Europe and the subsequent complexities present in the national discourse.
    [Show full text]
  • The Late Quaternary Paleoecology and Environmental History of Hortobágy, a Unique Mosaic Alkaline Steppe from the Heart of the Carpathian Basin
    In: Steppe Ecosystems ISBN: 978-1-62808-298-2 Editors: M. B. Morales Prieto and J. Traba Diaz © 2013 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. No part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted commercially in any form or by any means. The publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this digital document, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained herein. This digital document is sold with the clear understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, medical or any other professional services. Chapter 8 THE LATE QUATERNARY PALEOECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF HORTOBÁGY, A UNIQUE MOSAIC ALKALINE STEPPE FROM THE HEART OF THE CARPATHIAN BASIN Pál Sümegi1,2,, Gábor Szilágyi3, Sándor Gulyás1, Gusztáv Jakab4 and Attila Molnár3 1University of Szeged, Department of Geology and Paleontology, Szeged, Hungary 2Institute of Archeology, Hungarian Academy of Science, Budapest, Hungary 3Headquaters of the Hortobágy National Park, Debrecen, Hungary 4University of Szent István, Tessedik Campus, Szarvas, Hungary ABSTRACT The first national park in Hungary was established in 1973 in the area of Hortobágy with the aim of protecting dry and humid alkaline steppe areas and concomitant fauna. In 1999 the Hortobágy National Park was included in the world heritage list of the UNESCO. The outstanding importance of the park comes from dominantly non-arboreal, steppe vegetation harboring a unique avifauna and highly variable alkaline and chernozem soils displaying a complex mosaic-like spatial patterning.
    [Show full text]
  • Clim Mate C Change an Cas ESPO E and T Nd Loc Fin a Se Stu on Clim
    Versioon 31/05/2011 ESPON Climate: Climate Change and Territorial Effects on Regions and Local Economies Applied Research Project 2013/1/4 Final Report Annex 2 Case Study Tisza River Csete, Mária (BME) Dzurdzenik, Jan (ARR) Göncz, Annamária (VÁTI) Király, Dóra (VÁTI) Pálvölgyi, Tamás (BME) Peleanu, Ion (URBAN-INCERC) Petrisor, Alexandru-Ionut (URBAN-INCERC) Schneller, Krisztián (VÁTI) Staub, Ferenc (VÁTI) Tesliar, Jaroslav (ARR) Visy, Erzsébet 1 This report presents the final results of an Applied Research Project conducted within the framework of the ESPON 2013 Programme, partly financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The partnership behind the ESPON Programme consists of the EU Commission and the Member States of the EU27, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Each partner is represented in the ESPON Monitoring Committee. This report does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the members of the Monitoring Committee. Information on the ESPON Programme and projects can be found on www.espon.eu The web site provides the possibility to download and examine the most recent documents produced by finalised and ongoing ESPON projects. This basic report exists only in an electronic version. ISBN 978-2-919777-04-4 © ESPON & VATI, 2011 Printing, reproduction or quotation is authorised provided the source is acknowledged and a copy is forwarded to the ESPON Coordination Unit in Luxembourg. Contents 0. Introduction 1 1. Characterisation of the region 3 2. Main effects of climate changes on case study region 12 3. Validation of the exposure indicators of pan-European analysis from a regional aspect 25 4. Climate change impacts on river floods based on national and regional level literatures 40 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Precipitation in the Carpathian Basin
    TEMPORALTEMPORAL ANDAND SPATIALSPATIAL CHANGESCHANGES OFOF CLIMATECLIMATE ELEMENTSELEMENTS ININ HUNGARYHUNGARY PRECIPITATIONPRECIPITATION © As the climate of Hungary tends to drought , temporal and spatial distribution of precipitation has of special importance in agriculturala nd ecological point of view . © Precipitation in Hungary is generally less than the requirement of vegetation . A csapad ék által ában kevesebb, mint a veget áci ó ig énye. The climatic water balance is negative in the substantial part of the country. Mean monthly and annual sums of precipitation in Hungary, mm, 1961-1990 station year Temporal dynamics of precipitation © The annual cozrse of precipitation shows double wave . Minimum precipitation falls in January . This is due to the low vapour pressure and frequent anticyclonic large -scale weather situations (Siberian maximum). © Most of the precipitation falls between May to July . This may be associated with the maximum vapour pressure , near the Medard cyclone activity , and the intensifying convection . © Maximum precipitation shows slight temporal delays in different regions of the country . © In the Transdanubian Hills and the Bakony area the most precipitation occurs in May , in West Hungary in July , while in the major part of the country in June . Temporal dynamics of precipitation © A secondary maximum of precipitation can also be observed at autumn (October -November ) in South Dun ánt úl and in the south - east slopes of Dun ánt úli Medium-high Mountains . © It comes from the rains of warm fronts of the Mediterranean cyclones (Genoa cyclones ) originating from Ligurian sea area . © It is not uncommon that , due to abundant autumn rains , winter hal - year is wetter (in 20 -30% of the cases ).
