East Adriatic Coast Research Articles

Multiscale ENC Data Management on an Archipelagic Sea Area – Example of the East Adriatic Coast

This paper briefly outlines the production of electronic nautical charts (ENC) as a digital nautical chart, produced by the Croatian National Hydrographic Office (HO) to International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) specifications S-57 Edition 3.1. The production of ENCs is based on the theory of multiscale data management (usage bands). Multiple representations of ENC data are controlled by scale minimum (SCAMIN) attributes. A solution to the problem of multiscale data management as a part of ENC data production for archipelagic sea areas, using the East Adriatic Coast as an example is presented. This solution is based on a long-standing experience in the production of paper charts and recent ENC production for the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, which is believed to be the second largest archipelagic area in the Mediterranean. Finally, a new usage band scale range, compilation scale for all navigational purposes and method of using SCAMIN attributes for archipelagic seas are proposed.

The occurrence and ecology of the centric diatom Cyclotella choctawhatcheeana Prasad in a Croatian estuary

The centric diatom Cyclotella choctawhatcheeana Prasad has been found for the first time in the Adriatic Sea. It develops dense populations in the highly stratified, oligotrophic, karstic estuary of the Zrmanja River (eastern Adriatic Sea, Croatia). Cyclotella choctawhacheeana contributed to the phytoplankton community in the estuary with high abundance of up to 2 x 10(6) cells L-1. Maximum abundance was found in the marine layer, below the halocline, at a salinity range between 13-28, but it was able to develop over a very wide salinity range. The maximum development appeared in the temperature range of 8-18 degrees C. It was present in 52% of samples throughout the year. The significant negative correlation with silica, nitrates and total inorganic nitrogen showed its preference for a marine, oligotrophic environment. We consider C. choctawhacheeana to be a significant constituent of the phytoplankton of the east Adriatic coast. It can be assumed that its succes is based on species wide tolerance to fluctuations of environmental factors.

The salt marsh vegetation on the East Adriatic coast

Phytosociological characteristics and a rate of endangerment of the salt marsh vegetation in central and southern parts of the east Adriatic coast were studied. A total of 73 vegetation releves were made and elaborated according to the standard procedures of the Braun-Blanquet method. Numerical analysis of the releves and life forms was performed. Two associations of the class Arthrocnemetea-Puccinellio festuciformis-Arthrocnemetum fruticosi and Limonio-Artemisietum coerulescentis were recorded, together with the association Juncetum maritimo-acuti of the class Juncetea maritimi. These associations show no significant differentiation with regard to their floristic composition, but only in terms of particular species cover and frequency rates, as well as by life forms and microecological habitat conditions. These are specific habitats, rarely found in the studied area, and highly threatened by human activity (tourism, agriculture).

Wintertime buoyancy forcing, changing seawater properties, and two different circulation systems produced in the Adriatic

Measurements performed in winter 2002/2003 and spring 2003 off the east Adriatic coast showed that the East Adriatic Current (EAC) peaked in January/February (as expected from previous findings) and again in May (not expected). The first maximum corresponded with the considerable cross‐shore variability of seawater properties, the colder, fresher water prevailing close to the coast, the warmer, saltier water dominating the open sea. The second maximum coincided with the massive intrusion of warm, saline water from the south Adriatic. Meteorological and hydrologic forcing was anomalous over the measurement interval: during winter 2002/2003 the cooling and river outflows were strong, during spring 2003 the pronounced warming coincided with exceptional dryness. In order to interpret the two EAC maxima a simple numerical model reproducing response of the Adriatic‐Mediterranean system to the wintertime forcing was developed. It was found that the first maximum could be related to the coastal freshwater input and offshore evaporation in the Adriatic area, and that the second maximum was probably due to the wintertime surface cooling of the Adriatic while warmer conditions prevailed above the Mediterranean. The resulting horizontal density gradients supported two different circulation systems, one within the Adriatic, the other between the Adriatic and east Mediterranean, and they differed not only in spatial but also in temporal scales, therefore supporting the occurrence of two distinctive EAC maxima.

