Central European Cities Research Articles

Not so global climate change? Representations of post-socialist cities in the academic writings on climate change and urban areas

ABSTRACT Climate change is the epitome of a global issue. Cities and their inhabitants face locally specific, yet still globally shared and interconnected problems from heat waves, storms, coastal or fluvial floods to water scarcity, all of which puts pressure on their infrastructure as well as social institutions. Yet, it has been argued that academic research on cities and climate change has so far represented the urban world fractionally, as most case studies of cities are from the developed world. Moreover, urban scholars have been criticized for not being able to fully grasp the transformations that cities are undergoing, nor being able to apply critical urban theory to this field. This article uses these stimuli to critically review current internationally published research on “post-socialist cities” in the context of climate change. It observes how empirical research in this multidisciplinary area is, first, still relatively scarce and especially very recent, and second, that it is largely disconnected from conceptual debates led in urban studies. I argue that this underdeveloped discussion not only slows down development of a more critical academic perspective on the issue that would be based in urban studies of Central and East European cities, but it can also impact how responses to climate change are thought through by local actors.

Woodland fragments in urban landscapes are important bat areas: an example of the endangered Bechstein’s bat Myotis bechsteinii

Urban areas are increasing globally causing fragmentation and loss of habitats for many forest dwelling species. At the same time new habitats are created, which may be exploited by species with a broad ecological tolerance. Bats form the largest mammal group living in cities in Central Europe. Species diversity might be higher in some cities compared to rural areas. Yet, habitat-specialists struggle with rapid landscape change and urban development. The Bechstein’s bat Myotis bechsteinii is dependent on old growth deciduous forests that supply tree cavities to roost in. The use of small home ranges requires high prey abundance around roosts. Despite their habitat specialization we identified two Bechstein’s maternity colonies within the metropolitan area of Frankfurt/Main (Germany). The colonies numbered 25 and 31 adult females respectively. We radio tracked individuals from both colonies (n = 14) and compared their habitat use to that of females (n = 79) of 11 colonies from rural woodlands. We identified a total of 29 roosts used by the two maternity colonies during summer. Roost choice of the urban forest colonies was similar to the rural forest colonies with a preference for oak trees with woodpecker holes. The distances between roosts were similar between urban and rural colonies. Habitat selection was strongly towards old forest patches. We emphasize the importance of the persistence of old forest islands within urban areas to support remaining bat colonies with a network of bat areas, similar to the important bird areas (IBAs). Specialized species that fail to adapt to the rapid changes may survive within the urban environment relying on old forest patches.

Background concentrations of benzene, potential long range transport influences and corresponding cancer risk in four cities of central Europe, in relation to air mass origination

Benzene concentrations covering the three year period 2015–2017, were derived from four background monitoring stations located in Berlin (Germany), Budapest (Hungary), Mons (Belgium) and Torino (Italy), in order to calculate the corresponding Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) of an average adult, associated with the inhalation of benzene. In addition, a cluster analysis of backward air mass trajectories was coupled with Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) model aiming to identify possible exogenous source regions of benzene affecting the four cities and also to allocate the ILCR in atmospheric circulation patterns. A potential health risk (ILCR>10−6) from benzene exposure was estimated in all four cities. In Berlin and Mons, an enhanced fraction of the ILCR was associated with Southeast short range trajectories of slow moving air masses, which were also related to extreme long range transport episodes. Furthermore, increased benzene concentrations in Budapest were observed during the prevalence of short range Southwest airflows, whilst PSCF model isolated the transboundary emission sources in the industrialized North Italy. Long range trajectories of fast moving marine air masses from North Atlantic, not influenced by anthropogenic emissions, improved the benzene related air quality in Berlin and Mons due to dispersion. No long range transport effects were confirmed in Torino.

