Avalanches cause the highest number of fatalities in the Alps, threatening many areas and facilities, as well as transport and communications infrastructure. An integral part of avalanche protection ...is risk communication and warning, which is within the domain of the avalanche service of the Slovenian Environmental Agency. As part of the ‘Crossrisk Project’, the ZRC SAZU Anton Melik Geographical Institute has prepared a ‘Snow Field Manual’ which will allow for the standardised collection of field data on snow, snow cover and avalanches. This data forms the basis for determining the current avalanche hazard level. The ‘Snow Card’ supplement, which is an integral part of the manual, contains a condensed view of the most important contents and also includes two forms (there are a total of 14 forms in the manual) for entering the snow cover cross-section data. It also includes instructions for preparing and performing cross-sections of snow cover and avalanche tests. All information is provided along with a clear explanation key. Finally, a description of typical avalanche problems and types of avalanche hazards follows. The full applicability of the Snow Field Manual and the Snow Card is achieved by entering the digital data of the cross-section and the avalanche test into the appropriate web application.
The book brings a thorough review of landslide susceptibility in Slovenia. In the introductory chapter the most significant geographical and other Slovenian literature on slope processes is listed, ...and then the basic characteristics of landslides are explained. The landslide susceptibility in Slovenia is presented on the example of twelve large landslides, followed by the chapter on legislation on natural disasters in Slovenia.The most important part of the book is the detailed description of methods for elaboration landslide susceptibility maps with different methods. The deterministic, statistical and probabilistic methods and corresponding maps are described into detail. Such maps have been elaborated with the geographical information system using the digital elevation model 25 x 25 m. Landslide susceptibility is finally presented in the framework of the regionalization of Slovenia that had been elaborated by the Anton Melik Geographical Institute SRC SASA and for all Slovenian municipalities. The last chapter of the book is important for geomorphology, describing the role of the landslides for the formation of relief.The book is intended to be used in spatial planning, physical geography, geography of natural hazards and other branches of geography as well as in related sciences.
»16. in 19. januarja 1877 je v Savinjo pri Zidanem mostu zdrknil v Savinjo ogromen zemeljski plaz in jo skoraj zajezil. Odnesel je s seboj 5 poslopij s 14 ljudmi, ki so bili vsi mrtvi. Živa je ostala ...samo ena kokoš. Nad zajezeno strugo je nastalo celo jezero, ki je ogrožalo tovarno za laneno olje, ki je takrat stala ob bregu Savinje. Pri odkopavanju nasute zemlje je Savinja odnesla enega delavca, ki je utonil«.Vir: Novice v slikah: Priloga Domoljuba in Slovenskega gospodarja, december 1927, št. 12. Prispeval: Jože Žlaus
Snow season 2012/13 in SloveniaSlovenia is also among the countries which are endangered by avalanches. They cause on a yearly average 1–2 victims, mainly in the highlands. Once, the victims were ...mostly locals, but within the last decades, it is now predominantly mountaineers. To avoid avalanche accidents, prevention measurements are very important. Their consistent part is also the flashback of each snow season. Since there is no avalanche service in Slovenia - its annual task is also the preparation of such an overview, we decided do it within the frame of a project NH-WF/Natural Hazards without Frontiers. In this, between years 2012 and 2014, we regularly prepared and published an experimental local avalanche bulletin for Middle Karavanks (northern Slovenia). Along with the work on this bulletin, we realized, how important cooperation is between the different stakeholders within the field of avalanche protection. This edition is the first complete overview of avalanche events and incidents in the snow season – from a weather review, through all the overall characteristics of snow seasons and avalanche events, as well as a methodically unified analysis of all fatal incidents. We added, at the end, a reflection about the season, made by an avalanche practitioner and a short presentation of a NH-WF project.
Agricultural terraces are the predominant landscape element in the Goriška brda region. These were once made by hand, but started being built mechanically after the Second World War. Reshaping slopes ...into terraces increases the amount of arable farmland. Farming, especially cultivation of vineyards and orchards, is still the most important industry in this region. The development of winegrowing has indelibly marked the image of the cultural landscape here.Terraces are mostly being abandoned in regions with market-oriented mechanized farming. Much of the formerly terraced land in upper Goriška brda is now completely overgrown or deteriorated. The former extent of these agricultural terraces cannot even be precisely determined using the land cadastre carried out under Emperor Franz I. In contrast, the agricultural terraces in lower Goriška brda are being constantly renovated.Maintenance of terraces prevents water loss and reduces soil erosion. When the shape of hillsides is changed, large quantities of soil are moved, and steep slopes are altered, this can cause land slippage and large areas can become unstable. Detailed study indicates that Goriška brda is exposed to a high risk of landslides.This study was carried out as part of Interreg project IIIB Alpine Space, titled “The Terraced Landscapes of the Alpine Arc” (ALPTER).
The book brings a thorough review of slope processes, their causes and consequences. Both, prehistoric and recent slope processes in Slovenia are described into deatil. Authors investigated the main ...characteristics of slope processes according to the type of movement (flow, slide, fall), their extent and effects. As geographers, they are interested mainly in the links between natural processes and man. More than sixty different slope processes in Slovenia are described into detail, based upon field work and examination of numerous sources. In this way all types of slope processes are included and described.Review of circumstances if followed by a discussion about the importance of slope processes for spatial planning as well as methodological and practical instructions for hazarad maps elaboration with different methods. Two deterministic methods and a one probabilistic are presented.The documentary value of the book is also increased by the fact that it brings a chapter about a memory of inhabitants on slope processes, as it has been preserved in sacred literature and aitiological narratives.The book can be used for thorough studies of physical geography and related sciences. Plentiful documentary material makes it useful for everyone who would like to explore nature in Slovenia.
In comparison to other disasters, snow avalanches endanger only a small part of surface of Slovenia, but they are problematic mostly because of their spatial and temporal unpredictability. Focusing ...on alpine landscape, the author studies the natural geographical characteristics of snow avalanches.