Around the Bloc: Black Sea Countries Vulnerable to Zika, WHO Warns
The Zika virus is expected to travel north with the warmer weather.
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The Zika virus is expected to travel north with the warmer weather.
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The article presents the results of research on spatial changes related to the implementation of the investment over the last decade. The study comprised nearly thirty towns and villages in Małopolska Region, where such investments have taken place. They were aimed at increasing the attractiveness of public spaces, development of economic activity, acceleration of urbanization by increasing the housing areas, and improvement of the health resorts and infrastructure related to environmental protection and transport network. The studies were conducted in the years 2010–2013. The results reveal that the largest amount of investment has taken place in the past few years. Most of it are small projects. Apart from infrastructural investments, they were largely aimed at improving the quality of public spaces in towns and villages.
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This article is the result and partial summary of the author’s research on thespatial degradation of Poznań metropolitan area – a complex problem, which is brieflydiscussed in this work. The aim of the article is to present the most successful examplesof contemporary buildings in the analysed area that are in contrast to the majority ofbuildings, which do not respect the cultural legacy and building tradition of the region.It shows that it is possible to successfully combine modern design with traditionalforms and that such an approach always gives benefits to the surrounding area and itsspatial order. The scarcity of such buildings proves that the level of architecturalawareness of society regarding local building traditions and cultural heritage ofWielkopolska is low. It also results in progressing spatial degradation of suburban areas.This elaboration shows that the recipe for improvement of spatial order in Poznańagglomeration is to propagate the knowledge of cultural identity of this region andpromote correspondence of contemporary architecture to the local building traditions.
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The observed changes in Małopolska health resorts that have resulted inimproving the quality of their public spaces and technical infrastructure over the last10 years, are directly related to the effective financing with EU funds obtained bymunicipalities and health resort companies. The implementation of costly investmentsprovides a basis for further economic development of these localities, as well asstrengthens the position of Małopolska spas among other Polish and European spas.On the example of selected spas the author presents the improvements taking place,with special regard to investments co-financed from EU funds.
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This article presents reflections on the role of centres of small towns as localstructural nodes in the polycentric space of the metropolitan region. After explaining thetheoretical assumptions of the research approach to this issue, the author described theproblematic situation of the central part of Skawina near Cracow and outlined proposalsconcerning municipal projects to be financed by the European Union.
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The purpose of this article is to present some changes which have occurred in urban fabric of chosen small towns in recent years, and their effect on the attractiveness of urban space. The changes are connected with the development and transformation of the functional and spatial structure of towns, and are accelerated by the European Union funds. First of all, the condition of infrastructure as well as the quality of urban space have been improved. New facilities have been built and the most attractive spaces have been renovated. As a result of the changes that have taken place new opportunities have appeared for towns to become more competitive, basing on their individual features and local conditions. However, they are facing new problems connected with their new character, functions and bigger sizes. Also, a new image attracts other types of investors.
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The article aims to provide a brief overview of the new round of negotiations in Cyprus, which started in May 2015 following Mustafa Akıncı’s election as the new Turkish Cypriot president. Based on the review of official statements from the two sides and the United Nations, as well as media coverage, the contribution argues that significant progress has been achieved by the two leaders during the past six months of negotiations. A referendum in the spring of 2016 is on the cards.
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In 2014 the question of Europe’s energy security made it to the top of the European Union’s policy agenda amidst the continuing crisis in Ukraine. Russia has demonstrated its capacity to exert political influence on the countries in Southeast Europe and the Black Sea regions by leveraging its dominant position on their energy markets. It has successfully pressured the government of Bulgaria to support its flagship project, South Stream, at the expense of the country’s long-term strategy to diversify its natural gas supply. The article highlights the development of the Gazprom-led project in Bulgaria by taking stock of the country’s energy security situation and shedding light on state capture risks related to the pipeline. Governance deficits in the Bulgarian energy sector have ultimately limited Bulgaria’s bargaining power on the project, worsening the country’s overall energy security position, and putting an additional strain on public finances. Bulgaria’s commitment to South Stream has been in conflict with Bulgarian and EU energy priorities, as well as with European Commission competition and liberalisation principles. Bulgaria has started the project’s implementation without independent planning and cost-benefit analysis. The focus on the project has diverted attention and resources from priority energy security investments, such as gas interconnectors and storage facilities, gas and power exchanges, energy poverty as well as energy efficiency.
