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Historical studies of human interaction with climate are one approach through which to understand responses to environmental stress today. Most studies of vulnerability are based upon short timeframes in the recent past and so may focus on its symptoms rather than its underlying causes, or derive exclusively from systems-based approaches that can present historical change without recourse to human agency. This paper makes extensive use of the historical written record to analyse the comparative root-causes of the vulnerability and resilience of rural farming communities to drought over a period of three centuries (1505–1830) in the area between the Zambezi and Save rivers in southern Africa. The paper first considers vulnerability, resilience and adaptation as temporal frameworks, and analyses evidence for drought and its impacts in the pre-colonial past. It then reconstructs agro-ecosystem, livelihood and institutional vulnerability for six societies and settlements over the long-run using an indicator approach. The resultant trajectories of vulnerability are discussed in the context of the differential impacts of past drought, through which the decisive drivers and constraints of vulnerability and resilience are identified. The paper concludes with a number of key themes from this long-run analysis for contemporary vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, and points to the importance of institutional adaptation, normative goals, and uneven distributions of power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are 99 radial wells at Belgrade's groundwater source which lies along the banks of the Sava River. The capacity of this source has been declining over time due to two dominant processes: riverbed colmation and well aging. Both have resulted in substantial additional well-maintenance costs. Aging of radial-well laterals is a result of physical, chemical, and biochemical processes which depend on a number of parameters. The objective of the study presented in this paper was to assess changes in hydraulic losses at the entrance to the laterals due to colmation (clogging) of screen slots of the laterals in order to define the well-aging process and take timely action. Groundwater flow to a single well was numerically simulated using a three-dimensional model. Special software was developed for this purpose; in addition to standard groundwater flow calculations, it allows for geometry and spatial positions of well laterals to be specified in a user-friendly manner. This paper highlights reasons for developing the software and its special features. Model application and results are illustrated using a case study of a well which taps the alluvial aquifer of the Sava River and is part of Belgrade's water supply system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a project of renovating a levelling line from Hydroelectric Power Plant Medvode to Hydroelectric Power Plant Vrhovo. The levelling line is situated along the Sava River. A new height of benchmark was needed as a vertical reference system for the project building up a new HPP between the previously mentioned HPP. Further, the paper presents processing data on measurements (scale and temperature corrections). Gravimetric measurement was performed due to the determination of the geopotencial number and dynamic and normal heights. Slovenian official vertical system contains normal orthometric heights so we also calculated normal orthometric heights. Moreover, the article discusses the accuracy of measurements (levelling and gravimetric) and analyses height calculated in different vertical systems and vertical movements along the levelling line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alkaline rocks (phosphate deposits in particular) of igneous origin are currently being mined in Zimbabwe. Exploitation of these deposits, which are associated with metals and non-metals, provides a potential for changing the river water quality in the surrounding areas by increasing metal and phosphates levels in the water, thereby endangering the beneficial use of the river. The aim and objectives of this paper are to enumerate the current impacts associated with mining alkaline rocks on Save River water quality in Zimbabwe using the Dorowa mine as a case study. Though there are several impacts associated with the mining of alkaline rocks, this paper deals only with impacts on water quality. A preliminary assessment of the water quality in the Save River downstream of the Dorowa phosphate mine showed an increase in conductivity, iron content, manganese content, nitrates and hardness when compared to those taken before mining activity began. However, there was no notable increase in phosphate and metals except for Fe and Mn. A plausible explanation for the low phosphate values in the water is that the phosphates are precipitating and settling as sediments. Phosphate is known to effectively remove metals from the surface water through the formation of metal–phosphate minerals. Thus, various pollutants may be adsorbed into sediments accumulated on the