Bioclimatology and Natural Hazards »

Anthropogenic influences to the earth's system, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere and lithosphere, represent a serious challenge to our planet's ecosystems and natural environments. Bioclimatology, hydrology, bio-hydrology and eco-physiology are important scientific research areas with wide application to environmental protection, forestry, agriculture and water management, and protection against natural hazards including droughts, floods, windstorms, weather extremes, and wild fires. Bioclimatology helps to better understand the causes and impacts of natural hazards and how to prevent them. Improved knowledge of natural hazards is a vital prerequisite for the implementation of integrated resource management. It provides a useful framework for combating current climate variability and for adapting to ongoing climate change.

This book presents research on the interactions between meteorological, climatological, hydrological and biological processes in the atmospheric and terrestrial environment. It highlights a spectrum of topics associated with climate change and weather extremes and their impact on different economic sectors. The contributing authors come from renowned scientific research institutions and universities and specialise in issues of climate change, soil-plant-atmosphere interactions, hydrologic cycle, ecosystems, biosphere, and natural hazards.

Part I Extreme Events, Risks and Climate Variability

What Climate Can We Expect in Central/Eastern Europe by 2071-2100? J. Bartholy R. Pongrácz Gy. Gelybó A. Kern 3

Detected and Expected Trends of Extreme Climate Indices for the Carpathian Basin R. Pongrácz J. Bartholy Gy. Gelybó P. Szabó 15

Precipitation Trend Analysis for Central Eastern Germany 1851-2006 S. Häet;nsel S. Petzold J. Matschullat 29

Some Facts on Extreme Weather Events Analysis in Slovakia M. Lapin I. Damborská P. Fas&scheck;ko L. Gaál M. Melo 39

Wind Risk Assessment in Urban Environments: The Case of Falling Trees During Windstorm Events in Lisbon A. Lopes S. Oliveira M. Fragoso J.A. Andrade P. Pedro 55

Ozone Air Pollution in Extreme Weather Situation - Environmental Risk in Mountain Ecosystems S. Bi&ccheck;árová P. Fleischer 75

Part II Drought, Floods and Ecosystem Responses

Physiological Drought - How to Quantify it? V. Novák 89

Occurrence of Dry and Wet Periods in Altitudinal Vegetation Stages of West Carpathians in Slovakia: Time-Series Analysis 1951-2005 J. &Scheck;kvarenina J. Tomlain J. Hrvo&lprime; J. &Scheck;kvareninová 97

Thermodynamics, Irreversibility, and Optimality in Land Surface Hydrology A. Kleidon S. Schymanski M. Stieglitz 107

Winter Snow Supply in Small Mountain Watershed as a Potential Hazard of Spring Flood Formation M. Hribik A. Majlingova J. Skvarenina D. Kyselova 119

Mapping of Gumbel Extreme Value Distribution Parameters for Estimation of Design Precipitation Totals at Ungauged Sites S. Kohnova J. Parajka J. Szolgay K. Hlavcova 129

Flood Prevention and Nature Conservation -Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Land Use Scenarios for an Agricultural Landscape E. Richert S. Bianchin H. Heilmeier M. Merta Ch. Seidler 137

Part III Forest Bioclimatology, Natural Hazards and Modelling

Risk Assessment of the Tatra Mountains Forest P. Fleischer M. Koren J. Skvarenina V. Kunca 145

Modeling Natural Disturbances in Tree Growth Model SIBYLA M. Fabrika T. Vaculciak 155

Insect Pests as Climate Change Driven Disturbances in Forest Ecosystems T. Hlasny M. Turcani 165

Genetic Background of Response of Trees to Aridification at the Xeric Forest Limit and Consequences for Bioclimatic Modelling Cs. Mátyás L. Nagy E. Ujvari Jarmay 179

Seasonal Changes in Transpiration and Soil Water Content in a Spruce Primeval Forest During a Dry Period F. Matejka K. St&rcheck;elcová T. Hurtalová E. Gomoryova L. Ditmarova 197

Assessment of Water Deficiency in Forest Ecosystems: Can a Simple Model of Forest Water Balance Produce Reliable Results? P. Balá&zcheck; K. St&rcheck;elcova M. Blazenec R. Pokorny Z. Klimankova 207

Forest Fire Vulnerability Analysis J. Tucek A. Majlingov 219

The Paradigm of Risk and Measuring the Vulnerability of Forest by Natural Hazards J. Holecy 231

Part IV Soil and Agriculture Bioclimatology, Natural Hazards and Responses

Responses of Soil Microbial Activity and Functional Diversity to Disturbance Events in the Tatra National Park (Slovakia) E. Gmöet;ryová K. St&rcheck;elcová J. Skvarenina J. Bebej D. Gomry 251

Capacities of Modelling to Assess Buffer Strip Efficiency to Reduce Soil Loss During Heavy Rainfall Events M. Kandler I. Barlund M. Puustinen C. Seidler 261

The Influence of Climate Change on Water Demands for Irrigation of Special Plants and Vegetables in Slovakia V. Barek P. Halaj D. Igaz 271

Climate Change Impact on Spring Barley and Winter Wheat Yields on Danubian Lowland J. Taka c B. Si ska 283

Emissions from Agricultural Soils as Influenced by Change of Environmental Factors J. Horak B. Siska 289

Index 297