This study takes the Cangshan World Geopark as the research object, focusing on the needs and preferences of tourists. Through a questionnaire survey method, 562 valid samples were collected, and the principal component analysis method was used to systematically explore tourists’ preferences for the service types, thematic information, and media forms of the geological park interpretation system. The study found that tourists have significantly higher preferences for basic park guide services, natural environment-related interpretation themes, and multimodal audio-visual interpretation media. They also have dual needs of geological science popularization and local culture experience. Optimizing the interpretation system that meets tourists’ needs can not only enhance tourists’ geological park tour experience and knowledge acquisition efficiency, but also strengthen tourists’ awareness of geological heritage protection and local culture identification, thereby promoting the sustainable development of ecological tourism and community support in world geological parks.
The outcomes of watercourse revitalization are mostly evaluated as positive, depending on the implementation of the given revitalization. A potential negative aspect of watercourse revitalization was investigated via the example of an important source of groundwater for drinking purposes in Brezova nad Svitavou. The aim of the research was to assess whether revitalization of the watercourse in the section upstream of the offtake point was appropriate. The assessment used long-term data from the watercourse operator as well as our own shortterm monitoring. The results indicate that in this section, the risk of contamination from surface water into groundwater significantly outweighs other benefits of revitalization. Therefore, a partial, modified revitalization was proposed, which in the assessed section maintains and regenerates the existing separation between the watercourse and the groundwater. At the same time, however, it enables the formation of river sediment in the trough as a natural environment for the development of zoo- and phytobenthos and related higher organisms.
While land finance is a recognized institutional driver of urban expansion, the nonlinear and spatially heterogeneous dynamics of this fiscal mechanism remain underexplored. This study integrates geospatial explainable artificial intelligence (GeoXAI) with econometric models to decode the spatiotemporal evolution of the land finance-urban expansion nexus across 204 Chinese cities (2005-2020). By overcoming the limitations of traditional methods, we reveal that the impact of land finance on urban expansion is profoundly nonlinear, transitioning from a mitigating effect to a powerful reinforcing driver over time. Furthermore, this fiscal stimulus exhibits stark spatial disparities, with positive spatial interactions diffusing from coastal regions to inland second-tier cities. Ultimately, this research provides a novel methodological paradigm for spatial policy evaluation and extends the theoretical understanding of land urbanization for the emerging economies. These findings offer actionable insights for implementing zoned regulations and polycentric governance to curb inefficient urban sprawl driven fiscal incentives.
This study examines pedestrian accessibility to public transport stops through a twodimensional framework integrating horizontal (network-based walking distance) and vertical (elevation difference) components. The analysis deliberately isolates the walking access stage and does not assess service frequency, travel time, or network performance. The framework is applied to Liberec and Zl & iacute;n, two medium-sized Czech cities with hilly terrain and contrasting urban structures. For built-up areas, network walking distances and elevation differences to the nearest stop were calculated and combined into a synthetic horizontal-vertical accessibility typology. Results show that both cities have generally favourable proximity to stops, but terrain substantially modifies accessibility patterns, especially in Liberec. The combined framework identifies short-but-steep and far-but-flat areas that remain hidden when distance and elevation are evaluated separately. The study offers a transparent, transferable approach for assessing pedestrian stop accessibility in topographically complex urban environments and provides a spatially explicit basis for further accessibility analysis.
In this paper we performed flood frequency analysis by using L-moments and annual maximum series data from two hydrological stations on the Rasina River (Brus and Bivolje), for the 1961-2020 period. Homogeneity testing confirmed that the basin can be considered hydrologically homogeneous (V-i = 0.38 < 1). Five probability distributions - Normal, Log-Normal, Gumbel, Pearson Type III, and Log-Pearson Type III - were tested to identify the best-fit model. An L-moment ratio diagram and Z-statistics indicate that all distributions satisfy the test criteria, with Log-Pearson Type III showing the best overall fit for the region (Z = 0.09). Goodness-of-fit tests (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Cramer-von Mises, and x(2)) confirmed Log-Pearson Type III as the best fit at the Brus station and Pearson Type III at the Bivolje station. Theoretical flood quantiles were calculated for various return periods (T-year floods). Mann-Kendall trend analysis indicated a significant decreasing discharge trend at Bivolje (-1.28 m(3)/s per year).