Using local climate zones to compare remotely sensed surface temperatures in temperate cities and hot desert cities

Abstract Urban and rural thermal properties mainly depend on surface cover features as well as vegetation cover. Surface classification using the local climate zone (LCZ) system provides an appropriate approach for distinguishing urban and rural areas, as well as comparing the surface urban heat island (SUHI) of climatically different regions. Our goal is to compare the SUHI effects of two Central European cities (Szeged, Hungary and Novi Sad, Serbia) with a temperate climate (Köppen-Geiger’s Cfa), and a city (Beer Sheva, Israel) with a hot desert (BWh) climate. LCZ classification is completed using WUDAPT (World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools) methodology and the thermal differences are analysed on the basis of the land surface temperature data of the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) sensor, derived on clear days over a four-year period. This intra-climate region comparison shows the difference between the SUHI effects of Szeged and Novi Sad in spring and autumn. As the pattern of NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) indicates, the vegetation coverage of the surrounding rural areas is an important modifying factor of the diurnal SUHI effect, and can change the sign of the urban-rural thermal difference. According to the inter-climate comparison, the urban-rural thermal contrast is the strongest during daytime in summer with an opposite sign in each season.

Dynamiques des villes centre-est européennes face aux transformations politico-économiques (1961–2011)

Cet article propose d’apprehender l’impact des evenements politiques et economiques des annees 1990 sur les dynamiques demographiques des villes centre-est europeennes, selon une definition harmonisee de la ville sur le temps long en Europe. Il s’agit d’identifier les evolutions exceptionnelles qu’ont pu connaitre certaines villes depuis 1961, notamment avec la chute du Mur de Berlin en 1989, qui signale un changement de paradigme de developpement urbain en Europe centrale et orientale.L’article met en evidence une dynamique a double vitesse des villes situees sur la facade occidentale et orientale de l’Europe du Centre-Est. Il semblerait que le degre de developpement urbain de ces villes soit lie non pas tant a leur taille qu’a la proximite de pays plus avances, comme l’Allemagne, l’Autriche et l’Italie. Ces observations s’inscrivent dans le cadre de la theorie de la diffusion des innovations au sein des systemes complexes et souligne l’importance de la proximite geographique, plutot que de la taille des villes en termes de dynamiques urbaines.

Wzory granic Europy Środkowej z perspektywy wielokulturowego Wiednia

Patterns of Central Europe’s Borders from the Perspective of Multicultural Vienna. Reminiscences, Rehearsals, Extravagances, and Their Wider Context
 The article analyzes the concept of the territorial distribution of Central Europe and the inhabitants of Vienna as a par excellence Central European city. It lays out the findings from material gathered through 173 questionnaires in the form of a map of Europe, upon which the respondents indicated the territorial scope of Central Europe. Surveys were carried out both among Austrians and migrants living in Vienna. The authors point at two distinct trends: (a) the inclusion of individual states and regions into Central Europe, (b) exclusion of individual countries and regions from Central Europe. As a result, there is a picture of Central Europe conceived in positive terms (as a cultural and civilizational entity) as well as a negative one (in opposition to the East and the Balkans). However, the study is a pilot and requires further scientific research using alternative methods and techniques.

Urban areas as hotspots for bees and pollination but not a panacea for all insects

Urbanisation is an important global driver of biodiversity change, negatively impacting some species groups whilst providing opportunities for others. Yet its impact on ecosystem services is poorly investigated. Here, using a replicated experimental design, we test how Central European cities impact flying insects and the ecosystem service of pollination. City sites have lower insect species richness, particularly of Diptera and Lepidoptera, than neighbouring rural sites. In contrast, Hymenoptera, especially bees, show higher species richness and flower visitation rates in cities, where our experimentally derived measure of pollination is correspondingly higher. As well as revealing facets of biodiversity (e.g. phylogenetic diversity) that correlate well with pollination, we also find that ecotones in insect-friendly green cover surrounding both urban and rural sites boost pollination. Appropriately managed cities could enhance the conservation of Hymenoptera and thereby act as hotspots for pollination services that bees provide to wild flowers and crops grown in urban settings.

