Geographical analysis of climate vulnerability at a regional scale: the case of the Southern Great Plain in Hungary

Abstract

This paper provides an example for regional scale analysis of climate vulnerability incorporating environmental as well as socio-economic indicators. Researches have focused on different aspects of climate vulnerability so far, but usually there is little connection between the physical and social dimensions. Our study provides a more complex analysis, which builds on the application of international indices which have been used on the local and regional levels very rarely. In our research we combined physical and human geographical approaches and research techniques. The physical geographical assessment is based on indicators referring to ground water levels and vegetation production, while the human geographical side of the analysis focuses on economic and social sensitivity, adaptation and exposure indices, combined in the so-called socio-economic climate vulnerability index. In the analysis we tried to figure out the most sensitive areas in the Hungarian Southern Great Plain region. The main findings of the study are "hot spots" which coincide on both analyses, therefore, the most sensitive areas under current climate change conditions could be delimited. This study also demonstrates that the resolution of global climate change vulnerability indices is not suitable for regional scale analysis because of the significant territorial differences. Therefore, local or regional scale assessments are needed for the preparation of strategies for the elaboration of mitigation and adaptation policies.

Understanding the Environmental Background of an Invasive Plant Species (Asclepias syriaca) for the Future: An Application of LUCAS Field Photographs and Machine Learning Algorithm Methods

“…The sample area has a humid continental climate, with an average annual temperature of 10.5 • C and an average annual precipitation of 550 mm. Agriculture is facing major challenges as a result of its more and more arid climate, which is characterized by diminishing summer rainfall, increasing drought frequency, and the significant decline in groundwater level (up to 6-8 m in some areas) since 1970 [16,29,33,34]. Since the 1990s, the main land use changes of these areas have been arable land abandonment and the conversion of grassland to plantation.…”

“…Since the 1990s, the main land use changes of these areas have been arable land abandonment and the conversion of grassland to plantation. The abandonment of arable land was most significant in sandy areas, which are very sensitive to drought and have poor water retention capabilities [16,29,33,34].…”

Landscape degradation in the world and in Hungary

“…Climate change in Hungary is primarily characterized by increasing drought sensitivity (Farkas, J.Zs. et al 2017).…”

Analysing the sensitivity of Hungarian landscapes based on climate change induced shallow groundwater fluctuation

“…As a consequence of the milder climate, appearance of new pests in Central Europe is a typical example of that (Laštůvka, Z. 2009;Farkas, J.Zs. et al 2017).…”