This article examines why Hungarian minority parties in Slovakia failed to gain parliament seats in the 2023 election despite their formal unification. Using municipal-level data from 16 districts in southern Slovakia, we analyze spatial patterns of support for the main ethnic Hungarian party, Sz & ouml;vets & eacute;g-Aliancia, and the factors associated with its vote. The results show that Sz & ouml;vets & eacute;g-Aliancia's electoral support remains overwhelmingly ethnicized, with a strong and uniform effect of ethnic cleavage. However, the analysis also reveals considerable internal heterogeneity in mobilization within the minority. Voter turnout was systematically lower in ethnically heterogeneous municipalities, indicating uneven electoral mobilization and widespread abstention among the minority electorate. The findings show that although ethnic voting persists, limited mobilization, rather than interparty competition suggested by the nested competition and ethnic outbidding models, has become the key constraint on minority political representation.
Although similarity metrics have proven valuable in information retrieval and recommendation systems, their application to real estate has been limited. This study examines 1,014 benchmark land lots in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and identifies similar lots using Euclidean distance and cosine similarity. Nine land attributes, including site area, road width, and geographical descriptions are used to compute similarity. Being textual data, geographical descriptions are converted into numerical representations using an embedding model. It was found that the land lots identified as similar by Euclidean distance and cosine similarity are nearly identical, suggesting the effective applicability of both metrics to the real estate industry. In addition, we used industry standards to rigorously evaluate the performance of a similarity-based approach and demonstrated that it outperforms the traditional regression model. Our findings indicate that these metrics can enhance property valuation and recommendation by reducing subjectivity and increasing the efficiency of selecting similar land lots.
Sense of place in geography describes the relationship between people and their environment. This relationship undergoes significant changes in post-industrial landscapes with industrial heritage, as the original purpose of these areas no longer exists. This research focuses on changes in the sense of place in the Podpruhon workers' colony in Kladno, Central Bohemia, from the 1960s to the present. The main question is how the sense of place has evolved and what influenced the changes. The methodology combines visual and narrative analysis. Visual analysis of archival and current maps and photographs provides a temporal anchor. Narrative analysis captures subjective perceptions of the place based on interviews with residents. The results show that the sense of place is dynamic. In Podpruhon, the sense of place weakened with physical degradation and was later reinforced by renovation and community initiatives. The research confirms that physical and social changes have a fundamental impact on the formation and renewal of the identity of a place.
This article explores how digital innovations – particularly machine learning and natural language processing – can streamline and enhance workflows in historical climatology. Traditionally reliant on time-consuming manual analysis of historical documents, the field now benefits from modern digital tools at each research stage, from source discovery to publication. Focusing on classifying large, unstructured textual data, the study examines methods ranging from manual keyword searches and Bayesian models to advanced large language models. Using the tambora.org corpus, it extracts and categorizes references to weather extremes like thunderstorms and heavy rainfall and their impacts on mobility. The paper compares these approaches in terms of accuracy, resource demands such as runtime performance and memory, and their ability to interpret historical language. It argues that digital methods – especially AI – can transform the extraction and classification of climate data from historical texts, offering significant advantages by assisting researchers in historical climatology.
This systematic review examines what it means to be geographically gifted within geography education. It asks how geographical giftedness is defined in the literature and what manifestations or performances are attributed to gifted students. Following the PRISMA 2020 approach, eight key publications were identified through database searches and snowballing, and analysed using hybrid content analysis. The results show that the concept of geographical giftedness is ambiguously defined and often overlaps with general cognitive abilities or with curriculum requirements. The analysis identifies six thematic areas of giftedness in geography: difficulties in defining and anchoring the concept; manifestations of gifted, bright, or intelligent students; criteria for their identification; educational strategies for stimulation and recognition; the role of the Geography Olympiad in identification; and the Olympiad’s potential in fostering giftedness. The review highlights the need for a systematic definition, valid identification strategies, and effective support for geographically gifted students.