Пространственные различия социальной дифференциации в постсоветский период: сравнительный анализ Санкт-Петербурга и Риги

Research into the socio-spatial dynamics in Central European cities is an important area of contemporary transition studies. Open issues in this domain range from defining a theoretical framework to data availability and methodological approaches. As to the former aspect, recent literature focuses on the hybrid nature of the post-socialist urban space, which underwent modernization in the conditions of globalization and economic liberalization; the earlier model of spatial development changed dramatically as a result. The multi-scalar and comparative approaches may shed new light on the complex patterns of urban socio-spatial differentiation and its post-Soviet dynamics. Growing regional socio-economic imbalances observed in the former socialist states are lending new urgency to this area of research. This study employs a comparative approach to investigate post-1991 socio-spatial transformations in St Petersburg and Riga — the two largest post-Soviet urban centres in the Baltic Sea region. An important result of the research is a methodology for multi-level analysis of changes in the urban environment of post-socialist cities. Data from post-1991 national censuses and population registers are used to calculate measures of social well-being in urban districts as well as to identify territorial imbalances. Comparative analysis makes it possible to trace the spatial patterns of post-Soviet differentiation and set out guidelines for further research in the area.

Analysis of human thermal comfort in Central European City during summer of 2015: A case of Novi Sad (Serbia)

Urban meteorological network (UMN) was established in the Central European City of Novi Sad (Serbia) based on "local climate zones" (LCZs) system. Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) index was used for the assessment of outdoor thermal comfort in the "built" and "land cover" LCZ classes of Novi Sad. The index was calculated in the RayMan software based on the meteorological, physiological as well as building and vegetation data. Temporal analysis was performed for extreme heat stress days (PETmax ? 41 ?C), extreme heat stress hours (PETav ? 41 ?C) and days with occurrence of "tropical nights" (Tmin > 20 ?C) during exceptionally hot summer of 2015. Our results show that extreme heat stress hours are the least frequent in compact midrise LCZ 2, followed by dense trees LCZ A. On the contrary, countryside (low plants - LCZ D) showed to be the most uncomfortable area during daytime followed by compact low-rise areas (LCZ 3). Tropical nights are the most frequent in midrise LCZs 5 and 2 (40-46 nights) and decreasing towards open, sparsely built and natural LCZs (6-8 tropical nights in LCZs A and D). This is almost 800% decrease and it has implications for health and recreation of urban population and emphasizes the need for UMN development based on LCZ system.

Equally Affected? Health-Related and Socioeconomic Adversities of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Vienna

Previous pandemics have rarely affected everyone equally and the COVID-19 pandemic will likely be no exception. Most of the emerging evidence answers why incidence rate, hospitalisation rate and mortality due to COVID-19 are higher among people in lower socioeconomic position (SEP), but so far only few empirical studies assessed the unequal distribution of this pandemic’s collateral public health damage. Using a stratified random sample of 1004 participants living in Vienna, a central European city with approximately 1.9 Million inhabitants, this study investigated the incidence rate of health-related and socioeconomic adversities attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic along socioeconomic strata. To this end, we estimated the incidence rate of 10 adversities by SEP and each of its components using zero-inflated Poisson regression models, adjusted for age and gender. Data were collected between April, 27th and May, 17th 2020. Differences in the incidence rate of COVID-19 attributable adversities between the two lowest and two highest SEP groups were clearly visible. Participants in the lowest SEP category had a 32.96% higher incidence rate (IRR=1.333 [95%CI: 1.079 – 1.639]) and participants in the second lowest SEP category had a 44.69% higher incidence rate (IRR=1.447 [95%CI: 1.190 – 1.760]) compared to participants in the highest SEP category. In sum, 6 out of 10 COVID-19-related adversities were, to a greater or lesser extent, disproportionately experienced by Viennese residents in lower SEP. This study strengthens and extends the current evidence on the unequally distributed burden of the COVID-19 pandemic along socioeconomic strata. Inequalities were most visible along income groups and for the adversities job loss, worsening of the financial situation, and worse mental health. In light of effect heterogeneity across SEP components, we encourage future investigators to pay increased attention to their operationalisation of SEP. Such awareness will help to correctly identify those in most urgent need of supportive policies.

