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2017 | Buch

The Physical Geography of Hungary

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SUCHEN

Über dieses Buch

This book presents the most comprehensive and detailed overview of the physical environment of Hungary. The book makes a specific effort to connect regional geography with natural forcing and influencing factors. The first section discusses general characteristics relating to the physical geography of Hungary on a more theoretical basis including relief evolution, climate, hydrography, soils and vegetation. The second part focuses on regional content and analyzes conflicts, environmental values, threats and impacts of the different geographical units.

This book appeals to researchers as well as students of physical geography and related disciplines and serves as a useful source for regional information on Hungary. This book can also be used as a field guide of the physical properties of this European country.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

General Characteristics of the Physical Geography of Hungary

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Relief Evolution
Abstract
In this chapter, the palaeo-geographical changes of the central part of the Carpathian Basin are described, since the Palaeozoic until nowadays. It analyses the evolution of the landscape based on plate tectonics, besides the main influencing factors of palaeo-geographical forms and processes are also studied in connection with climate and vegetation changes. The Quaternary landscape development processes and their consequences are described in detail. In Hungary, fluvial processes are dominant; therefore, the development of the fluvial network, the formation of terrace systems and their controlling factors (e.g. tectonic movements) are emphasized too. The other main form assemblage of the region is connected to blown sand and loess formation. In the mountainous areas, the dominant processes are the different development ways of karstic and non-karstic surfaces and the periglacial forms and processes. The summary of geomorphological, climatic, vegetational and hydrological processes follows a temporal order; thus, the chapter gives a detailed and complex analysis on the Pleistocene, Late Glacial and Holocene evolution of the region.
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 2. Climate of Hungary
Abstract
The climate of the Carpathian Basin reflects the combined characteristics of the neighbouring regions. Despite of the small area and the modest orographic differences of the country, the climate elements (e.g. solar radiation, temperature or precipitation conditions) have distinctive spatial and temporal characters. The result of climatic measurements and the differences in the values will be described in this chapter. Besides, the agro-economical (e.g. drought hazard) and environmental resource potential of the climate (e.g. wind energy utilization) will be introduced. The latest will be described in detail (e.g. recreational potentials and skiing, are limited in natural conditions), as well as the renewable energy sources. Based on estimations, the potential amount of solar radiation (72 PJ,), wind energy (46 PJ), geothermal energy (50 PJ) and biomass (120 PJ) is far higher than the actual usage of these energy resources, which altogether is lower than 10 PJ, if the biomass usage (ca. 52 PJ) is not accounted. In this chapter, the special climate characters of the cities will be analysed too. Slightly detailed description is provided on the potentials (mountainous medical locations) and hazards of the climate (e.g. rainstorm hazard, heat stress, increasing extremities). The past and future climate changes of the Basin are also analysed.
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 3. Hydrography of Hungary
Abstract
The potentials and hazards of surface and subsurface waters are very important elements of the Hungarian environment. The geographical location of the region (e.g. basin-like character, continental water household) determines the possibilities (e.g. great subsurface water bodies) and the hazards (e.g. extreme water regime of the rivers, flood hazard). In the first part of the chapter, the geographical background of the surface waters is introduced, describing the most important morphological, hydrological and ecological characteristics of rivers and lakes. Besides the description of the genetic lake types, a detailed analysis is given on the Lake Balaton, Lake Fertő and Lake Velence. Besides their evolutionary history, the temporal changes of their water households during the last decades are also explained, especially the responses of the lakes on climate change are emphasized. Considering the environmental problems of the subsurface waters, those of the artesian waters (e.g. recharge, water household) are discussed in detail, as in Hungary, these problems are the most important from the point of view of thermal water and drinking water utilization. The drinking water demand is fulfilled by bank-filtered wells and karst waters; thus, they are highlighted. Besides, a general picture is drawn on the human impact on waters and the way of their management in Hungary.
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 4. Soils of Hungary
Abstract
In this chapter, the soils of Hungary are grouped following the widely accepted Hungarian genetic and pedological classifications. The application of the FAO system has not been realised yet (though such map is presented in the chapter), and it will be probably published in 2016/2017. However, probably the change from the genetic to FAO system will be a very slow process, as in the data bases this traditional classification is applied. The orographical conditions of the country greatly reflected in the distribution of zonal genetic soil types (e.g. chernozem and forest soils), though they are also influenced by climatic parameters. The intrazonal soils developed under different hydrological and geological conditions. In the chapter, the soils are evaluated, and the most important human influences on soils are also described, which mostly decrease the fertility of soils, though soils as natural resource and their protection are very important in Hungary. The most important human impacts are the physical degradation (soil erosion is the greatest hazard) and the chemical degradation (e.g. salinization especially in connection with flood protection).
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 5. Natural Vegetation of Hungary
Abstract
The species composition of the vegetation in the Carpathian Basin is determined by the climate, relief, lithology/soil and hydrological conditions. Two main zonal vegetation types appear in Hungary: the zone of deciduous forests, which is dominated by oak and beech (especially in hilly and mountainous areas), and its most widespread forest type is the turkey oak–oak forest. The other zonal vegetation is the forest steppe on lowland areas, which includes different sand and loess forest steppes, and herbaceous associations (e.g. lossy and sandy steppe grasslands). Based on the reconstruction of potential vegetation, approximately 30–50 % of the Carpathian Basin was covered by forest before the intensive human impact, while just approx. 20 % of Hungary was covered by forest. The Carpathian Basin is very rich in species (ca. 3000 plant and 43,000 animal species), and it has colourful and various ecological systems; thus, it is one of the areas with the richest vegetation in Europe. Therefore, the questions of nature protection and conservation are highlighted in the chapter. Highly protected areas are the peatbogs, marshland forests, mixed oak forest and lowland oak forest, which are endangered by natural and human factors.
Gábor Mezősi