bottom of the river. These sediments may accumulate pollutants over long periods and act as new pollutant sources to the overlying water when phosphate desorbs from sediments due to changes in water conditions. Therefore, the sediments can act as a source of water pollution in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using indices and indicators in assessment of progress of a developing country has two sides. Such indicators offer an easy-to-understand shorthand/synopsis of issues vital for a country’s development. The other side of the coin, however, is that this synopsis may be distorted due to incorrect data or inapplicability of an index or an indicator to a specific case. This paper assesses the applicability of Water Poverty Index for the countries riparian to the Sava sub-basin, a tributary to the Danube river basin and presents the results of its application. At the same time, the paper discusses the concept of water poverty and the appropriateness of its use in the case of Sava River Basin countries by differentiating the economic poverty in some of those countries from sufficient access to and use of water resources in all of them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes a characteristic landslide model for landslides typically hosted in Neogene formations in Serbia, especially along the right banks of the Sava and Danube Rivers. It is focussed on the particular landslide Umka near Belgrade, which is a paradigm for numerous landslides in that area. Various field investigations and laboratory tests carried out in several campaigns, including 1979, 1991-1993 and 2005, underpinned the conception of a general model for this typological landslide. Additionally, a new landslide monitoring campaign started in 2010 provided supplementary data support for the model development. Landslide characteristics, sliding mechanism and material properties based on all these data are first summarised and discussed and then featured in a general model. It is assumed that the landslide is hosted in the weathered zone of grey marls and that the main sliding surface typically propagates along the contact between the fresh and weathered marls. Furthermore, the triggering is principally associated with lateral river erosion in the landslide toe, although heavy precipitation and snow melting have been witnessed to be important indirect triggers. Their correlation to the recorded displacements was difficult to determine due to complex hydrogeological relations and an isolated groundwater system, which is another common characteristic of this landslide type. Back analysis on the basis of the adopted model and the determined geotechnical parameters has been performed. The latter analysis is of particular interest because the Umka landslide is currently under consideration for a mitigation and stabilisation plan related to the construction of a new motorway route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional measuring methods in a dimensional control of turbine parts are demanding and time-consuming, their accuracy depends on experiences of measuring team. Absolute interferometry of laser trackers assures higher measuring accuracy, measuring time is considerably shorter. It is possible to control the influences on measurement in laboratory, whereas more problems may arise during outside measurements. This paper presents the laser tracker technology and its testing in dimensional control of turbine parts of hydropower plants on the lower Sava river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geophysical investigations were conducted using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) along planned dykes of the HPP Brežice water accumulation basin. The ERT profile is 7.3 km long and is located on the right riverbank of the Sava River on the Krško-Brežice field (E Slovenia). A purpose of the investigations was to determine a boundary between semipermeable Miocene and permeable Plio-Quaternary (Pl-Q) and Quaternary (Q) sediments for the proper design of the jet grouting sealing curtain, which will prevent lateral outflow of water from the accumulation basin. In this paper we present processing of the section between 5100 and 6100 m of the profile line. In this section the measurement template was set to 25 depth levels, because a significant increase in a thickness of the Pl-Q sediments was expected. Modelling of the measured apparent electrical resistivity data was carried out with RES2DINV and RESIX 2DI inversion software. Different inversion parameters were used to create 15 geoelectrical models for each program, which were then compared and evaluated based on borehole data and on previous geological investigations of the area. With the final geoelectrical models it was possible to successfully determine areas of three expected stratigraphic members and limit an electrical resistivity range for each one of them. The boundary is well defined between Q and Pl-Q and also between Q and Miocene sediments with sharp contrast in electrical resistivity between them. A boundary between Pl-Q and Miocene sediments was not that obvious, but it was possible