Geographica Pannonica

Human Thermal Load of Cfb Climate Summer Weather Based on the Concept of Required Skin Evaporation

2025-12-30T20:04:33+01:00

We analyzed the human thermal load of summer weather in the Cfb climate based on the results of a new model based on the human body energy balance equation and the skin surface evaporation gradient formula. The active surface of the model is the skin surface, the person is lying in a resting position, its skin type is Fitzpatrick skin type IV. For that purpose, longitudinal research method was performed in 2022 in Martonvásár, Hungary (East-Central Europe), comprising 331 observations in which weather conditions and thermal sensation types were recorded simultaneously. The main observation is that in warm climates and/or weather situations, the amount of thermal load can be very simply characterized by latent heat flux density values of the skin evaporation. From a human point of view, the most important characteristics of summer weather in the Cfb climate are as follows: 1) The latent heat flux density of skin surface evaporation varied between 10 and 300-350 Wm^-2, while the operative temperature ranged between 25 °C and 80 °C. 2) The relationship between skin surface evaporative resistance and operative temperature can be characterized by an exponential function. In cases of thermal sensation type "neutral", skin surface evaporative resistance values are mostly above 0.5 hPa·m²·W^-1. Observations made by people with different skin types are essential to generalize the results.

When Ungauged Micro-Watersheds Conceal Danger: A Morphometric and Morphodynamic Analysis of Flood Risk. Case Study: The City of Aïn M’lila, Algeria

2025-12-30T20:04:34+01:00

Extreme weather events-particularly episodes of intense rainfall-are increasingly disrupting hydrological regimes and triggering frequent, destructive floods, especially in urban environments. These floods have severe repercussions on populations, infrastructure, and economic activities. While large river basins are typically monitored and extensively studied, small ungauged urban catchments remain poorly documented despite their critical role in generating localized hydrological hazards. This study focuses on a small ungauged watershed located in Aïn M’lila (northeastern Algeria), which experiences recurrent flash floods that frequently lead to urban inundation. In the absence of hydrological instrumentation, the objective is to generate insight into the watershed’s hydrological functioning and the associated geomorphological impacts using alternative, integrative methods. The approach combines morphometric analysis, a morphodynamic reading of surface flow dynamics, and targeted field observations of flood traces and erosion patterns. This methodological framework offers a more precise characterization of the watershed’s specific features, enhances understanding of its behavior during extreme rainfall events, and provides a transferable basis for flood risk assessment in other similarly data-scarce urban contexts. This study contributes in three concrete ways: (1) by demonstrating a reproducible workflow that integrates 30 m DEM-based morphometry with field-scale morphodynamic observations for ungauged urban micro-watersheds; (2) by providing quantified morphometric metrics linked to hydrological response indicators (e.g., drainage density, time of concentration) and interpreting their physical meaning for flash-flood generation; and (3) by combining spatial evidence with participatory survey data to inform practical recommendations for low-cost monitoring and urban planning interventions.

Disaster Risk Perception and Communication in Flood-prone Areas in Albania: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Settings

2025-12-30T20:04:34+01:00

This study examines disaster risk perception and communication in Albania, focusing on two districts in the cities of Tirana and Fier and the villages of Novosela and Dajç, all affected by severe flooding in recent years. The research highlights how dimensions of national culture - particularly fatalism and attachment to home and hearth - interact with contextual, psychological, and demographic characteristics to shape flood risk perceptions. Quantitative analysis using surveys (N=104) and ORL regression models shows that disaster risk tolerance is influenced by location, household income, and prior exposure to natural disasters. Urban residents are less tolerant of risk, while higher-income individuals and those with previous disaster experience show greater tolerance. Qualitative interviews reveal that city dwellers often perceive floods as inevitable, while rural participants emphasize communal coping and local knowledge.