Andrej Kranjc je bil eden vodilnih geografov svoje generacije na nacionalni in mednarodni ravni. Njegove raziskave zajemajo širok spekter tem, povezanih s kraško geomorfologijo, speleologijo in ...hidrologijo ter zgodovino krasoslovja in kraško terminologijo. V članku predstavljamo njegove plodne in aktivne raziskovalne dejavnosti, njegov prispevek h geografiji ter njegovo vlogo in pomen za krasoslovje. Za njegove raziskave in objave je bil počaščen z imenovanjem za člana Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti. Kranjc je s svojim znanstvenim, strokovnim in pedagoškim delom trajno zaznamoval slovensko geografijo ter pomembno prispeval k uveljavitvi krasoslovja v strokovni in širši javnosti. Njegovo delo je pripeljalo do številnih pomembnih pobud, kot sta Mednarodna krasoslovna šola in Doktorski študijski program Krasoslovje. Tudi po njegovi zaslugi je Slovenija prepoznana kot kraška država in je med vodilnimi v svetu na področju krasoslovja.
V prispevku so zajete naravnogeografske značilnosti Rakovško-Unškega polja, ki leži v Notranjskem podolju. Poleg geoloških in reliefnih značilnosti so obravnavane tudi druge naravne sestavine te ...pokrajinske enote. Večji poudarek je posvečen vodnim in podnebnim razmeram ter prstem. Večletna zbiranja podatkov so pokazala, da Rakovško-Unško polje ni suho polje, saj po večji količini padavin izvira voda v več izvirih, teče po polju in ponika v ponikalnicah. Merjenja zračnih temperatur v mirnem zimskem anticiklonalnem vremenu so pokazala, da tudi na tem polju nastopa temperaturni obrat. Za prsti je značilno, da so s pedogenezo na robnih delih polja nastale na dolomitni kamnini, na dnu polja pa po vsej verjetnosti na glinasti matični podlagi. Na samem dnu polja naravne vegetacije ni več, razprostira se antropogena raba in z njo povezano rastlinstvo. Robne dele polja poraščajo travišča in gozd bora s trirobo košeničico.
V razpravah o podnebnih spremembah se krčenje ledenikov predstavlja kot pokazatelj temperaturnih sprememb. Vendar pa je za taljenje ledenikov bolj kot temperatura zraka pomemben sončni obsev. V tem ...članku nas zanimajo razlike med posameznimi leti na isti lokaciji, to je na Triglavskem ledeniku. Podatke o sončnem obsevu v talilni dobi ledenika smo primerjali s sočasnim krčenjem ledenika in tako ocenili pomen sončnega obsevanja v primerjavi z drugimi meteorološkimi dejavniki.
The scientific monograph ('Palaeofloods in karstic Ljubljanica River Catchment') presents a research on palaeofloods in the main water confluence in the Ljubljanica River Catchment, namely the area ...between the Pivka Basin, Cerknica Karst Polje, and Planina Karst Polje. Several geomorphological forms genetically related to floods have been identified, e.g. floodplains, river terraces, corrosion notches on cave walls, as well as laminated fine-grained sediments. Since they were found at higher altitudes than the present floods reach, they were considered as palaeoflood features. Morphometric analysis of the studied geomorphological forms was used to determine the volume of palaeofloods and their altitudinal range. The hydrometric characteristics of the palaeofloods where calculated by computer modelling. Petrological analyses of fine-grained sediments from the surface and caves were used to determine the origin of sediments and their settling velocities, hence to prove their flood origin. Furthermore, morpho-chronological analyses with radiometric methods 14C and U-Th on flowstones interlaying with flood sediments where carried out. The results show that the volume and altitude of palaeofloods throughout the study area fairly exceeded the highest known recent floods.
V prispevku je poskus prikaza razvoja fizične geografije na Oddelku za geografijo na Filozofski fakulteti Univerze v Ljubljani. Prikaz zajema zadnje dvajsetletno obdobje, od leta 1989 do 2009. Zajete ...so vse fizičnogeografske veje, ki so bile v tem obdobju zastopane v okviru katedre za fizično geografijo na tem oddelku. S predstavitvijo fizičnih geografov in njihovega dela, ki so se raziskovalno in pedagoško posvečali posameznim fizičnogeografskim vejam, naj bi se pokazalo, v kolikšni meri in na kakšen način so preučevali naravnogeografske značilnosti zlasti naše domače pokrajine.
For the past half century, military dictatorship has left Burma (Myanmar), dubbed the Land of a Thousand Pagodas, practically completely isolated from the outside world. In addition to Buddhism, the ...predominant religion, this is also one of the reasons why its people have remained simple, open-hearted, and hospitable. There are more than 135 different ethnic groups living in Burma. Because of the country’s diverse natural resources, it already attracted the attention of the global superpowers in the past, manifested in sixty years of British colonialism. It continues to be of interest today, especially because of its extensive supplies of natural gas, oil, gems, precious and rare metals, and valuable teakwood.Exceptionally picturesque Burma is also characterized by great biodiversity. The country is renowned for its elephants, many of which have been tamed. Rare white (albino) elephants are the most admired.The recommended ten-day tour first takes you to Burma’s largest city, Yangon, after which you continue your trip across the Irrawaddy Valley to the city of Bagan with its thousands of temples, and on to the country’s cultural center of Mandalay. Just before that you can climb Mount Popa, a dormant volcano, the mysterious abode of spirits known as the nats. You continue your trip onto the Shan Plateau to enjoy the peaceful flow of life at Lake Inle. If you have enough time, it is also worth visiting one of the seaside resorts.
The book (‘Geography and plant succession. Selected examples from Slovene regions’) is dealing with ecological succession which is one of three kinds of changes in vegetation. The other two are ...regeneration (or the result of necrosis and regrowth of organisms) and fluctuation (or changes in biomass in longer and shorter time cycles–also seasonal changes). Ecological succession or ecological sequence can be understood as a temporal-spatial clarification of the evolutionary development of a community from bare soil to a stable community which is balanced with its environment. The book is divided in two parts. In the first part, succession is presented on a theoretical basis. The development of the concept of succession through history, its mechanisms and processes carried on in it are clarified. Different types of succession as well as pioneer species and climax societies as the starting and final point of the process under consideration are described. In separated chapters, invasive species and soils as well as their role in succession are discussed. In the second part, individual selected environments (gravel pits in rivers, screes, rockfall areas, fire areas and construction pits) where the two major types of succession are prevailing are presented.
Rakov Škocjan is a basin in a small karst plain comprising the Rak Valley and the small basin Podbojev Laz. Bedrock terraces in the basin slopes indicate flattening of the basin floor at the water ...table level at higher elevations and progressive basin development and transformation with surface water flow. Detailed studies of the surface and subsurface karst features in Rakov Škocjan made it possible to describe the basin’s evolution and its development in previous genetic stages. The study (‘Geomorphological Characteristics of Rakov Škocjan‘) based on detailed morphographic mapping, collection of morphometric data, speleological analyses, and granulometric analyses of loamy sediments. A synthesis of the findings shows that the basin’s genesis and development was much more complex than described in earlier literature. The basin was formed as a surface karst feature through several development stages in which the locations of springs and ponors had changed. Morphogenetic characteristics resulted in an exceptional variety of karst phenomena in a small area, although the basic water course in the broader regional sense did not significantly change.
This book (‘(Irresponsible responsibility’) features thirteen chapters written by nearly thirty specialists in natural disasters. The chapters deal with various topics ranging from earthquakes, ...landslides, avalanches, and floods (with an emphasis on the extensive floods in September 2010) to protected forests, drought, and education about natural disasters.