Boka Kotorska (The Bay of Kotor): Social and Political Changes and Development of Ethnic Structure up to 1918

Boka Kotorska is a relatively large and well-indented bay lying at south of the east Adriatic coast. In political sense it is part of Montenegro, one of two republics composing the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Boka Kotorska is situated immediately at the state border to the Republic of Croatia. It is a specific geographical entity, characterised by a very complex process of social development and consequent ethnic changes. In spite of that, Boka Kotorska is recognisable by its unique cultural landscape, which has been formed during centuries of its abundant history.

Modelling basic physical parameters in the Adriatic Sea as the basis for marine benthic habitats mapping

There is a great challenge for marine ecologists to explain and map benthic marine habitats by developing new methods that identify and link environmental processes responsible for those map patterns. Methods that use single factors such as sediment type or water depth for predicting and explaining marine benthic habitats are generally inadequate when applied on a broad scale. Using a combination of factors such as near bottom velocity (tidal and wind induced), temperature and salinity fields in conjunction with sediment type and depth those habitats may be more clearly characterized. In the frame of the project “Mapping the habitats of the Republic of Croatia” (financed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning of the Republic of Croatia) specific oceanographic variables (sea bottom temperature, sea bottom salinity, sea bottom currents) have to be modelled as an input parameters for neural network models developed for spatial prediction of infralittoral habitat types. The physical model used in this study is based on a three-dimensional finite element method and unstructured grid. By running the model on the high resolution finite element mesh we were able to include the main features of the very complex East Adriatic coast, representing a domain with 77 islands and many narrow channels as well as varied bathymetry. To our knowledge, this study is making the first step in gaining better knowledge and understanding of the complicated relationships of specific bottom variables (model estimates), that are playing a key role for infralittoral habitat distributions, for the whole Adriatic Sea.

The distributions of iodate and iodide in Rogoznica Lake (East Adriatic Coast)

This study was performed in order to obtain information on the influence of an acute anoxic event (September, 1997) on distribution and speciation of inorganic iodine in the water column of a small, intensely eutrophicated salt lake. The variations in iodate and iodide depth distributions during the investigated period (1998–2000) were in accord with seasonal changes in redox conditions. During the stratification period (spring and summer), the concentration ratio between iodate and iodide in the upper layers was high, whereas during late summer and autumn, as a result of water column de-stratification and mixing of highly reducing deep water with the oxic layer, lower ratios and more uniform depth distributions were observed. The massive mortality of lake organisms induced by anoxic conditions and sulphide presence throughout the water column was registered by the end of September 1997, when overturn of the lake occurred. The concentrations of iodate in the oxic upper layers were elevated for more than a year after the mass-mortality event (up to 0.55 μmol L −1), whereas iodide concentrations remained high for more than 2 years in deep anoxic water (up to 2.27 μmol L −1). These data suggest that biogeochemical renewal processes affecting the concentrations of inorganic iodine in the lake water are slow compared to those that govern the speciation of iodine. The role of sediment–water interactions and iodine-rich organic species in the production of iodide are discussed.

Fundamental Adriatic seiche recorded by current meters

Abstract. Currents recorded at two stations positioned at the Adriatic shelf break between 17 February and 6 March 1989 were considered. They provided the first evidence of current variability related to the Adriatic-wide seiches. Current spectra were dominated by a peak at 21.1h – a well-known period of the fundamental Adriatic mode. Amplitudes of oscillations were considerable, occasionally greater than 30cm/s. Both along- and cross-basin currents were recorded, thus signalling the importance of rotational effects. Comparison of the current data with the sea-level measurements performed simultaneously along the east Adriatic coast showed that the 21-h currents flowing in the Adriatic preceded sea levels by a quarter of a cycle, as would be expected from a simple model of bay seiches. Sea-level amplitudes reached 40cm in the North Adriatic, thus marking the event as one of the strongest on record. Seiching was triggered by a suddenly changing sirocco wind, as is usually the case in the Adriatic. The most important features of the seiche event were reproduced with a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model of the Adriatic Sea, forced by the sea-level residuals measured at Otranto and the air pressure and wind data recorded at Lastovo. The model showed that the seiche-related currents were relatively strong in the area where the current measurements were performed and further north – between Zadar and Ancona. Key words. Oceanography: general (continental shelf processes) – Oceanography: physical (sea-level variations, currents)