    [Show full text]
  • Tourism Development in Hungary on the Example of the Northern Hungary Region
    FOLIA GEOGRAPHICA • ISSN 1336-6157 (hard copy) • ISSN 2454-1001 (online) TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN HUNGARY ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE NORTHERN HUNGARY REGION Zoltán BUJDOSÓ A*, Ádám GYURKÓ B, Béla BENKŐ C Received: May 6, 2019 | Revised: July 13, 2019 | Accepted: August 7, 2019 Paper No. 19-61/2-533 Abstract The current study’s topic is the summary of the results of a touristic core area impoundment whose target area is the region of Northern Hungary. The methodological basis of the research was given by the work of Antal Aubert and Géza Szabó who made a similar touristic impoundment along five parameter examinations. The matter of research is relevant as an investigation based on similar quantitative methods has not been made yet on the target area; moreover it consists of important results for the profession as the national tourism has evolved to a determining industry at a national economy level too. Based on what we read, it is essential to assert that which municipalities, areas are the region’s real touristic scenes. As the results of the research are numerical data, it enabled to set up a ranking between the emerging core areas and the touristic municipalities. On this basis, it can be determined that which areas are the most preferable tourist places. Further advantage of the quantification is that the study can conclude to the touristic fullness as well, knowing the potential of the given destinations, municipalities. This knowledge is of major importance in the basis of setting of objectives in touristic strategies. The current research, regarding the future, is an ideal starting point to know the region’s real tourism, and to compare with the already existing touristic zones, like for instance the priority holiday zones impoundment.
    [Show full text]
  • CENTRE for REGIONAL STUDIES of HUNGARIAN ACADEMY of SCIENCES DISCUSSION PAPERS No. 28 Climate History of Hungary Since 16Th Cent
    Discussion Papers 1999. No. 28. Climate History of Hungary Since 16th Century: Past, Present and Future CENTRE FOR REGIONAL STUDIES OF HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES DISCUSSION PAPERS No. 28 Climate History of Hungary Since 16th Century: Past, Present and Future by Lajos RACZ Series editor Zoltan GAL Pecs 1999 Discussion Papers 1999. No. 28. Climate History of Hungary Since 16th Century: Past, Present and Future Publishing of this paper is supported by the Research Fund of the Centre for Regional Studies, Hungary Translated by Rita Konta Translation revised by Neil MacAskill Figures Katalin Molnarne Kasza Technical editor Mihaly Fodor Tiberias BT ISSN 0238-2008 © 1999 by Centre for Regional Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Typeset by Centre for Regional Studies of HAS Printed in Hungary by Siimegi Nyomdaipari, Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Ltd., Pecs Discussion Papers 1999. No. 28. Climate History of Hungary Since 16th Century: Past, Present and Future CONTENTS Foreword 5 Acknowledgements 6 1. Territorial Variations of the Hungarian State since 1000 AD 7 2. Sources for Hungarian Climate History Research 12 2.1. Documentary Sources of Rethly's Source Book 14 2.1.1. Chronicles, Annals 15 2.1.2. Records of Public Administration 17 2.1.3. Private Estate Records 18 2.1.4. Personal Papers 18 2.1.5. Early Journalism 20 2.1.6. Early Instrument Based Records 20 2.1.7. Meteorological Instrument Records 21 2.2. Method of Analyzing the Source Documents 22 3. Climate Characteristics of the Carpathian Basin 25 3.1. Temperature Conditions of Hungary 25 3.2. Precipitation in Hungary 27 4.