Precipitation spatial patterns in cities with different urbanisation types: Case study of Novi Sad (Serbia) as a medium-sized city

A direct outcome of the global climate change is the modification of seasonal precipitation patterns, apparent on a monthly temporal scale. In Central Europe, it includes more frequent high-intensity rainfalls, occurring mostly during spring and summer. These heavy rainfalls induce pluvial floods in urban areas due to a high percentage of impervious surfaces and limited drainage systems. This hazard affects Central European cities and impacts many receptors, including lives, infrastructures, private properties or the functioning of cities. This study focuses on the monitoring of precipitation events with the aim of revealing precipitation patterns across two different types of land cover: urban and suburban/rural areas of Novi Sad (Serbia). Measurements from seven rain gauge stations were used as input data, covering the 2015-2018 period. The precipitation data were analysed using 12 precipitation indices, nine of which were defined by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI), while three additional were designed specifically for this study. Based on their locations, the stations were classified into the 'urbanized' and 'non-urbanised' group. The concept of the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) was used to classify urbanised areas LCZ1-8, non-urbanised areas LCZ9 and the land cover zones (LCZ A-G). A statistical analysis based on the ANOVA F-test was conducted, defining the significance threshold at 90% for a = 0.01 and at 95% for a = 0.05. The obtained results revealed one relation for the CDD index at 95% and two relations at 90% for CDD and Rp95 indices, showing a relation between heavy rainfall and the type of land cover. Statistical results underline the need for a denser station network and longer monitoring periods in order to proceed to stronger statistical tests and make it possible to establish other relations with the climate indices.

Projection of present and future daily and evening urban heat load patterns

In this modeling study the recent and future daily and evening thermal climate of a Central-European city (Szeged, Hungary) was investigated in terms of heat load modification by applying MUKLIMO_3 model to project daily and evening climate indices. For surface parameterization the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) scheme was used. The investigation encompassed three climatological time periods (1981–2010, 2021–2050 and 2071–2100) and two emission scenarios for future climate (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Our results show that highest index values appear in the city centre and stretch to the NW direction (LCZs 2, 3 and 8) and they decrease towards to the vegetated rural surfaces (mainly LCZ D). That is, the values depend on the zone types and there are more days towards to the densely built-up LCZs. Also, a general temporal change can be detected as the index patterns show the substantial increasing tendency for both indices towards the end of this century. This temporal change suggests a two-way conclusion: first, the increasing number of hot days means a strongly deteriorating change of unfavourable thermal conditions, and second, the change in the number of the evening index provides more opportunities for regeneration and leisure-time activities outdoors in the already thermally less stressful evening hours for the urban inhabitants. This study gives very illustrative examples on the expected climate changes during this century and these examples show that there are several sides to these changes in urban environments. Furthermore, they clearly prove that global or regional scale climate predictions without urban climate interactions do not have enough detailed information.

Water body effect on microclimate in summertime: A case study from Pécs

The relationship between water body (fountains) scale and climate parameters like wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity, as well as thermal comfort index was modeled and analyzed via Envi-met code. Taking the water impact and factors analysis as a research object, the factors mainly discussed in this research are square area to water-body area ratio and the location of the water element. However, the computational fluid dynamics simulations were conducted on the following scenarios: 3% (original base case), 6%, and 9% of the total square’s area, then the outputs of the two simulation results were compared to the original base case. The results revealed that water scale has a slight effect on the micro-climate of the built environment in the summertime in moderately warm-wet climate zone. However, it is beneficial to adjust temperature and humidity in public spaces of central European cities. Nonetheless, the main aim of this paper is to quantitatively investigate the impact of the water bodies on the urban weather parameters and human thermal comfort under the influence of different scale ratios in Pecs-Hungary.

