Geomorphologia Slovaca, III, 2003, 2

Content

* Małgorzata Bajgier-Kowalska, Tadeusz Ziętara
Landslide sussession in the flysch Carpathians over the last five years

* Renata Dulias
Aeolisation of Quaternary deposits in Oświęcim Basin (Carpathian Foredeep)

* Anna Grešková
Geographic information system and aerial photographs as a tool for identification of standing water bodies and landforms in flooded areas

* Tímea Kiss, György Sipos
Application of morphometric measurements in the Selection of human influenced fixed sand dunes, South Nyírség Region, Hungary

* Ján Novotný
The Influence of the Neotectonics to the Development of the Relief of the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Example from the Kysucká Vrchovina Upland)

* Marek Křížek
The Pleistocene and the Holocene rock formations in the Rusavská hornatina (Mts.) in the Outer Western (Flysh) Carpathians in Moravia (Czech Republic)

* Milan Lehotský - Anna Grešková
Geomorphology, fluvial geosystems and riverine landscape (methodological aspects)

* Ivan Barka
Identification of snow avalanche trigger areas and avalanche paths using GIS

* Nataša Ravbar, Matija Zorn
Some characteristics of dolines on the Kras plateau in southwestern Slovenia

* Juraj Činčura
Cretaceous karst phenomena of the Central Western Carpathians

* Szabolcs Ákos Fábián
Geomorphological hazards of the lower reaches of Danube in Hungary

* Juraj Činčura, Ľubica Puškelová
Paleogeography of the Cretaceous Karst in the Light of Geochemical Methods

* János Kovács
Terrestrial red clays in the Carpathian Basin: a paleoenvironmental and geomorphological approach

* Spravodajca ASG

Abstracts

Małgorzata Bajgier-Kowalska, Tadeusz Ziętara

Landslide sussession in the flysch Carpathians over the last five years

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 7 fig., 31 refs., pp. 5-11.

Several catastrophic landslides and debris-mud flows occurred over the last five years (1996, 1997, 2000 and 2001). This paper presents a typology of areas subject to landsliding and discusses the rainfall-related activity of mass movements. A dynamics- and prediction-based classification of landslides is presented, showing the frequency of landslide occurrence in relation to pluvial conditions as well as the structure and texture of slope deposits and colluvium.

Key words: landslides, mud and debris flows, disastrous floods, flysch Carpathians

Renata Dulias

Aeolisation of Quaternary deposits in Oświęcim Basin (Carpathian Foredeep)

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 3 fig., 28 refs, pp. 12-18.

The paper presents results of investigations on quartz grains abrasion of sandy fraction from the Quaternary deposits, which are different in respect of genesis and stratigraphy and occur in Oświęcim Basin. Degree of deposit aeolisation was determined from quartz grains of 0,8-1,0 mm fraction by means of methods as follows: - morphoscopy and mechanical graniformametry. From researches results, that the worst abrasion is typical for clays of the San glaciation as well as fluvioglacial deposits of the Odra glaciation. Better abrasion is typical for the Vistulian alluvia, what is connected with the sandy material supply to them during intensive aeolian processes under periglacial conditions of the Upper Plenivistulian. Late glacial aeolian processes were written in both dune accumulation in western part of the Oświęcim Basin and improving of abrasion of sands building them in relation to weakly aeolised alimentation fluvioglacial deposits.

Key words: abrasion of quartz grain, aeolian processes, morphoscopic method, Oświęcim Basin

Anna Grešková

Geographic information system and aerial photographs as a tool for identification of standing water bodies and landforms in flooded areas

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 3 fig., 3 refs., pp. 19-21.

This paper concerns the application of remote sensing and the Geographic Information System (GIS) to the identification of standing water bodies during floods and the differentiation of landforms in flooded areas. The methodology was applied to the flood plain of the Morava, south of the vilage Vysoká pri Morave, Slovakia, with respect to the August 1985 flood.

Key words: aerial photographs, floodplain, river Morava, flooded and waterlogged areas, fluvial landforms, abandoned arms, oxbow lakes

Tímea Kiss, György Sipos

Application of morphometric measurements in the Selection of human influenced fixed sand dunes, South Nyírség Region, Hungary

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 8 fig., 2 tab., 21 refs., pp. 22-29.