    [Show full text]
  • 137. Évfolyam, 2. Szám
    Krónika Bérci Károly (1952–2012) – SCHWEITZER FERENC – TINER TIBOR ......................................................... 209 Irodalom Frisnyák Sándor: Tájhasználat és térszervezés. Történeti földrajzi tanulmányok. – BOROS LÁSZLÓ ... 211 Gál András (szerk.): A Zempléni-hegység tudományos feltárói és gazdaságfejlesztői. – BOROS LÁSZLÓ ................................................................................................................................. 212 Hardi Tamás: Duna-stratégia és területi fejlődés. – GÁL ZOLTÁN ......................................................... 214 Illés Sándor: Időskori nemzetközi migráció – magyar eset. – IRIMIÁS ANNA ...................................... 217 Sallai János: Egy idejét múlt korszak lenyomata: a vasfüggöny története. – KOVÁLY KATalIN ........... 218 Földrajzi Közlemények 2013. 2.szám Támogatóink: Kiadja a MAGYAR FÖLDRAJZI TÁRSASÁG A Nemzeti Kulturális Alap és a Magyar Tudományos Akadémia támogatásával A kiadásért felel: Michalkó Gábor Tördelés és nyomdai előkészítés: Graphisto Kft. Borítóterv: Liszi János Telefon: (20) 971-6922, e-mail: [email protected] Készült 600 példányban Nyomdai kivitelezés: Heiling Media Kiadó Kft. 137. évfolyam, 2. szám Telefon: (06-1) 231-4040 HU ISSN 0015-5411 2013 Magyar Földrajzi Társaság Földrajzi Közlemények Alapítva: 1872 A Magyar Földrajzi Társaság tudományos folyóirata Tisztikar Geographical Review • Geographische Mitteilungen Elnök: SZABÓ JÓZSEF ny. egyetemi tanár Bulletin Géographique • Bollettino Geografico • Географические Сообщения
    [Show full text]
  • 3RD INTERNATIONAL YOUNG RESEARCHER SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE on “Sustainable Regional Development - Challenges of Space & Society in the 21St Century”
    3RD INTERNATIONAL YOUNG RESEARCHER SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE on “Sustainable Regional Development - Challenges of Space & Society in the 21st Century” PAPERS OF THE CONFERENCE Gödöllő 26 April, 2018 Edited by: Bálint Horváth Anikó Khademi-Vidra, Ph.D. habil. Izabella Mária Bakos Printing Supervisor: Szent István University Publisher H-2100 Gödöllő, Páter Károly street 1. Studies published in the conference proceedings were reviewed by the members of the Scientific Committee of the Conference and colleagues with academic degrees from the Szent István University and Warsaw University of Life Sciences ISBN 978-963-269-730-7 Digitally multiplied in 70 copies. TABLE OF CONTENTS SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ...................................................................................................... 7 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE .................................................................................................. 9 PAPERS OF THE CONFERENCE ......................................................................................... 11 AGRICULTURAL TRENDS .................................................................................................. 13 LOCAL COMMUNITIES ....................................................................................................... 83 ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACHES OF TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT .................. 181 INNOVATIONS OF TOURISM AND MARKETING ......................................................... 264 REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS .....................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • European Beaver in Pannonian Basin an Evidence of the Species Recovery?