Amphibians in an urban environment: a case study from a central European city (Wroc\u0142aw, Poland)

In 2016, we studied the occurrence of amphibians in 231 selected ponds in the city of Wrocław (Lower Silesia, Poland) and confirmed the occurrence of 10 species: Bombina bombina, Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelobates fuscus, Pelophylax esculentus complex, Rana arvalis, Rana temporaria, Lissotriton vulgaris and Triturus cristatus. Among all studied sites, the most common were P. esculentus complex (146 occupied sites, 63.2%) and B. bufo (119, 51.5%), while the rarest was P. fuscus (8, 3.5%). The number of species at a single site varied from 0 (28 sites, 12.1%) to 9 (1 site, 0.4%). Frequency and mean amphibian species richness reached 87.9% and 2.7 ± 1.9, respectively. The composition of amphibian species did not change in comparison to previous studies conducted in the years 1997–2009, but declining trends in five species (B. bombina, B. viridis, H. arborea, P. esculentus complex, P. fuscus) were observed (28 compared sites). The results revealed that the permanency of ponds, their occurrence in the vicinity of river valleys, and a high ratio of watercourse length and green area around ponds are positively correlated and have a significant influence on amphibian species richness within the city. Thus, these identified factors should be considered in the course of sustainable urban planning in order to avoid potential conflicts between nature conservation and urban development.

THE HISTORY OF GEOLOGY WALLS IN CENTRAL EUROPE AND THEIR USE AS PEDAGOGIC TOOLS FOR EXPLAINING GEOSCIENCES

ABSTRACT During the second half of the nineteenth century, geology was added as a topic taught at schools of higher education in central Europe. As a consequence, teachers had an interest in finding practical methods to make theoretical knowledge more interesting to their pupils. Pedagogic tools included fieldtrips which could be logistically challenging, and the so called ‘geology walls’ and other stone structures, such as ‘geology pyramids’. These solidly built structures erected from various types of rocks, were put together to simulate the complexities of the underground geology from the lowlands to the mountains of certain geographic areas and may be considered to represent precursors of modern geoparks. Many of these ‘geology walls’ built in several central European cities are preserved and may still be used today to explain and discuss geoscientific phenomena. The fruitful interactions between teachers and pupils, and scientists and amateurs, are topics of this paper. Questions of restitution and international relationships are touched on as well.

The HR-CS-GF-AAS determination and preconcentration of palladium in contaminated urban areas, especially in lichens

The increasing content of platinum group metal particles emitted into the environment by car traffic is gradually attracting the attention of the scientific community. However, the methods for the determination of platinum group metals in environmental matrices are either costly or suffer from low sensitivity. To facilitate the use of less sensitive, but significantly cheaper, devices, the preconcentration of platinum group metals is employed. For platinum, a multitude of preconcentration approaches have been published. On the contrary, the preconcentration approaches for palladium are still rare. In this work, the development, optimization, and testing of a new approach is described; it is based on a preconcentration of palladium on octadecyl modified silica gel together with the complexing agent dimethylglyoxime, and it is then analyzed with the high-resolution continuum-source atomic absorption spectrometry. For comparison, a newly developed sorbent, QuadraSil™ TA, with a high affinity for platinum group metals was also tested. The preconcentraiton approach was tested on the lichen Hypogymnia physodes, which served as a bioindicator of palladium emissions. The case study site was a mid-sized city in central Europe: Brno, Czech Republic. The dry “bag” monitoring technique was used to collect the palladium near roads with a large span of traffic density. The developed analytical approach confirmed an increasing concentration of palladium with increasing exposure time and intensity of the traffic. Consequently, a simple relationship between the amount of bioaccumulated palladium and traffic density was established.

La desaparecida torre-reloj de San Gil de Guadalajara. Nuevos datos documentales sobre su fábrica y maestros de obra

Desde mediados del siglo XV el Concejo de la ciudad de Guadalajara disponía de un reloj en la torre de la parroquia de San Gil que asumía un valor simbólico y de representación ciudadana, como ocurría en ciudades italianas y centroeuropeas. La fábrica de esta torre sufrió problemas estructurales durante los siglos de la Edad Moderna que motivó un pleito que enfrentó a la ciudad con los beneficiados de la parroquia por su reparación. Este trabajo aporta nuevos datos documentales sobre su torre-reloj y los maestros de obra implicados en su transformación durante los siglos XVI y XVII, lo que permite conocer cómo era antes de desaparecer en el siglo XX.

