Dear readers, This issue, 75/1 is mostly dedicated to the environmental impact of landslides, which, due to current climate change, are becoming more and more pronounced around the world and in the ...Republic of Croatia. REFERENCES BOSTJANČIĆ, I., AVANIĆ, R., FRANGEN, T & PAVIĆ, M. (2022): Spatial distribution and geometric characteristics of landslides with special reference to geological units in the area of Slavonski Brod, Croatia. doi: 10.4154/gc.2022.03 COROMINAS, J., VAN WESTEN, C., FRATTINI, P, CASCINI, L., MALET, J.-P., FOTOPOULOU, S., CATANI, F., VAN DEN EECKHAUT, M., MAVROULI, O., AGLIARDI, F., PITILAKIS, K., WINTER, M.G., PASTOR, M., FERLISI, S., TOFANI, V., HERVA'S, J. & SMITH, J.T. (2014): Recommendations for the quantitative analysis of landslide risk.- Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 73, 209-263. Doi: 10.1007/s10064-013-0538-8 FELL, R., COROMINAS, J., BONNARD, C., CASCINI, L., LEROI, E. & SAVAGE, W.Z. (2008): Guidelines for landslide susceptibility, hazard and risk zoning for land use planning.- Engineering geology, 102/3-4, 85-98. doi: 10.1016/j. enggeo.2008.03.022 FILIPOVIĆ, M., MIŠUR, I., GULAM, V. & HORVAT, M. (2022): A case study in the research polygon in Glina and Dvor municipality, Croatia-landslide susceptibility assessment of geological units. doi: 10.4154/gc.2022.04 FRANGEN, T., PAVIĆ, M., GULAM, V. & KUREČIĆ, T. (2022): Use of LiDAR-derived landslide inventory map in assessing Influencing factors for landslide susceptibility of geological units in the Petrinja area (Croatia). doi: 10.4154/gc.2022.10 GULAM, V., BOSTJANČIĆ, I., HEĆEJ, N., FILIPOVIĆ, M. & FILJAK, R. (2022): Preliminary analysis of LiDAR-based landslide inventory in the area of Samobor, Croatia. doi: 10.4154/gc.2022.11 PODOLSZKI, L., KUREČIĆ, T., BATESON, L. & SVENNEVIG, K. (2022): Remote landslide mapping, field validation and model development - An example from Kravarsko, Croatia. doi: 10.4154/gc.2022.01 POLLAK, D., HEĆEJ, N. & GRIZELJ, A. (2022): Landslide inventory and characteristics, based on LiDAR scanning and optimised field investigations in the Kutina area, Croatia. doi: 10.4154/gc.2022.02 VARNES, D.J. & IAEG (1984): Landslide Hazard Zonation: A Review of Principles and Practice.
Loess-derived sediments represent the most widespread soil parent materials in the Pannonian region of Croatia. Pseudogley, as the most common soil type in this region, developed mainly on such ...parent materials. Pseudogleys largely correlate with the WRB Reference Soil Group of Stagnosols. On the General Soil Map of Croatia at scale 1: 50 000 (GSM of Croatia), the distinction is made between Pleistocene loams (PL) and loess as Pseudogley parent materials. The initial purpose of this research was to investigate if the criteria for this distinction were clear and consistent and if the terms used for labeling these parent materials were adequate. Hence, we investigated parent materials of 18 Pseudogleys across 6 different locations (three on loess and three on PL) in the Pannonian region of Croatia. We analyzed their morphology (including micromorphology of three representative parent materials), particle size distribution, total porosity, pH, and mineral assemblages (by modal analysis of three representative parent materials). Following these analyses, no systematic differences between the loess parent materials and the PL parent materials were found. Additionally, it was concluded that, due to significant geogenetic and/or pedogenetic alterations of all studied parent materials, none of them should be labeled simply as loess. Hence, parent material at one location was labeled as leached loess derivate, and parent materials at all other locations were labeled as pseudogleyed loess derivates. Both types of parent materials were described in detail and defined. In addition, the terminology and the classification of loess(-derived) parent materials in general was proposed. The analyzed pseudogleyed loess derivates were not completely uniform across the investigated locations. Primarily, this was due to the polygenesis of loess (reflected by differences in particle size distributions and compositions of light and heavy mineral fractions). Secondarily, it was due to the 600–1100 mm MAP gradient along the study region (reflected by differences in pH values and properties of redoximorphic features). Although pedogenesis of the investigated parent materials might have started already during the Late Glacial and have continued throughout the Holocene at varying (and overall decreasing) rates, their morphology indicates that pseudogleization and lessivage are still active processes, which occur simultaneously in the analyzed parent materials and agree with the present climate.
Six pedological profiles were analyzed above five typical lithological units in Medvednica Mountain to determine the effect of eolian additions to the soil composition, as well as the possible ...influence of relief, vegetation cover, and anthropogenic input on the dynamics of pedogenesis. Bedrock composition was defined using petrographic (thin sections) and chemical analyses (major and trace element contents), whereas pedological, sedimentological and geochemical characteristics of six cross-sections were determined by chemical (major and trace element contents), mineralogical (modal analysis), and grain size analysis. Soils developed on sedimentary bedrock (Mollic Rendzic Leptosols (Calcaric) and Albic Luvisol (Sceletic)) mostly originate from weathering of siliciclastic detritus that was exposed to oxidization before diagenesis. Furthermore, soils on metasiltstone, marble and Lithothamnium limestone exhibit similar modal and geochemical composition and element distribution across the soil profile. In contrast, soils developed on igneous bedrock originate mostly from weathering of minerals of the first weathering cycle and thus abound with chemically less resistant minerals and less mobile elements. However, all profiles contain higher concentrations of lead with respect to bedrock indicating airborne contamination.
