Biljana Basarin

Loess in the Vojvodina region (Northern Serbia): An essential link between European and Asian Pleistocene environments

Loess in the Vojvodina region (Northern Serbia) : an essential link between European and Asian Pleistocene environments

LOESS TOWARDS (GEO) TOURISM - PROPOSED APPLICATION ON LOESS IN VOJVODINA REGION (NORTH SERBIA)

Loess-palaeosol sequences preserve the most important continental record of climatic and environmental changes during the Quaternary. As a significant element of global geodiversity and geoheritage, loess-palaeosol sequences could be used as resources for a contemporary trend in sustainable tourism – geotourism. This form of tourism appreciates and promotes non-living nature (geodiversity) through its conservation and interpretation. This further leads to enhancing public awareness of these sites. In this study, we report on a proposal for establishing geotourism at the most important loess sites in the Vojvodina region.

Relating the Astronomical Timescale to the Loess–Paleosol Sequences in Vojvodina, Northern Serbia

In this study the first astronomical time scale for loess-paleosol sequences of Vojvodina region, northern Serbia is presented astronomical timescale for the loess–paleosol sequences of the Vojvodina region, northern Serbia. The sequence is the longest and most detailed orbitally tuned European loess record, comparable to Asian sequences to the east. Magnetic susceptibility (MS) records from two continuous loess–paleosol sequences in Vojvodina have been used to construct the timescale, with the aim of investigating climatic and environmental evolution and variability over the last million years. The 47.3-m-thick Mosorin (MO) section covers the time interval between marine isotope stages (MIS) 1 and 15, while the lower part of the Stari Slankamen (SS) section covers the time frame prior to MIS 16. The MS records were tuned to June 65°N insolation over the period between 0 and approximately 1 million years. The new timescale suggests older than expected ages for a number of the magnetic polarity boundaries, consistent with lock-in depth offsets reported for other loess sequences. Spectral analyses of the stacked MS variations indicate that climatic dynamics are dominated mainly by the changes in orbital eccentricity and subdominantly by obliquity and precession bands, over the past 1 million years.

Quantification and assessment of heat and cold waves in Novi Sad, Northern Serbia

Physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) has been applied to the analysis of heat and cold waves and human thermal conditions in Novi Sad, Serbia. A series of daily minimum and maximum air temperature, relative humidity, wind, and cloud cover was used to calculate PET for the investigated period 1949–2012. The heat and cold wave analysis was carried out on days with PET values exceeding defined thresholds. Additionally, the acclimatization approach was introduced to evaluate human adaptation to interannual thermal perception. Trend analysis has revealed the presence of increasing trend in summer PET anomalies, number of days above defined threshold, number of heat waves, and average duration of heat waves per year since 1981. Moreover, winter PET anomaly as well as the number of days below certain threshold and number of cold waves per year until 1980 was decreasing, but the decrease was not statistically significant. The highest number of heat waves during summer was registered in the last two decades, but also in the first decade of the investigated period. On the other hand, the number of cold waves during six decades is quite similar and the differences are very small.

Factors triggering landslide occurrence on the Zemun loess plateau, Belgrade area, Serbia

Among the numerous factors that trigger landslide events, the anthropogenic impact caused by inadequate planning and faulty land use in urban areas is increasing. The Zemun settlement on the northern outskirts of Belgrade has experienced a number of landslides in the last three decades, endangering buildings and roads, and claiming human lives, particularly in the case of the 2010/2011 landslides. Selected meteorological parameters were used to calculate rainfall erosivity indices such as Precipitation Concentration Index and Modified Fournier Index over the period 1991–2015. Drought indices, Lang aridity index and Palfai Drought Index were calculated as well. Mann–Kendall trend test was applied to identify potential rising and/or declining trends both in meteorological parameters and calculated indices. Trend analysis of the annual and seasonal scales yielded a statistically significant trend in the spring time series. Stable arid and pronounced drought conditions were recorded. The modified Fournier index based on monthly mean values yields moderate aggressiveness, with several extreme values indicating very high erosivity classes, especially for 2010/2011. The geological substrate is predominantly loess and hence highly susceptible to erosion and slope failure when climatological conditions are suitable. Accelerated urbanization at the end of the last century reduced vegetation cover, intensified pressure on the vertical loess slope, and lacked suitable rain drainage systems so that surface-water runoff was directed into the porous loess, thereby endangering slope stability. We proposed a geomorphic model to describe the nature of the erosional processes on the loess cliffs of the Zemun loess plateau. Results from this study have implications for mitigation strategies.

Determination of wind energy potential and its implementation concept for the electricity market in the Vojvodina region (north Serbia): An overview

Renewable energy sources play an important role in the future not only for the European countries, but for many countries worldwide. Most cost-effective and reliable large wind energy conversion systems are becoming the main focus of wind energy research and technology development, all in order to make wind energy competitive with other more traditional sources of electrical energy like coal, gas and nuclear generation. Serbia, along with neighbouring countries, has a high potential for developing energy production from renewable energy sources. Wind energy in Serbia, despite its great potential, is only partly studied and insufficiently used. This study aims to provide summary of wind energy potentials in the region of Vojvodina, which is an important economic region in northern Serbia. Its existing electrical energy status is thoroughly investigated according to the recent developments of wind energy production on global, regional and local scale. The main purpose of this study is the implementation of energy efficiency concept with purpose of satisfying the needs of Serbian electricity market.