Regional Physical Geography of Hungary: An Overview

Frontmatter
Chapter 6. Division of the Natural Landscape Regions
Abstract
This chapter describes the hierarchic system of the Hungarian landscape units and its structure. The smallest unit is the ecotope, and the group of ecotopes forms the micro-region, which constitute meso- and macro-regions. This system is the basis of the regional description of Hungary, introduced in Part II of the book. Based on the accepted Hungarian classification of regions, the regions are determined by their physical geographical factors, but in connection with them, social (and economical) processes also modify their structure, function and characteristics. Therefore, in the regional descriptions, some environmental values and conflicts of each macro-region are highlighted. Besides the structural analysis of the regions, some landscape historical data are described.
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 7. Physical Geography of the Great Hungarian Plain
Abstract
The Great Hungarian Plain is the largest macro-region in the Carpathian Basin. In the chapter, the evolutionary models of the region will be described, and also a general picture will be drawn on the evolution of its lithology, morphology, hydrology, climate and vegetation. In a meso-scale, the general descriptions of landscape parameters will be given, typifying the landscapes into two groups: meso-regions formed on alluvial fans and meso-regions formed on floodplains and floodplain levels. Quite detailed analysis is on the most important environmental values and risks of the Great Hungarian Plain. In a separate subchapter, the changes in human impact on the macro-region during the last millennia will be introduced. Detailed studies discuss the descending level of groundwaters, the different ways of mitigating flood hazard and risk, and in connection with these topics, the ways of possible solutions, their weak points and probable consequences will be presented. The river channel regulation and flood protection works in the Tisza River’s system are analysed in detail, and also the environmental consequences of these works are presented, as these works caused the greatest environmental change in the Great Hungarian Plain.
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 8. Physical Geography of the Little Hungarian Plain
Abstract
The Little Hungarian Plain is situated in the north-western part of the Carpathian Basin; it is similar to the Great Hungarian Plain, as it is also a sinking area, though with a much smaller territory. Its material consists of several 100-m-thick loose fluvial sediments, and along the rim of the region aeolian material also deposited. The main character of the region is determined by the fluvial activity of the Danube. The alluvial fans are closely spaced determining the landscape forms, and influencing the utilization of the region and its potential environmental conflicts. In a meso-scale, a detailed description is given on the landform evolution of the area, its main and most characteristic geomorphological forms and general physical geographical characteristics. Besides, the exploitable resources (e.g. pebble and gravel bodies, CO2 gas, ecological network of natural parks) comprehensive analysis is given in connection with the Bős/Gabcikovo Hydropower Plant, focusing on the very intensive landscape alteration and its consequences. This debate is the origin of an international conflict between Hungary and Slovakia, which is in connection with the discharge, water quality and ecological (partially social) issues of the Danube and the region.
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 9. Physical Geographical of the West Hungarian Border Region
Abstract
It is difficult to sum up the main characteristics of the West Hungarian Border Region, as it constitutes of meso-regions with quite different characters and origin: Palaeozoic mountain ridges of the Alps stretch into the basin and pebble sheets connected to them. The meso-scale description of the region gives detailed analyses on this variegated region. The foothills of the Alps, the pebble and gravel sheets of the Alpine streams, and the alluvial fan of the Rába River (Kemeneshát region) are well-distinguishable units with special characters. The affiliation of the Zala Hills located SW of the region is the topic of debates, as the main characteristics represent a shift between two macro-regions (i.e. West Hungarian Border Region and Transdanubian Hills). From the point of view of natural resources, the Zala Hills are the most important because of its natural oil fields. Nowadays, in the macro-region, the ecological values and the conflicts in connection with them are the most important: for example the water quality of the rivers and streams, or the factories producing hazardous waste are located on environmentally sensitive areas.