(N.) Cambi, (S.) Čače and (B.) Kirigin Eds.Grčki utjecaj na istočnoj obali Jadrana/Greek Influence along the East Adriatic Coast. Proceedings of the International Conference held in Split from September 24th to 26th 1998. Split, 2002. Pp. 592. 9531631549.

(N.) Cambi, (S.) Čače and (B.) Kirigin Eds.Grčki utjecaj na istočnoj obali Jadrana/Greek Influence along the East Adriatic Coast. Proceedings of the International Conference held in Split from September 24th to 26th 1998. Split, 2002. Pp. 592. 9531631549.

Early herders of the Eastern Adriatic

The paper discusses the evidence for the presence of sheep and goats on east Adriatic coast during the Mesolithic and Neolithic, and possible routes of transformation from hunter-gathering to pastoral societies.

Biomonitoring of mercury in the Kaštela Bay using transplanted mussels

Kaštela Bay, located on the central part of east Adriatic coast, is heavily contaminated by mercury. The main source of contamination was a chlor-alkali plant, which was operating for 40 years since 1949. Previous studies showed that mercury concentrated in the sediment close to the plant is being dispersed throughout the bay by remobilization processes. Subsequent remobilization of mercury buried in the sediment may be harmful to various marine organisms. In order to assess the availability of remobilised mercury to marine organisms and to assess the health risk of consumption of shellfish species from the bay, a monitoring programme was initiated in September 1997. One thousand six hundred specimens of mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) of the same size and age, collected in a very clean area, were transferred to four stations in the bay 1.5 m above the sea bottom. Every month during the summer period and every second month in the winter period, 50 mussels were taken from each station for the analysis of mercury and monomethylmercury (MeHg) content. The results obtained during 1 year of biomonitoring suggest that the equilibrium concentration in transplanted mussels was established in a relative short period of time. The digestive gland is preferential organ for the accumulation of total mercury. Seasonal variation of mercury content both in the whole soft tissue, and organs (gills and digestive gland) was observed at all stations. However, methyl mercury is more concentrated in soft tissues than in digestive gland and gills, despite the fact that it is absorbed through these organs. The mercury levels in tissues were below accepted limits for human consumption. Obtained results showed that the implantation of mussels in an area containing sediment contaminated by mercury may be a good monitoring tool for the assessment of the availability of remobilised mercury to marine organisms.

Periodicity of annual precipitation in different climate regions of Croatia

The periodicity of a 100-year series of annual precipitation over Croatia has been studied by means of power spectrum analysis at 3 stations representing the different climatic regions of Croatia. The annual precipitation variance spectra in the continental lowland (Osijek) and at the north East Adriatic coast (Crikvenica) can be fitted by Markov “white noise” continuum, but in the transitional region between the Dinaric Alps and the Pannonian lowland (Zagreb-Gric) a “non-white noise” continuum is necessary. Quasi-periodic oscillations appear in two spectra ranges: short (2.2 and 4.7 years) and medium (25.0 and 33.3 years). These results are compared with those of other authors for other parts of the Europe.