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Temperature inversion is a phenomenon in which air temperature increases with altitude. The studies on air temperature inversions in Cracow were based on various data and methods e.g. data from standard and automatic meteorological stations, radiosonde observations, lidar and sodar measurements. They showed the annual and diurnal variability of temperature inversions, but most of them did not investigate the multi-annual trends in the occurrence of temperature inversions. Due to the relationship between meteorological conditions and air quality, it is important to study the multi-annual, annual and diurnal variability of air temperature inversions. The main aim of this article is to determine the multi-annual variability of air temperature inversions in Cracow and its relation to synoptic situation. Moreover, the annual and diurnal variability of temperature inversions is shown. The study is based on data derived from NCEP - NCAR reanalysis and the classification of synoptic situation types by T. Niedźwiedź. In this paper two parameters of inversions are presented – frequency and intensity. The study confirmed that the frequency and intensity of inversions have annual and diurnal variation. Multi-annual changes in the numbers of days with temperature inversion were also observed – a statistically significant increase in the 1000 – 925 hPa layer as well as in the intensity of temperature inversions – a statistically significant increase in the 1000 – 925 hPa, 1000 – 850 hPa and 925 – 850 hPa layers. It was proved that a very strong relationship exists between the days with temperature inversion and the anticyclonic situation, especially with the air-flow from south, south-west and south-east.
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The purpose of this paper is to describe the variability of the physical and chemical characteristics of springwater in the Chochołowski Potok catchment. Eleven springs were selected for research purposes. The research was performed from November 2008 to October 2009. Ca 2+ was found as the most common cation, and HCO 3 – was the most common anion in the analysed springwater. The spatial variability of the physical and chemical parameters depends on the geology of an area. Most of the physical and chemical properties of springwater are characterized by seasonal variability. Only a few seasonal differences of the physical and chemical parameters of water are statistically significant (ANOVA). The seasonal changes in springwater chemistry are characterized by high ion concentrations during dry periods in the autumn and winter and low ion concentrations during snowmelt and rainfall-induced floods during the spring and summer. Four factors controlling the physical and chemical properties of springwater were identified.
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Stationary research upon soil erosion has been conducted in the Chwalimski Potok catchment since 2012 as a continuation of research started in 1994. In 2013 conducted two field experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the impact of high intensity rainfall on soil surface. The first experiment consisted of 5 and the second of 4 rainfall simulations. The rainfall was created by using a purpose-built rain simulator, consisting of 3 and 6 sprinklers placed around the testing plot. The paper focuses on the characterization of the course of these experiments. The achieved results compared with the results from the hydrological years 2012 and 2013 show that slope wash considerably increases during rainfall of high intensity and high amount.
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This paper presents the state of research regarding extreme phenomena at different spatial scales in Polish scientific publications ( mainly climatological ones ). The analysis covered papers concerning: various classifications and criteria for the identification of extreme phenomena, characterising the causes and effects of extreme phenomena, modeling and forecasting of extreme phenomena as well as using the knowledge about extreme phenomena in practice. The review of literature on extreme weather and climate phenomena allowed the authors to see a large number of problems connected with the research upon extreme phenomena. Problems concerning definitions, research methods and extreme phenomena forecasting were mainly dealt with in the paper. The effects of occurrence of hydrometeorological extreme phenomena are an issue of significant importance.
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The aim of the paper is to review the state of research on the phenomenon of derecho, with particular emphasis on studies conducted in Europe and on the American continent. The paper presents different approaches to the identification criteria of derecho. The structure and conditions for its formation were characterized. Long-term studies on the multi-annual occurrence of derecho on both continents were described. The presented review of literature led to the conclusion that there are still many opportunities to study mesoscale convective systems which cause derecho on the European continent
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Wind gusts are a dangerous meteorological phenomenon which may cause material damage and risk to human life. In recent years they have been observed more frequently. The purpose of this analysis is to examine synoptic situations favouring the occurrence of wind gust in Żeńsko (Western Pomerania ) and to characterize their seasonal, monthly and diurnal variations. The study uses data on wind speed and direction from the wind data collection tower at Żeńsko from the period between January 2008 and December 2009. Wind speed was measured at two heights – 25 and 50 m above ground level. The location selected for this analysis represents lakeland landscape, typical for this part of Poland. Wind Gusts at Żeńsko are observed throughout the year. The maximum of their occurrence is observed in March and August, while the minimum in May and September. During the day they most often occur in the afternoon hours. A synoptic situation favouring the occurrence of wind gusts is a baric col over Poland. They equally often occur during fronts transition, particularly with a cold front. The investigation revealed that wind gusts always occur on days with the advection of more than one air mass. They also occur with a high probability (over 25%) in the cases of tropical and polar continental air flow.