The aim is to present a geomorphological method for environmental scientists to select those places within a slightly human influenced area which have been under intensive human impact. The paper applies various methods to describe and classify the sand dunes of the study area using morphological and morphometric characteristics. After defining different dune types and their parameters it was possible to select those dunes that were exposed to significant anthropogenic impact for different periods at various places. Seven dune types were separated: edge, edge-like, pseudoparabolic, filled parabolic, partially and unfilled parabolic, oval shaped hummocks and sand ridges. Considering the relative height, hackliness and the rhythm of dunes half of the eroded dunes (52%) fall within the 1 km vicinity of settlements. A definite connection was proven between the intensity of human impact on environment and the rate of erosion on fixed sand dunes at different test sites.

For further application the method is recommended in areas where the surface is covered by loose materials and the landforms have been exposed to significant human influence.

Key words: human impact, erosion, dune morphometry, dune classification, parabolic dune association, Hungary

Ján Novotný

The Influence of the Neotectonics to the Development of the Relief of the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Example from the Kysucká Vrchovina Upland)

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 4 fig., 1tab., 15 refs., pp. 30-37.

The aim this paper is to show the neotectonic relief development of the Kysucké bradlá subunit (NE from Žilina). The relief has developed on the old nappe structures accordingly to the rocks resistance. Geomorphic analysis shows that younger relief development runs contrary to the passive morphostructures hypothesis. The transformation of initial relief structure has taken place in new tectonic conditions. It is evident mainly in the character of the valley network. Many streams cut resistant massifs. The transformation follows the downthrows of adjacent basin blocks. Tectonic movements are periodical and fluctuating.

Key words: geomorphological analysis, neotectonics, morphostructures, the Pieniny Klippen Belt, Kysucká vrchovina upland

Marek Křížek

The Pleistocene and the Holocene rock formations in the Rusavská hornatina (Mts.) in the Outer Western (Flysh) Carpathians in Moravia (Czech Republic)

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 5 fig., 1 tab., 14 refs., pp. 38-45.

This study presents an analysis of rock forms and their development in the northwestern part of the Hostýnské vrchy Hills - the Rusavská hornatina (Mts). The main part of this article focuses on periglacial and recent rock forms, which are formed in the Pleistocene and also in the Holocene. The author takes a notice of the relationship among rock forms, geological and climate conditions in the Rusavská hornatina (Mts.) during the Quaternary.

Key words: periglacial processes, frost-riven cliffs, Pleistocene, Holocene, Rusavská hornatina (Mts).

Milan Lehotský, Anna Grešková

Geomorphology, fluvial geosystems and riverine landscape (methodological aspects)

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 9 fig., 61 refs, pp. 46-59.

Scientists and water resources managers over the last two decades are expected to take a environmentally oriented view of the river that recognizes the need to work with, rather than against, nature. Traditionally, geographers and landscape ecologists have focused their attention on terrestrial geo and ecosystems (in Slovakia LANDEP, landscape potencial approach) and rivers have been considered either as elements of landscape pattern as biocorridors or as units that are linked to the terrestrial landscape by flows across boundaries. Understanding of geomorphic processes, and determination of appropriate river structure and function at differing positions in catchment, are critical components of sustainable rehabilitation of rivers. The article deals with the methodology of the investigation of the fluvial geosystems as the base of the riverine landscape. We present holistic geomorphic classification system of fluvial geosystems and five geomorphically oriented concepts of the riverine landscape. The concept of river connectivity and river continuum, hierarchy, flood-pulse and related telescoping concepts as well as channel sensitivity and natural capital value concepts are discussed. The importance of the fluvial geomorphology in the field of river renaturation, revitalization and rivers and river basin management is also treated.

Key words: Fluvial geomorphology, riverine landscape, methodology, river management.

Ivan Barka

Identification of snow avalanche trigger areas and avalanche paths using GIS

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 3 fig., 2 tab., 8 refs., pp. 60-63.

Snow avalanche activity plays important geomorphological and ecological roles in high mountain chains of Western Carpathians. Avalanche paths are common there, but their physiognomy is sometimes less cognizable, especially if snow avalanches occur with frequency of decades. Geographic information system can be used in such a case. At the first stage of mapping, trigger areas of snow avalanches have to be identified. The model recognizing such starting zones was applied in testing region to identify trigger areas of snow avalanches. It is based on terrain parameters and roughness of terrain. The second stage consists of identification of avalanche paths themselves, lying below recognized trigger areas. Model for prediction of avalanche runout was used to identify avalanche paths and avalanche ecosystems respectively. "Atlas of avalanche paths in Slovakia" was used for verification of results.

Key words: snow avalanche, trigger area, model, terrain parameters, avalanche path

Nataša Ravbar, Matija Zorn

Some characteristics of dolines on the Kras plateau in southwestern Slovenia

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 11 fig., 5 tab., 25 refs., pp. 64-72.