    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY EJE 2016, 2(2): 44-63, doi: 10.1515/eje-2016-0015 Is new spread of the European beaver in Pannonian basin an evidence of the species recovery? 1* 2, 3 4 5 6 1Institute of Biology and Alexander Čanády , Peter Krišovský Bálint Bajomi , Attila Huber , Dávid Czabán , Milan Olekšák Ecology, Faculty of Sci- ence, P.J. Šafárik Univer- sity, Šrobárova 2, SK-041 54 Košice, Slovakia ABSTRACT Corresponding author, Abstract: During fieldwork from 6 June to 20 July 2016, the first records of the European beaver (Castor fiber) E-mail: alexander. [email protected] in south-eastern Slovakia were made. Beavers are mainly nocturnal animals, and as such, they are rarely ob- served; therefore, our observations were based on searching for beaver presence signs: damaged trees, dams, 2 The East Slovak Mu- signs of food consumption (chewed/felled trees) and footprints in the mud. The southern part of the Košická seum Košice, Námestie kotlina basin, from the city of Košice down to the state border and the surrounding villages in Hungary, was Maratónu mieru 2, SK- 040 01 Košice, Slovakia checked. We found two beaver locations via feeding signs in the vicinity of the Slovakia–Hungary state border, at the villages of Milhosť (Miglécnémeti) and Buzica (Buzita), in Slovakia. According to our calculations, the pre- 3 Independent scholar, sent total beaver population in Hungary is between 4,000 and 5,000 and 14,600–18,300 beavers with potential H-1118, Tűzkő utca 1., support. For Slovakia, we estimated the potential population size to be 7,700–9,600.
    [Show full text]
  • Extreme Weather Events and Their Public Health Relevance
    CENTRAL EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE 2019; 25 (1-2); · 75 EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE ZSÓFIA TISCHNER1, BÁLINT IZSÁK2, ANNA PÁLDY2 1Szent István University Doctoral School, Budapest, Hungary 2National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary ABSTRACT Nowadays more and more extreme weather events occur due to climate change. Hungary is extermely vulnerable to floods, inland water inundations and droughts; they can occur almost every year in any parts of the country due to the geographical position, geological and hydro- logical characteristics. Other events like wildfires are not so serious in Hungary as in the medi- terranean countries. As these extreme events can happen more and more frequently, there is a need to prepare for the reduction of health impacts of these events. The Hyogo Framework for Action, the WHO and the Public Health England have formulated recommendations for risk reduction and measures of prevention of health impacts of extreme weather events. In this paper the authors give a description of the different types of extreme weather events, of their health impacts in Europe and in Hungary and the possible preventive measures based on international recommendations. KEY WORDS: climate change, extreme weather events, mortality, vulnerability, adaptation Corresponding author: Zsófia Tischner Szent István University Doctoral School Budapest, Hungary E-mail: [email protected] Received: 5th May 2019 Accepted: 19th June 2019 INTRODUCTION Climate change is presumably the most serious environmental health problem of the 21st century (Watts et al., 2018). The impacts of climate extremes and the potential for disasters result from the climate extremes themselves and from the exposure and vulnerability of human and natural systems, as it was pointed out in the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (Field et al., 2012).
    [Show full text]
  • Shifts and Modification of the Hydrological Regime Under Climate Change in Hungary
    Chapter 6 Shifts and Modification of the Hydrological Regime Under Climate Change in Hungary Béla Nováky and Gábor Bálint Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/54768 1. Introduction Hydrological regime of water bodies is highly dependent on climatic factors. The runoff is mainly defined by seasonal distribution of precipitation and intensive rainfall events on one side and potential evapo-transpiration on the other. Near surface air temperatures (and other factors of heat budget) regulate the phase of precipitation and consequently snow accumulation, ablation and snowmelt induced runoff. Change of climate evidently would lead to changes in the hydrological regime. Nevertheless, hydrological regime can also be modified by different human activities towards water bodies directly (river training, flood control, flow regulation, water abstractions and inlets) or indirectly to catchments (urbanization, land use changes, deforestation). The tasks of water management and water related policies may change with climate fluctuations, as it is attested by the historical past. The long lasting wet period in the second half of 19th century resulted the framing the law on water regulation in 1871, and frequent droughts in 1930s led to the law on irrigation in 1937. The given chapter gives an overview of changes in the hydrological regime of water bodies observed in the historical and more recent past and also projected for the future under observed climate change and future climate change scenarios in central regions of Danube River Basin, i.e. in Hungary with limited outlook beyond the national borders, the adaptation possibilities for certain water management sectors to cope with adverse effects of the climate change are also discussed.
    [Show full text]