This study examines how key stakeholders in Czech geography education - university educators, in-service teachers, and student teachers - think about the quality of geography instruction at the lower-secondary level (ISCED 2). The research is guided by three questions: (1) How do the main stakeholders conceptualize the scope of instructional quality in geography? (2) Which generic and which subject-specific parameters do they emphasize? (3) In what ways do their perspectives differ or converge? A thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews shows that most participants associate instructional quality primarily with the teaching process rather than with pupils' outcomes, though some mentioned both. Across the three groups, the identified parameters are largely generic, such as clarity, motivation, and formative assessment. Subject-specific aspects - such as geographical thinking, map skills, or the use of geographical concepts - appear less frequently but are recognized by all groups. Major differences among the groups were not observed; rather, variations emerged within groups, reflecting individual professional experience and perspectives.
The study addresses the question: How does contemporary Czech society perceive historical and present-day boundaries, and what role do these perceptions play in shaping regional identity? Using mental and participatory mapping, the authors analyse how today's inhabitants of Czechia perceive geographical space through boundaries defined by historical, cultural, administrative, and subjective factors. The research is based on a large-scale questionnaire survey and employs geographic information system (GIS) tools. Particular attention is paid to generational differences, educational and regional backgrounds, and how regional identity is reflected in respondents' mental maps. The study integrates approaches from the humanities, social sciences, and technical disciplines, offering an interdisciplinary framework for analysing boundaries in space. The findings demonstrate that while some boundary perceptions remain deeply rooted in history, others are shaped by contemporary socio-cultural influences. The combined methodological approach of participatory mapping and historical contextualization provides new insights into evolving boundary perceptions and contributes to the theoretical development of spatial identity studies.
This study examines the impacts of climate variability on agricultural livelihoods in Rambewa, Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka, where paddies, cereals, vegetables, and fruits form a critical economic base. A mixed-methods design integrated climatic data analysis with a questionnaire survey of 100 farmers and 15 in-depth interviews conducted from March to July 2023. Quantitative data were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests, with Holt's Relative Importance Index applied to rank perceived impacts. Annual Rainfall Anomaly Index calculations revealed pronounced inter-annual variability, with negative anomalies corresponding to drought years and positive anomalies to flood events. Qualitative insights, including oral histories, were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke's frame-work. Farmers' recognition of climate shifts was primarily experiential, with impacts differing by farming type. The findings highlight the importance of integrating indigenous ecological knowledge with climate-smart practices to strengthen agricultural extension services, improve water management, and enhance resilience to future climatic uncertainties.
This study examines migration across the Great Wall of China in response to climate change in Chinese history during the Little Ice Age (1500-1850 ad) and assesses the effectiveness of the Great Wall as a barrier based on the push-pull theory. It empirically analyzes the spatiotemporal patterns of migration across the Great Wall based on datasets on precipitation, temperature, population size, and migration events. Here we show that more migration events occurred during the cooling climate period. Furthermore, more migrants came from farther north to cross the Great Wall during dry periods. These results imply the general ineffectiveness of the Great Wall in blocking migration. The findings serve as a reminder that if human survival is threatened (e.g., by climatic events), barriers may not successfully block migration. Thus, evaluating the effectiveness of barriers in accordance with the stressors of migration is important when applying the push-pull model.
Migration is an inherent part of human history. It has been linked to socioeconomic, political, demographic, and environmental factors, and increasingly to past climate variability, climate change, and natural hazards, including extreme weather events. This paper discusses migration as both a cascading effect of climate change impacts and an adaptive response to climate-related risks. It distills key patterns in regional and global studies of past climate-migration links; provides a topical overview of existing studies dealing with climate-induced migration during historical times in Europe, North America, and Asia; and summarizes key perspectives of climate and migration research on the historical past.