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The paper analyzes winter temperatures in the Polish part of the southern Baltic coast using the mean monthly temperature from the years 1951–2010 from the following stations: Szczecin, Świnoujście, Ustka, Hel, Gdynia and Elbląg and the maximum daily air temperature from the years 1986–2010 from the stations: Szczecin, Świnoujście, Kołobrzeg, Łeba and Hel. In order to characterize the circulation determinants in especially warm winters, the NAO index and types of circulation according to Lityński were used. The study showed a strong influence of the western airflow on winter temperatures, which distorted the upward trend in temperature by an extremely high intensity of advection. The particularly strong advection of air masses from the Atlantic in the last decade of the twentieth century contributed to the high, compared to other years, winter temperature on the Polish coast, especially in its western part
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The aim of this study is to identify extreme cases of the appearance of singularities in the annual air temperature course in the period 1826–2010 in Krakow. In climatological literature the term “singularities” denotes characteristic fluctuations in the annual course of temperature, occurring periodically every year. In this paper a special attention was paid to the duration and long-term variability of distinguished singularities. A 5-degree polynomial was used to smooth out the annual course of temperature. A model of temperature variation was calculated on this basis. Differences between the mean daily temperature values and those calculated from the model was taken into account to distinguish these singularities. It was found that in the period 1826–2010 in Krakow, warm anomalies slightly prevailed over cold anomalies. In the annual course, singularities occurred most frequently in spring, but the greatest differences between the daily mean air temperature and that calculated from the model appeared in winter. However, there was no clear recurrence of the analyzed events (singularities) in the multi-year period.
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The paper presents a topological characteristics of the network passenger train connections in the province of Łódź. The effectiveness of all connections between 24 cities in the region included in the network of scheduled connections was assessed based on their frequency and duration time expressed in physical, time and economic units. In addition, the communication was defined by its potential, strength and direction of its influence for each of the examined cities in the rail system. It was found that the accessibility of the towns, on the assumption of train journey, is determined first of all by the direction of the railway. The railway pattern in the Łódź province provides access to 24 out of 44 towns. The level of transport connections between the towns in region resulting from the operation of collective transport by rail is clearly conditioned by the number of potential users. This relationship is not as clear as in the public road transport. On the other hand, the location of a city in the urban network and within the region is a secondary factor.
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The aim of the study is to evaluate spatial organization quality using the urban audit. It is one of the suitable methods used in this type of diagnosis, and it is a procedure with independent modules for the collection and processing of information in order to show social, economic, and urban public space diversity. However, this study is limited to a single subsystem – urban space. The basic condition for the correctness of the urban audit execution is the selection of a relatively small and functionally and morphologically homogeneous area. The study was conducted in Sosnowiec City – in the Maczki district, in the area associated with the establishment of the Warsaw–Vienna Railway border station between the Kingdom of Poland ( then part of Russia ) and Austria–Hungary and the broad-gauge railway station of the Iwangorodzko-Dąbrowska Railway. The urban audit was conducted for the following streets: Kadłubka, Krakowska, Skwerowa, Spacerowa, Stacyjna and Wodociągi. It was found that in the worst condition are the following streets: Stacyjna Street, leading to the former broad-gauge station, with gaps between buildings and low quality of road infrastructure, and Skwerowa Street, which is characterized by a predominance of old housing stock for railway workers. The best technical condition for identified in the case of Spacerowa Street, primarily due to the occurrence of privately-owned housing. Thus, research has shown that the district is in need of urban revitalization.
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Knowledge of prevailing winds and ocean currents was one of the crucial factors deciding the success of European sailors during the Age of Discovery. Its role has not been fully appreciated in Polish geography yet. The role of prevailing winds and ocean currents in the determination of sea lanes in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean is described in this paper. It has been shown that winds and ocean currents can both make easier or more difficult navigation to a given destination. Some navigational techniques were developed to overcome such obstacles. The volta do mar technique was used to avoid beating trade winds during return voyages from the West Africa coast. The use of this technique in the South Atlantic Gyre demanded to drift southwest after passing by the Guinea coast and use the Brazilian Current and next prevailing westerlies to reach the Cape of Good Hope. Monsoon circulation is the main navigational challenge in the Indian Ocean. Good timing is essential for the fastest voyage there. The Brouwer Route resolved the problem of the seasonality of navigation to the Malay Archipelago to some degree. It was shown too that using the sea lanes mentioned above enabled many important discoveries, particularly those of the Brazilian and Western Australian coasts.
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