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 10. Physical Geography of the Transdanubian Mountains
Abstract
The Transdanubian Mountains mainly consist of Mesozoic carbonate sedimentary blocks, but young volcanic elements also appear in the region. The main character of the macro-region is determined by limestone and dolomite covered by younger sediments, as they influence the rate of (weak) karstification and the type of vegetation, which is also influenced by elevation and lithological changes. The main natural resource of the area is bauxite with declining exploitation, manganese and brown coal with already closed mines. Nowadays, they rather constitute a reserve. The mining activity already terminated, but it caused very complex environmental problems, and the relaxation period of the landscape is very long, as the extreme lowering of the karst water table caused several problems. The most well-known consequence of the mining was the limited utilisation of Hévíz Lake, as the discharge of the hot springs supplying the lake decreased dramatically. The problem of decreasing water supply appeared in several lakes, as karst water withdrawal was very intensive during the mining. Probably, the regeneration and relaxation of the hydrological system will last for decades after the termination of mining. In the eastern and north-eastern meso-regions, the greatest problems are in connection with dense urbanisation (region of Budapest) and with intensive industrial activity along the Danube in the northern foreland of the Gerecse Mts. (e.g. at Almásfüzitő).
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 11. Physical Geography of the Transdanubian Hills
Abstract
The Transdanubian Hills in the southern-central part of Hungary consists of hills built of fluvial and aeolian material, though some mountain blocks built of Palaeo- and Mesozoic marine sediments (Mecsek Mts., Villányi Mt.) are also represented. The latest ones have small area, but they have great importance as their uranium and black coal reserves were mined for a long time. The environmental consequences of the mining activity should be solved in the future. In a meso-regional scale, the most important characteristics of the region (without considering the mountainous carbonate blocks) are connected to the loessy and (aeolian) sandy material of the hills, and to the Quaternary evolution of the river system. The Lake Balaton and its basin belong to this macro-region, being the largest lake in Central Europe and one of the most important touristic destinations. Therefore, the sustainable management of its water household and the protection of its water quality are very important issues. The environmental problems and conflicts in connection with the hydropower plant and reservoir series of the Dráva River should be solved in the future too.
Gábor Mezősi
Chapter 12. Physical Geography of the North Hungarian Mountains
Abstract
The members of the North Hungarian Mountains are built of mainly Miocene andesitic volcanoes. They were strato-volcanoes with single volcanic vents, and during their evolution calderas developed. The only one exception is the Zemplén Mountains in northeast, where centro-labial volcanoes developed. In the macro-region the Bükk and Aggtelek Mountains built of carbonates, thus they have very rich surface and subsurface karstic form assemblage. These morpho-lithological characteristics of the meso-region determine its natural values and potential environmental conflicts too. In the volcanic mountains the hydro-thermal activity resulted in the development of precious and non-ferrous metal ores, but nowadays they are not exploited. In the intra-mountain basins and in the forelands of the mountains considerable amount of brown coal (its mining terminated) and lignite deposited. The exploitation of the latest is in progress, and the need for reclamation is continuous. In the twentieth century the macro-region was the industrial centre of Hungary, therefore several environmental conflicts should be solved in the future.
Gábor Mezősi
Backmatter
Metadaten
Titel
The Physical Geography of Hungary
verfasst von
Gábor Mezősi
Copyright-Jahr
2017
Electronic ISBN
978-3-319-45183-1
Print ISBN
978-3-319-45182-4
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45183-1