Karel Kirchner

Slope movements in the Flysch Carpathians of Eastern Czech Republic triggered by extreme rainfalls in 1997: a case study

Abstract The severe rainfalls in Northern and Central Moravia and Eastern Bohemia in July 1997, triggered slope movements recorded particularly in the flysch-type rocks of Northern and Eastern Czech Republic. The basis of the diversified woodland and agricultural landscape of the Western Carpathians is the highland and mountain erosion–denudation and structure-denudation relief, which consists of flysch rock complexes. The geomorphological and geological setting is predisposed to extensive slope deformations––especially landslides. Slope movements play an important role in topography modelling and cause great direct and indirect damages in the countryside as well. Slope deformations of different intensity and aerial extent control the character of relief on the local or regional scale. Significant changes of land use may result from the slope movements, especially when the reclamation of the slope deformations are not undertaken. Landslides themselves have a great impact on the water regime of the landscape and consequently on the development of ecosystems. That is why they are often considered to be a significant biodiversity factor. It is also necessary to pay attention to the opposite effect since the land use (dispersed woody patches, landscape mosaic) is to a certain extent influencing the development and progress of the slope deformations. Based on the order we focused our geological investigations on the area in which the slope movements began to develop to such an extent that human lives and properties were considerably endangered. The total damages from activated landslides reached about 40 million USD. The landslide research differs in individual localities and their topical situations and is accompanied by a stability assessment of the locality and a proposal of rescue measures. An alternative solution should consist of an assessment of necessary changes in the area plans of affected villages, prospects of their future habitability, and displacements of engineering networks and roads.

Geosite and Geomorphosite Assessment as a Tool for Geoconservation and Geotourism Purposes: a Case Study from Vizovická vrchovina Highland (Eastern Part of the Czech Republic)

The geoheritage of the Czech Republic presents a basis for geoconservation and geotourism activities which have a long tradition in the region. Sites of geological and geomorphological interest have been appreciated for a long time, and from the nineteenth century, some have been declared as protected. The first official list of protected sites was created during the 1930s, and in 1956, the first law on nature conservation was approved. Today, nature conservation is covered by the Act 114/1992 Coll. that enables landscapes, karst features, minerals, and fossils to be protected as well as the establishment of protected areas. In addition, there are many other geoconservation assessments, e.g., the database of the geological sites or the network of the national geoparks. In the National Parks, Protected Landscape Areas or geoparks, the promotion of geosites and geomorphosites is well developed. However, outside these areas, the promotion and use of sites for geotourism purposes is relatively poor, although it is obvious that they can represent a source for geotourism activities that can foster local economic development. For finding out which sites are suitable for geotourism development, a simple method was proposed and the selected sites of the Vizovická vrchovina Highland (Czech Republic) were assessed. Based on this, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified. The assessment and the following analysis of the area can serve as a basis for the future proposals for geotourist use of the sites.

Analysis of the development of land use in the Morava River floodplain, with special emphasis on the landscape matrix

Abstract The results of an analysis of land use development in the Morava River floodplain (Czech Republic) using GIS from 1836 to the present, are the subject of this article. The results are based on the analysis of historical maps, using the landscape matrix assessment of the Morava River floodplain. The final analyses were processed from land use maps of the floodplain at a scale of 1 : 25,000 in five time horizons. These maps were compared with the present state of landscape by GIS methods. The study area was assessed according to five geomorphological areas from the northern/higher part to the southern/lower part of floodplain. In 1836 the landscape matrix of the floodplain was composed of meadows and forests. Forest components decreased minimally but the changes are more important. The grassland area (meadows and pastures) decreased but arable land, as well as settlements, increased very significantly. In the 1950s the landscape matrix was composed of a mosaic of alluvial forests, meadows and arable land. Currently, the predominant landscape matrix consists of arable land and isolated forest complexes.

Geomorphological Inventory as a Tool for Proclaiming Geomorphosite (a Case Study of Mt. Myslivna in the Novohradské hory Mts.— Czech Republic)

The study locality of Mt. Myslivna within the Novohradské hory Mts. (Czech Republic) represents an area which had restricted access prior to 1989. Detailed geomorphological inventory carried out in years 2002–2010 revealed prominent rock landforms developed within late Variscan, Weinsberg-type granite. Destructive as well as accumulative rock landforms were mapped with the use of GPS and include two cryoplanation platform, three frost-riven cliffs, three tors, two low exfoliation domes, two castle koppies, two blockfields, one relic of tor and smaller forms, such as rock ledges and laths. A distinct fissure system that shapes the rock relief consists of two sets of fissures: The primary set is formed by dominant fissures with NE-SW orientation accompanied by fissures with NW-SE orientation; the secondary set comprises of fissures oriented in ENE-WSW and NNW-SSE directions. The north-western slopes of Mt. Myslivna were declared a natural monument in 1992 due to natural beech woodland vegetation. However, the extent of the protected area does not include qualitatively as well as quantitatively the unique rock landforms on the southern slopes of Mt. Myslivna. Therefore, this research led to declaration of this site as a ‘Geomorphologically Significant Locality’ (Geomorphosite) in 2010. In addition, a proposal for extension of the natural monument boundary has been submitted.