Dolines are the most typical geomorphological feature of the karst relief in the temperate zone. Dolines vary greatly in their morphology and origin from (1) solution dolines and (2) "inherited dolines" (formed by the exposure of underground caverns through surface erosion) to (3) collapse dolines. This article deals with the dolines in a selected area on the Kras plateau in southwestern Slovenia. Using geomorphological field mapping, we obtained the distribution, density, size, and depth of the dolines and tried to define their origin. A comparison was made between the dolines according to the local lithology, slope inclination, and exposition.

The average density of dolines on the Kras plateau is well over fifty dolines per km2, and in some smaller areas the density reaches more than 240 dolines per km2. Most dolines in the area studied are solution dolines. They developed as surface features of the epikarst zone due to the locally more intense solution processes. Their density depends primarily on the local lithological conditions and slope inclination. In the area studied, the cave density is among the highest in Slovenia, reaching up to 2.4 caves per km2.

Key words: geomorphology, karst relief, doline, Kras plateau, Slovenia

Juraj Činčura

Cretaceous karst phenomena of the Central Western Carpathians

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 3 fig., 24 refs., pp. 73-76.

Cretaceous, Paleoalpine karst phenomena occurs in different positions in several tectonic units (Tatricum/Fatricum, Hronicum, Silicicum) of Central Western Carpathians. Paleokarst ediments and morphological forms provide an important record of the little known history of periods of uplift and erosion, mainly during the pre-Gosau period.

Key words: Karst, Tatricum/Fatricum, Hronicum, Silicicum

Szabolcs Ákos Fábián

Geomorphological hazards of the lower reaches of Danube in Hungary

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 3 fig., 12 refs., pp. 77-80.

On the investigated area two significant geomorphological hazards can be distinguished: mass movements and flood. Between budapest and the southern frontier of hungary on the west bank of the danube along an approx. 200 km long valley is bordered by a 20 - 50 metres high steep bluff. The high bluffs are situated only on the right bank of the river. High bluffs are affected by landslids and collapsing. Nowadays, because of filling active flood plain the flood water level is higher than ever. What can we do in this situation? In the one hand we have possibility to increase the height of levee, on the other hand we can try to come back to flood plain economy.

Key words: flood, landslide, Danube

Juraj Činčura, Ľubica Puškelová

Paleogeography of the Cretaceous Karst in the Light of Geochemical Methods

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 6 fig., 1 tab., 7 refs., pp. 81-85.

Grain-size, trace and major elements of red clays and bauxites of Cretaceous age, forming the infilling of karstic traps in Middle/Uppper Triassic carbonates were analysed. The aim of the work is to answer open paleogeographical questions: 1. autochthony or allochthony of the infillings, 2. their facial characteristics, 3. characterize the source areas, 4. contribute to the question of the age of the infillings.

Key words: karstic traps infillings, major and trace elements

János Kovács

Terrestrial red clays in the Carpathian Basin: a paleoenvironmental and geomorphological approach

Abstract.Geomorphologia Slovaca, 3, 2003/2, 2 fig., 1 tab., 13 refs., pp. 86-88.

This review deals with red clays in the carpathian basin, which are younger than the upper pannonian (upper miocene) but older than the pleistocene. Their distribution and stratigraphical position is still debated. The red clays has a relevance for the identification of peleoenvironment in paleogeographic periods and phases of tectonic movements. The evolution of the red clays correlate with pediment formation at the end of the miocene (pontian) and at the beginning of the pliocene (ruscinian/csarnótan, 4.6-3.2 ma b.p.). The oldest red clay horisons cab be found on foothills of hungarian mountains.

In SE Transdanubia extensive areas area covered by the red clay formation of Lower Pliocene age. Disordered kaolinites found in red clay deposits on the top of limestone surfaces in the Villány Hills and its southern pediment. On the surface of the Morágy Granite, biotites may have been weathered to mixed-layer biotite/vermiculites during this period.

Other red clay formations are found in the southern foothills of the Mátra Mountains. Smectites in these red clays found in the open pit works at Hatva, Visonta, and Atkár. These red clays are rich in smectite. Recently by means of mineralogicalal and geomorphological investigations the formation was subdivided into a lower, kaolinite-halloysite-rich part, formed in a warm, humid subtropical monsoon-like climate and an upper, smectite-rich part, which may be attributed to climatic conditions at the boundary of savannah and arid zones.

Key words: red clay, Pliocene, paleoenvironment, geomorphology