to determine its shape by the use of different inversion parameters. We propose a simplified geological cross section based on the interpreted geoelectrical models and borehole data. Geofizikalne raziskave z metodo električne upornostne tomografije so bile izvedene po 7,3 km dolgemu profilu, ki poteka vzdolž načrtovanih nasipov za HE Brežice na desnem bregu Save na Krško-Brežiškem polju. Namen raziskav je bil določiti mejo med polprepustnimi miocenskimi ter prepustnimi pliokvartarnimi (Pl-Q) in kvartarnimi (Q) sedimenti za načrtovanje t.i. jet grouting tesnilne zavese, ki bo preprečevala lateralni odtok vode iz akumulacijskega bazena. V članku predstavljamo obdelavo odseka med 5100 in 6100 m profila na katerem smo pričakovali začetek pojavljanja večje debeline Pl-Q sedimentov, zato smo meritve izvedli na 25 globinskih nivojih. Modeliranje izmerjenih podatkov navidezne električne upornosti je potekalo s programoma RES2DINV in RESIX 2DI z uporabo različnih parametrov pri izdelavi modelov. Te smo med seboj primerjali in vrednotili na podlagi preteklih geoloških raziskav območja in podatkov vrtin. Z vsakim programom smo izdelali 15 različnih modelov. S končnimi modeli smo lahko uspešno opredelili območja pojavljanja treh pričakovanih stratigrafskih členov in za vsakega podali razpon modeliranih električnih upornosti. Na modelih je dobro viden potek meje med Q in Pl-Q ter med Q in miocenskimi sedimenti z velikim medsebojnim kontrastom v električni upornosti. Nekoliko slabše je definirana meja med Pl-Q in miocenskimi sedimenti, vendar je bilo z uporabo različnih postopkov modeliranja tudi mogoče opredeliti njeno obliko. Na podlagi izdelanih modelov in podatkov vrtin smo za obdelan odsek podali poenostavljen geološki profil, na katerem so predstavljene glavne geoelektrično ugotovljene meje med stratigrafskimi členi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although inland water transport is considered to be one of the safest transportation ways, accidents i.e. injuries can happen there. The Drava, the Danube and the Sava rivers, which flow through Croatia, are waterways of international importance and border rivers at the same time. Consequently, there is always a great possibility of an international dispute. Examples of noncontractual liability for damage comprises liability for death and physical injuries, damage to objects (damage of banks, breakwaters, port facilities, floating objects etc.), pollution of river environment and vessel collision. The paper analyzes regulations in applicable law to non-contractual liability for damage in inland water transport according to applicable legal sources of inland transport and international law of persons. The most important links have also been dealt with as well as advantages and disadvantages of particular solutions. Since one of the essential issues of the legal framework regarding inland water transport is non-uniformity of regulations and numerous legal voids, this work conveys suggestions for changes i.e. amandments to national legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the issues of resistance of concrete linings to long-term abrasion loading caused by waterborne particles, particularly for the proposed hydro power plants on the Sava River in Slovenia. The main purpose of the research work was to define the possibility of forecasting the process of concrete lining wear on the Sava River dam structures based on the standard procedures of abrasion resistance testing. Abrasion resistance of concrete has been researched in accordance with the standard ASTM C 1138 and Böhme (DIN 52108) methods. The research work was based on a comparison between laboratory results and measurements of abrasion resistance of concrete under natural conditions by performing test plots in the stilling basin of the Vrhovo HPP. Concrete composites with different mechanical properties have been analysed within the research programme. The analysis showed a qualitative similarity of the level of concrete abrasion between laboratory simulations and measurements in the field, as well as suitability of the ASTM C 1138 laboratory method for the assessment of abrasion resistance of concretes in the spillway of the HPP chain on the Lower Sava River [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents 108 development proposals for the Sava river and its banks in Zagreb between 1899 and 2010. The research reveals similar but also diverse concepts with regard to the relevant parameters: the planned use and function of Sava banks, the type of construction, traffic regulation features and landscape design. This analysis can be ground for further research on the evaluation and implementation of these proposals into a wider spatial and social context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of the study was to investigate the role played by the natural environment in protecting the transboundary Save River from the impacts of metals derived from phosphate mining at Dorowa. The study is a follow up study from a previous one that noted that there is natural attenuation at Dorowa. Water and sediment samples were collected in the Save River and the streams that drain the Dorowa dumps. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) was used to analyze the cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Co2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Sn2+, Mn2+, Cd2+) in the samples. Major anions Cl−, and were analyzed by standard chromatography whilst and were determined by titration. pH was measured on site. Geochemical modeling of the water composition was conducted with Visual Minteq. The results show that natural attenuation is being achieved through precipitation of solids from the water and subsequent deposition onto the sediments. Six of the metals are almost completely precipitated (Cu 99.99%, Fe 99.39%, Ni 91.24%, Pb 99.87%, Sn 99.99% and Zn 88.66%). However Mn, Co and Cd remain in solution. Thus the natural environment is protecting the Save River which is a transboundary river from the impacts of mining through precipitation of the metals. Users downstream of Dorowa mine are therefore not being affected by mining pollution. This study demonstrates that besides being a legitimate and important user of water, the natural environment can also play a significant role in protecting water quality by attenuating metals naturally. By analyzing costs incurred in several places where alternative methods are employed to remediate metal related pollution the study concludes that natural remediation at Dorowa is saving the nation in environmental costs. Therefore the paper advocates for appreciation of the role that the natural environment plays in protecting ecosystems from the impact of human developments and environmental costs. Subsequently, this calls for recognition of natural environment’s role in water resources management for the sustenance of ecosystems and peoples livelihoods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents the results of hydroacoustic noise research in three large European rivers: the Danube, the Sava, and the Tisa. Noise in these rivers was observed during a period of ten years, which includes all annual variation in hydrological and meteorological conditions (flow rate, speed of flow, wind speed, etc.). Noise spectra are characterized by wide maximums at frequencies between 20 and 30 Hz, and relatively constant slope toward higher frequencies. Spectral level of noise changes in time in relatively wide limits. At low frequencies, below 100 Hz, the dynamics of noise level is correlated with the dynamics of water flow and speed. At higher frequencies, noise spectra are mostly influenced by human activities on river and on riverbanks. The influence of wind on noise in rivers is complex due to the annual variation of river surface. The influence of wind is less pronounced than in oceans, seas, and lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the impacts of some meteorological parameters on the SO2 concentrations in the City of Obrenovac are presented. The City of Obrenovac is located in the north-west part of Serbia on the banks of the River Sava. The observed source emission, the power plants TENT A and B are situated on the bank of the Sava River in the vicinity of Obrenovac. During the period from January to November 2006, the concentrations of sulfur dioxide in the air at 4 monitoring sites in Obrenovac were measured. It was noticed that the maximal measured daily concentrations of sulfur dioxide ranged from 1 μg m-3 (16th November, 2006) to 98 μg m-3 (29th January 2006) and lie under the maximal allowed concentration value according to the Serbian Law on Environmental Protection. The measured sulfur dioxide concentrations mostly showed characteristics usual for a daily acidification sulfur dioxide cycle, excluding the specificities influenced by the measuring site itself. Sulfur dioxide transport was recorded at increased wind speeds, primarily from the southeast direction. Based on the impact of meteorological parameters on the sulfur dioxide concentration, a validation of the monitoring sites was also performed from the aspect of their representivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alien fish species Prussian or gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) was introduced to Croatia from Asia several decades ago. The analysis was performed by the official monitoring data from the Final Report for the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb during the last eight years (2010-2017) in combination with the statistical analysis of the fisheries data of the Krapina-Zagorje County and Sisak-Moslavina County in the period from 2004 to 2015. The proportion of Prussian carp catches (in kg) increased at Sisak-Moslavina County from 26.45% to 41.84% from 2004 to 2015, leading to a significant decrease of catches of common carp from 25.59% to 8.70%, respectively (r² = 0,936; p < 0,01). The catch per unit effort (CPUE) of Prussian carp, defined as annual catch by an average angler, significantly increased, from 6 kg at the beginning of this period to 14 kg at its end. These data show that Prussian carp still enlarges its populations along the Sava River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]