This article explores how digital innovations - particularly machine learning and natural language processing - can streamline and enhance workflows in historical climatology. Traditionally reliant on time-consuming manual analysis of historical documents, the field now benefits from modern digital tools at each research stage, from source discovery to publication. Focusing on classifying large, unstructured textual data, the study examines methods ranging from manual keyword searches and Bayesian models to advanced large language models. Using the tambora.org corpus, it extracts and categorizes references to weather extremes like thunderstorms and heavy rainfall and their impacts on mobility. The paper compares these approaches in terms of accuracy, resource demands such as runtime performance and memory, and their ability to interpret historical language. It argues that digital methods - especially AI - can transform the extraction and classification of climate data from historical texts, offering significant advantages by assisting researchers in historical climatology.
Several thousand settlers from Norway and the British Isles started migrating to the North Atlantic in the late ninth century. The inhospitable environment of their main settlement earned it the name & iacute;sland, "the land of ice". This rapid colonization swiftly showed its ecologically destructive impact: deforestation resulted in soil erosion, while overgrazing and depletion of fish populations triggered famines and conflicts over agricultural land and natural resources. This article aims to survey the anthropogenic impact on the basis of palaeoecological proxies obtained from pollen, tephra, and stable isotopes and to complement them with written accounts from the North such as the Icelandic sagas, annals, and law codes. Furthermore, the article investigates how medieval Icelanders adapted to environmental and socioeconomic challenges such as overexploitation of the land and natural hazards like volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. This article discusses the central question: Why did medieval Icelanders not continue their migration to more hospitable lands like the British Isles or the North American Vinland? In other words, what immobilised the intrepid Vikings?
This study explores the impact of variations in solar radiation on historical migration patterns through economic stress, such as severe famines, crop failures, and rice price fluctuations. Using individual-level panel data from annual population registers (Ninbetsu-Aratame-Cho) covering the years 1708 to 1870 CE for three agricultural villages and one commercially active town in central Fukushima, northeastern Japan, we analyzed demographic indicators-total migration, legal migration, absconding, and mortality-recorded in the registers in relation to crop failures, rice prices, and reconstructed solar radiation. Monthly solar radiation reconstructed from historical weather records indicated significant reductions during the severe famines of the 1780s and the 1830s, periods associated with increased migration and absconding. A detailed analysis of the Tenpo famine (1833-1838) demonstrated clear correlations between reduced solar radiation and subsequent sharp increases in rice prices, elevated mortality rates in subsequent years, and, with a lag of approximately two years, increased absconding. This study highlights the importance of integrating solar radiation into migration research, further advancing our understanding of the historical linkages between climate variation and human mobility.
Given the limited knowledge about the dynamics of the drought-migration nexus with social change, this study revisited the extreme droughts of 1743, 1877, and 1920 CE in North China based on multiple written sources and compared the characteristics of climate-related migration at different stages of sociocultural transformation between the mid-18(th) and early 20(th )centuries. It was found that the pathway of precipitation deficits - harvest failure - famine - migration was always strictly followed, revealing low precipitation and fleeing hunger as the initial trigger and root motivation for climate-related migration, while changes in management and transport changed the size and distance of the migration along the abovementioned pathway by influencing the possibility and necessity of moving. Additionally, a broader comparison including the outstanding droughts of 1911 and 1921 in Germany suggests that ensuring individual/ household food consumption security was a core task for minimizing drought-induced migration.
The massive migration in 1628 CE marked the first wave of migration from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan. The drought of 1628 was moderate in Fujian Province as a whole but was followed by a great famine and massive migration. We examined the causal link between drought in 1628 and the massive migration event. It seems that population pressure was not high in Fujian during the early 17(th) century, and therefore it was not responsible for the famine. The maritime bans policy was issued by the Ming Dynasty to reduce piracy. However, the policy prohibited maritime fisheries and trade, thus making the life of the residents even more vulnerable to crop failure and famine. The temporary tax imposed by the Ming Dynasty exhausted the coffers and warehouses. Zheng Zhilong, a leading warlord on the Taiwan Strait, took advantage of the drought and famine, and carried tens of thousands of famine refugees from Fujian Province to Taiwan in 1628.