•Investigates geochemistry and mineralogy of different soil types on the Medvednica Mt.•Deals with soil/bedrock relationship•Evaluates the origin of airborne input
Previous investigations of the mineralogical composition of loess sections (loess, loess-like sediments, paleosols, alluvial intercalations) in the Carpathian Basin have concluded that the Danube ...River is the dominant control on the loessitic parent material. These investigations also identify a significant role for the Danube's tributaries in creating local variations. The north-south alignment of these sections forms a transect from the central part of the Carpathian Basin to its southern edge. In this work, the mineral origin of loess sediments was identified by using the multivariate statistical method of discriminant function analysis. Two models were constructed based on the modal composition as the suite of predictor (independent) variables: one is using geographic location as the a priori grouping criterion (SECTION); another employing the difference between the sampling media (LITHOLOGY). Both of the examined discriminant models demonstrate the existence of the mixing zones. The Erdut section is a clear mixture of the mineralogies at the other studied locations, while loesses appear generally intermediate in mineralogy between alluvium and paleosol. The main rationale for the observed difference in modal composition between the Sarengrad and other analyzed sections is the proximity of the Sarengrad section to the Sava River floodplain and Dinaric Ophiolite Zone (DOZ), both important source areas for aeolian sediments in the southern edge of the Carpathian Basin that transport material from the Central Bosnian Mountains unit of DOZ. Chemically, the most resistant heavy minerals together with opaque minerals are exclusively associated with paleosols, being typical products of geochemical pedogenic processes.
The aim was to determine possible local differences between the parent materials of recent leoss-derived soils in eastern Croatia (Dalj, Zmajevac). Furthermore, it highlights the existence of ...chernozem and chernozem-like soils in Croatia and describes their basic physical, chemical and mineral properties. For this purpose, two soil profiles (P-3 and P-6) south of the Dalj settlement and one soil profile (P-10) near the Zmajevac settlement were excavated. The investigation included a detailed pedological analysis, a modal analysis of the heavy and light mineral fraction and a mineralogical analysis of bulk samples (the < 2 mm fraction) and the fraction < 2 μm. By comparing the obtained results with the criteria of the Croatian Soil Classification and the World Reference Base for Soil Resources, the soil profiles P-3 and P-6 can be defined as Chernozem on Loess or Hortic Calcic chernozem (Epiloamic, Endosiltic, Aric, Humic). The systematic unit for profile P-10 was defined as Rendzina according to the Croatian Soil Classification or Calcic Chernozem (Siltic) according to the WRB. Based on the results of the pedological analysis of the soil profile horizons, a gradual degradation of the chernozem was observed as a result of anthropogenic influence, but also due to recent climate change. The degradation is particularly evident in the form of a reduction in organic matter and the relocation of carbonates from the surface to deeper zones. Due to the increasing degree of weathering caused by recent climate changes, some differences in the mineralogical composition of the studied soils were also observed. The progressive degradation of the chernozem due to the effects of recent weathering processes is indicated mainly by the presence of goethite in the fraction < 2 μm as a weathering product of iron minerals (magnetite, pyroxenes…). Although the parent material of all three profiles is loess sediments, the reason why the soil material of profile P-10 has not developed a chernic horizon is the constant contribution of aeolian material and a short period of exposure to pedogenetic processes.
Stagnosols are the most widespread soils in the Pannonian region of Croatia. In Croatia they are referred to as Pseudogleys and considered to form primarily by normal (top–down) pedogenesis. However, ...the formation of their non-calcareous loess parent materials probably involved different sources, transports, and depositional environments. We aimed to determine the courses of soil formation and the characteristics of three Stagnosol profiles studied along the mean annual precipitation (MAP) gradient (700–1100mm) in the Pannonian region of Croatia. We found that soil redoximorphic features formed in situ by ongoing pseudogleization. Vertical trends for the clay/silt and coarse/fine silt ratios pointed to top–down pedogenesis. However, high organic C content at the bottom of one soil profile is the result of erosion/sedimentation processes, whereas high clay content in the subsoil of another profile was largely the result of sedimentation in a shallow paleo-lake. Therefore, some Croatian Stagnosols should be considered polygenetic. Each soil profile was classified using the WRB system, and the new WRB-2014 version proved more suitable than the previous one (WRB-2006). However, suggestions for improvements are given. In line with the MAP gradient were several morphological and only two chemical (pH and base saturation) soil characteristics. Organic C content did not correspond to MAP due to variability of forest topsoils. Clay content and CEC did not agree with MAP due to variability of loess parent materials across the Pannonian region of Croatia. The existence of more than one source of loess material (confirmed by the modal analysis) and the differences in depositional paleo-environments resulted in slightly different mechanical compositions of the investigated parent materials. We concluded that both climate and parent material must be regarded as key factors for the formation and characteristics of Stagnosols in the Pannonian region of Croatia (and the wider southwestern Pannonian Basin).
•Most Croatian Stagnosols formed by top–down pedogenesis, but some are polygenetic.•Argic horizon may have as much as 1.2 times more clay than the overlying horizon.•Soil pH and base saturation were affected by precipitation gradient in the region.•Soil clay content and CEC were affected by parent material heterogeneity.•Soil mechanical and mineral compositions indicate more than one source of loess.
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