Leaf Anatomy of an Arbutus Taxon from Yugoslavia

Leaf anatomy of a species from the island of Badija on the east Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia, that has been determined as Arbutus andrachne L., was investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy and compared with that of a typical form of Arbutus andrachne L. from Greece, Arbutus unedo L. and Arbutus andrachnoides Link., well known as a hybrid between A. unedo and A. andrachne. The Arbutus taxon from the east Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia was found to be closest in leaf anatomy to the hybrid A. andrachnoides but not identical with it.

High-frequency oscillations observed in the Krka Estuary

Current and temperature data, taken during 1986 and 1987 in the Krka Estuary (east Adriatic coast), are analysed for evidence of high-frequency oscillations. The spectra computed from the data show peaks at 0.006 and 0.022 min −1 (corresponding to periods of 2.8 h and 45 min, respectively). Detailed analysis of the 45-min oscillations in both time and frequency domains reveals that these oscillations occur intermittently. They probably represent internal waves travelling down the estuary. The waves appear to be generated by the interaction of the second-order surface seiches with topography. The system of coupled surface seiches and internal waves may be either of local meteorological origin or externally forced at the mouth of the estuary.

Subsurface Gonyaulax polyedra bloom in a stratified estuary

A subsurface bloom of the marine dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra Stein was observed on October 19, 1988 in the central part of the Krka Estuary (east Adriatic coast) as a 6-m-thick red-brownish layer, located below the halocline. The bloom might have been initiated by excystment in shallower parts of the estuary, where temperature near the bottom exceeded 20°C. The autumn of 1998 was exceptionally dry, river inflow was small and the brackish upper layer was 2 m thick and transparent. The exchange rate of water in the marine layer was at its lowest in the year. The supply of nutrients for growth came from sinking and decomposition of freshwater phytoplankton at the halocline and the marine layer.

Adriatic Sea and Land Breezes: Clockwise Versus Anticlockwise Rotation

Abstract Rotary spectra were computed from wind data collected in the summers of 1978 and 1979 at six stations along the east Adriatic coast. The spectra showed diurnal peaks associated with sea and land breezes and their spatial variability is analyzed in this note. It appears that the energy of sea and land breezes diminishes with latitude. Moreover, the breezes generally turn clockwise, with the exception of the Senj station where a slight predominance of anticlockwise rotation occurs. It is suggested that the Senj breezes are modified by topographically induced flows.

Allergy induced by Parietaria officinalis pollen in southern Croatia.

Pollen of Parietaria officinalis causes season-associated respiratory symptoms. In Southern Croatia (Yugoslavia) we found 65% patients with rhinitis and/or asthma to be allergic to this pollen. They showed positive cutaneous reactions and had specific IgE antibodies to the respective isolated allergen. The finding represents the first report on Parietaria officinalis-induced allergy on the east Adriatic coast.

О ПИТАЊИМА ЛАТИНСКИХ КРАТИЦА НА ДИПЛОМАТИЧКИМ ПОВЕЉАМА

Кратице, интерпункције, сигле, те друге врсте кратица и бројевним знацима биле суставни део и старовековних а посебно средњовековних повеља. Како је израда материјала за писање била веома скупоцена, посебно коже (пергамене), прибегавало се скраћивању речи у тексту како би се на мањем простору могло написати што више текста. Сложеност проблематике јест да је свака канцеларија и регија те врста латинског писма (од каролине, беневентане, куријале до готице и хуманистике) имала свој систем скраћивања слова. Начин дешифровања појединих скраћеница у повељама јест на граници науке и уметности, а у којем су неки ауторитети имали своје својствене ставове и решења. Дешифровање и ишчитавање латинских рукописа је дипломатици и палеографији дала врло важно место у помоћним историјским наукама, а на чему се заснива једно од темељних делова развоја историјске науке уопште.

Seasonal sea level variations on the East Adriatic coast : Filjushkin B. N. 1962. (English summary). Trud. Inst. Okeanol. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 56: 307–312.

Seasonal sea level variations on the East Adriatic coast : Filjushkin B. N. 1962. (English summary). Trud. Inst. Okeanol. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 56: 307–312.