Articles
Abstract: Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) is a rapid, relatively new method in Quaternary research to analyse sediments and paleosols. This method takes into account clay mineral content, amount of Fe-bearing minerals and grain size composition of samples, simultaneously. Different Quaternary sediment samples were chosen for characterization and comparison their reflectance curves to detect the essential spectral properties of different paleosols and parent materials. Samples of different sediment types and paleosol variants were investigated from a loess-paleosol sequence from Malá nad Hronom (Slovakia) and from a fluvial-aeolian sediment complex from Pilismarót (Hungary). Five investigated curve sections were separated as the best indicators of reflectance properties of DRS curves. Spectral properties of samples were compared by using the length of investigated curve sections. This investigation showed quantifiable differences between the units of Pleistocene sediment successions, based on the reflectance properties. The influence of pedogenic processes was properly detectable. Significant discrepancies were observed between reflectance curves of well-developed paleosols and parent material samples in the visible and near-infrared range. Differences between the weak developed paleosol layers and their parent materials were only observed in the visible range. Fine sand, sandy silt and loess materials could be separated from each other based on the intensity of entire reflectance curves.
Keywords: diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Pleistocene, loess, aeolian, alluvial, paleosol
Abstract: The objective was to parameterize a modified water cloud model using crop coefficients (A and B). These crop coefficients were derived from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 data. Whereas coefficients C and D are of soil parameters. The water cloud model was modified using crop coefficients by minimizing the RMSE between observed VVσ0 and Sentinel-1 based simulated VVσ0. The comparison with observed and simulated VV polarized σ0 showed low RMSE (0.81 dB) and strong R2 of 0.98 for NDVI-EVI combination. However, based on other possible combinations of vegetation indices VVσ0 and simulated VVσ0 do not show a good statistical agreement. It was observed that the errors in crop coefficients (A and B) are sensitive to errors in initial vegetation/canopy descriptor parameters.
Keywords: NDVI, EVI, SAR, Sentinel, WCM
Abstract: The determination of particle size distribution is a crucial issue in various fields of earth sciences (e.g., Quaternary research, sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, volcanology), environmental sciences as well as diverse industrial applications (e.g., pharmaceuticals, cement industry). New measurement techniques developed as a result of industrial demands have also gained ground in environmental and Earth sciences research. The new techniques (especially laser diffraction) have enabled the particle characterisation in the broader size-range with a more detailed resolution. Still, they have to be compared with data obtained by classical methods. In light of the above, the primary aim of our research is to examine the methods of particle size determination critically. Excessive oversimplifications of particle size analyses routinely have used in paleo-environmental and paleo-climatological reconstructions, and other sedimentary studies, as well as insufficient knowledge of the background of the applied methods, distort the interpretation of the results. Over the past four decades, laser diffraction particle size analysers have proven to be practical tools of particle size characterisation. However, the shape of the natural sediment and soil particles are irregular and, therefore, affects the particle size distribution results obtained by different methods. The results of the traditional pipette method differed from laser diffraction results. The presence or absence of the pretreatments did control the differences between the two techniques. The results of Fraunhofer optical method were significantly different from Mie theory because it can detect much lower volume percentages of finer particles. Grain size results of coarse-grained samples measured by different laser diffraction devices were more comparable than the results of more clayey samples. The ratios of different sizes were changed due to the hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide pretreatments. The comparison of different techniques is necessary to revaluate standards in grain size measurements which can enable the shift from conventional methods to more productive and reproducible methods. Still, light scattering techniques have not yet been able to displace classical methods in Earth sciences completely, in contrast to industrial applications.
Keywords: grain size analysis, laser diffraction, pipette method, particle shape
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to introduce basic developmental consequences, changes, trends and the current situation in amenities through retail and commercial services in the rural areas of the Czech Republic. The example illustrated herein is the South Moravian Region. Methodically, the text is built on previous survey (2002), and on our own survey conducted in municipalities up to 3,000 inhabitants of the South Moravian Region in 2018 (n = 355). There are semi-structured interviews (n = 18) that link back to these surveys. The data obtained was processed by the methods of statistical and graphical analysis, comparison, interpretation and synthesis. The paper concludes that since 2002, commercial amenities have experienced remarkably negative development. The smaller municipalities in the periphery have encountered the greatest decline, but stagnation is also seen in the suburban areas of Brno. From among types of commercial amenities, the ones most weakened were specialized shops, which could no longer compete with large retail chains. Almost a fourth of municipalities support commercial trade and services, mainly through subsidies or lowered rent. The regions also provide subsidies. Even simplifying red tape or providing tax relief on the part of the public sector would support civic amenities. Another key may be retaining young and educated people in municipalities where they will live and work. Contributing to this could be not only developing infrastructure in municipalities, but also for example the next wave of digitalization and introduction of stable, high-speed Internet service in rural areas.
Keywords: retail, commercial services, South Moravian Region, amenities, Czech Republic, spatial distribution, municipality size
Abstract: Educational travel provides opportunities for participants to explore specific issues in unconventional ways. In Hungary, primary and secondary schools organise annual study trips as part of their curricula. The aim of these trips is to familiarise students with the main sights of the country, and to bring to life national narratives discussed in lessons. Furthermore, these trips often play a key role in students’ socio-psychological development, both as future tourism consumers and as future citizens. Recognising the opportunity to influence students’ worldview and way of thinking during their sensitive teenage years, the Hungarian government has created a national programme to financially support school trips organised to visit minority Hungarian communities living in the neighbouring countries. This paper is based on the content analysis of 256 detailed reports submitted by participants of school trips organised in 2013/14 with the aim to visit Hungarian minority communities in the Carpathian Basin. The analysis focuses on the detailed descriptions of the participants’ personal memories of their experiences, the social construction of the visited destinations, and the influence of their memorable experiences on their sense of national identity. The research disclosed that the trips made to Hungarian territories outside the borders contributed to shaping the national sentiment of the students participating in the programme. The findings suggest that since participation in tourism is an effective means to experience nationhood and national identity, by financially supporting school trips abroad, the state may be able to exert political influence over national consciousness.
Keywords: ethnic tourism, educational trip, national identity, nation building, Carpathian Basin, Hungary, ‘Without Borders!’ project
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