The Central European City and Its Identity

The form and shape of the city are, in a way, the sum of the development of its civilisation, and this is why urbanisation is so often cited as a symbol of Europe’s cultural advancement. A particular triumph of urbanisation is the concept known as “creative cities”, that is, cities that contribute creatively to the universal values of our civilisation without losing any of their local flavour or compromising their unique identity. This paper claims that the best evidence of Central Europe’s achievements as a civilisation, and the essence of its identity, are its cities. Indeed, an understanding of the phenomenon of these cities, in particular their changing meanings and stories, and a broader historical perspective on the changing nature of their functions in relation to Europe’s settlement network, are crucial to comprehending the very essence of Central European identity.

Spatial patterns of urban green infrastructure for equity: A novel exploration

Abstract Urbanization processes spur the need for urban green infrastructure (GI) to support the well-being of urban dwellers and underpin a sustainable planning strategy. It is a challenge for urban planning to make cities equitable in a socio-spatial way for which strategic planning are demanded based on measured gradients of spatial equity for GI. Strategically, urban GI planning should pay tribute to the inherent spatial patterns and foster a fair distribution of GI towards spatial equity. Our aim is hence to investigate the spatial patterns of urban GI and disclose how spatial patterns affect spatial equity of GI in typical residential areas. The sample sites are in a central European city, Leipzig, the fastest growing city in Germany at present, with high pressure on urban growth. To elaborate an innovative approach, this study draws up a cascade of three methodological stages: 1) deploy the approach of an urban Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) to compare urban GI patterns in three typical residential local districts, 2) use the GI-adapted Gini coefficient to measure spatial equity of GI distributions, and 3) explore the relationships between GI spatial patterns and spatial equity of GI for each residential type. In the context of three typical residential areas in Leipzig (i.e. (semi-)detached houses, linear multistorey housing estates, and perimeter blocks), a combination of the MSPA and a spatial equity measurement assists our novel exploration to disclose the relationships between the spatial patterns and the equity of GI distributions. Thus, we can prove strong similarities on the characteristics of spatial patterns in each residential type and observe a tendency of increasing equity from (semi-)detached houses to linear housing and further to perimeter blocks. As significant findings for the support of strategic urban GI planning, we discover that GI cores provide a restricted increase of spatial equity that limited to the lack of space. Furthermore, we suggest more GI bridges to enhance structural connectivity as well as spatial equity. This paper depicts the spatial equity of GI distributions in typical residential areas from morphological perspective, and thus further underpins urban GI planning for strategic networks as a key principle of the urban GI concept.

Mapping urban cold-air paths in a Central European city using numerical modelling and geospatial analysis

The positive trend of global urbanization goes along with the conversion of non-urbanized, e.g. natural or agricultural land surfaces, into urbanized surface types, e.g. impervious surfaces. This generally leads to an increased intensity of the urban heat island and calls for mitigation strategies to ensure thermal comfort of the urban residents. In the present study, we introduce a method to identify, map and asses the efficiency of cold-air paths, which are low-roughness open areas that support cold-air drainage or transport from rural into warmer urban areas. We define that cold-air paths connect cold-air reservoir areas (CARA) with cold-air impact regions (CAIR). The approach combines numerical modelling using the cold-air flow model KLAM_21 with geostatistical analysis using GIS. In our study area Braunschweig (Northern Germany, 250,000 inhabitants) eight cold-air paths of different lengths and surface areas were identified. The identified surface area of cold-air paths varies between 1.7 and 18.0 km2, and the respective cold-air volume between 0.04 and 0.53 km3. The efficiency of cold-air paths was classified according to six criteria taking the size, length, and the cold-air volume and dynamics into account. The method shows promising results, is transferable to other urban areas and offers potential to support decision-making in urban and environmental planning.