Secondary Geodiversity and its Potential for Urban Geotourism: A Case Study from Brno City, Czech Republic

Abstract Secondary geodiversity (represented by anthropogenic landforms, which can be considered a significant part of geoheritage of certain area) can be seen as an important resource for geotourism and geoeducational activities within urban areas. Brno city (Czech Republic) is rich in these landforms as well as numerous urban areas. Some of them (especially old quarries and underground spaces) are already used for recreation, tourism and leisure or they serve as excursion localities for the university students, some of them are unique from the geoscience point of view and they have also certain added values (historical, archaeological or ecological). However, in some cases, their potential is not fully recognised. The article describes the main anthropogenic landforms within Brno city and analyses their suitability for geotourism and geoeducational activities.

Recent Landform Evolution in the Moravian–Silesian Carpathians (Czech Republic)

Topographic changes in the Moravian-Silesian Carpathians have been due to variations of natural conditions (climatic changes, accelerated rates of exogenic geomorphic processes during the Little Ice Age), but mainly to the growing intensity of human activities (tillage, deforestation, accelerated soil erosion, urban sprawl). In this geomorphologically highly sensitive region, land-use changes exerted a great influence on the intensity and type of exogenic geomorphological processes in the last millennium. Their impact is studied on archive maps. The density of slope deformations (like deep-seated slope failures, lateral spreading, toppling, sackung, translational and rotational landslides, earthflows, debris flows, and rockfalls) in the study area is the highest in the Czech Republic. Other geomorphic processes presented in this overview are erosion by water on the surface and underground (piping), wind erosion, and a range of anthropogenic processes (urbanization, mining, industry, water management, and transport).

The spatial distribution of rock landforms in the Pohořská Mountains (Pohořská hornatina), Czech Republic

Geomorphological mapping with an emphasis on rock landforms was carried out in the Pohořska Mountains (Cz. Pohořska hornatina) and the positional data acquired were further processed using statistical and cartographical methods. The spatial distribution of rock landforms was investigated in relation to lithology, slope, orientation, and elevation based on an analysis using ArcGIS 9.1. The spatial distribution of rock landforms was primarily determined by the index of distribution Wij = Xi / Yj, where Xi is the percentage representation of landforms in the appropriate category and Yj is the percentage quotient of this category in the entire area studied, and wassecondarily determined according to the sum (sum distribution) of the arithmetic mean and the average deviation.

Contribution to the Assessment of Geomorphosites in the Czech Republic (a Case Study of the North-eastern Part of the Novohradské Mountains)

It is widely accepted these days that to a nature conservation protection of an abiotic nature, less attention is payed than to the protection of a biotic nature. But components and processes of an abiotic nature are together with human activities deciding factors influencing significantly the landscape in general. Hence, it is necessary to inventory, identify, and evaluate specific geological and geomorphological sites in order to protect abiotic nature. For these purposes, the concept of geomorphosites may be used. This contribution brings new information from the territory of the north-eastern part of the Novohradské Mountains, aimed on the issues of geomorphosites. Geoheritage values which were attributed to the individual localities in the target territory can serve as a significant foundation and source of the information for the appropriate authorities for the management of these geomorphologically interesting localities.

Žďárské Vrchy Highland—Geomorphological Landscape in the Top Part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highland with the Unique Crystalline Rocks Forms

Žďarske vrchy Highland is built by metamorphic rocks and is situated in the upper part of Bohemian-Moravian Highland. A typical feature of Žďarske vrchy is the occurrence of isolated groups of rocks or rock formations (walls, towers, small rock cities ), which dominate on flat upland ridges. These ridges are separated by open valleys with flat headwaters. Rock formations are limited by vertical walls and often significantly protrude above the surrounding landscape, occasionally reaching heights well above 30 m, although 15 m is the typical height value. The Žďarske vrchy Highland is a part of the Žďarske vrchy Protected Landscape Area and many rock formations were declared as natural monuments. Landforms of the Žďarske vrchy Highland have originated through polygenetic development since the Cretaceous and are in many ways unique within the highlands in the Variscan Europe.

Limestone Klippen of the Pavlov Hills

The Pavlov Hills represent a distinct geomorphological landscape of the Outer Western Carpathians in the South Moravia. They comprise a string of limestone klippen which originated as an interplay of Lower Miocene nappe tectonics and later selective erosion that removed weak Tertiary flysch and morphologically enhanced limestone blocks. Major morphological features are attributed to the lithology and thrust-and-fold tectonics of Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous limestones which form the core of individual klippen structures. Monoclinal structures with west-facing escarpments and rather gentle eastward-oriented dip slopes have been sculptured chiefly by mass movement and karstification . However, besides structural landforms and karst features related to bedrock geology, immediate surroundings of the Pavlov Hills offer some of the famous Late Quaternary localities in Europe involving worldwide known Upper Paleolithic (Gravettian ) excavations. More than 25 ka of human inhabitation established a highly valuable cultural landscape with specific habitats of limestone hills resembling Mediterranean landscape, ruins of medieval castles and vineyards and picturesque villages in the piedmont of limestone hills.