The aim of this study was to determine the spatial differentiation in the level of demographic ageing of Poland's population. The temporal scope of the analyses covers the years 2005-2024, as well as projections for the period 2030-2050. The research was conducted at the voivodeship level, and took into account the division between urban and rural areas. The study focused on the analysis of two measures that enable the identification of demographic changes, including the advancement of the ageing process: the demographic ageing rate index (Wstd) and the old-age index (Ist). The results of the analyses revealed differences in the degree of advancement of the ageing process over time, in spatial terms, and between urban and rural populations. The rural population has been ageing more slowly than the urban population across the voivodeships. The forecasts, however, indicate that in the future the average annual rate of population ageing will slow down.
Sandy beaches are dynamic and vulnerable environments shaped by the interaction of hydrodynamic, fluvial, aeolian, and anthropogenic factors. This study presents the results of multi-decadal and seasonal monitoring of Sidi Rbat beach, located on the right bank of the River Massa on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. Two complementary approaches were applied. The first was a diachronic shoreline analysis over 53 years (1970-2023), based on aerial photographs and high-resolution satellite images, using the DSAS (Digital shoreline analysis system) tool within ArcGIS. The second approach consisted of the topographic monitoring of three beach profiles conducted between January 2019 and August 2021 using a total station. Two digital elevation models (DEMs), generated in summer (01/09/2020) and winter (27/02/2021), were used to produce a differential DEM to quantify sand volumes and identify erosion and deposition zones. The results showed a general erosional trend, punctuated by phases of accretion. This erosion was mainly driven by geomorphological factors including beach configuration, hydrodynamic conditions characterized by energetic Atlantic waves from the NNW, and anthropogenic influences, particularly the reduction of sediment supply following the construction of a dam in 1972. At the seasonal scale, the beach displays a classical morphodynamic cycle, with winter erosion and summer accretion, suggesting the presence of potential sediment sources such as coastal dunes, north-to-south longshore transport, and offshore sediment remobilization. DEM analysis further highlighted the strong influence of seasonal hydrodynamics on beach morphology. This study provides a solid scientific basis for understanding mesotidal beach morphodynamics along the Moroccan Atlantic coast and supports integrated coastal zone management.
The study presents the occurrence of Genoa lows over Central and Eastern Europe during the period 2004-2024. The main research aims were: identification of the tracks of Genoa lows, analysis of their seasonal and interannual variability, and determination of their duration, intensity, and relationship with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). For this maps from the Deutscher Wetterdienst, ERA5 reanalysis data, and monthly NAO Index values were used. On this basis, 81 cases of Genoa lows were identified, and it was found that during the study period, fewer than 13% of cyclones originated outside of the Gulf of Genoa, while more than half of all lows disappeared over Central and Eastern Europe. Genoa cyclones moving along the easterly track predominated (48.1% of all cases), while they moved least frequently over the southern and western parts of the study area. Typically, autumn Genoa lows and those following the easterly path were the longest-lasting (often exceeding 100 hours). At the same time, the shortest duration were the summer lows and those following the southern route. The conducted research showed a continuation of the long-term decrease in the number of lows, as described in the literature, especially in summer cyclones. Significant irregularity and very long hiatuses (exceeding even 400 days) in the occurrence of Genoa lows were also confirmed. Similar to other studies, it was found that the negative phase of the NAO and the meridional circulation favour the genesis of the Genoa lows. However, the lows that formed in winter and moved along the southern track were more often associated with the positive phase of the NAO than the others.
The change in the Himalayan Forest landscape is not just an ecological concern but also a deeply social one. Chir Pine’s (Pinus roxburghii), once planted and promoted for timber value and economically important has now disrupted the ecological balance of the region. This study investigated the rural perceptions of local residents of Himalayan villages in the state of Uttarakhand, India, revealing Chir Pine’s dominant nature and aggressive spread. The voices of villagers echoed this aggressive spread, raising concerns about its far-reaching impacts on the region’s climate-forest interactions. The study utilised qualitative ethnographic fieldwork with a theoretical framing deduced from political ecology. The fieldwork was conducted between 2023-24 in Uttarakhand, which included a sample size (n=110) across 12 Himalayan villages with a blend of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations. The study explored how local communities interpret this ecological and climatic shift. The findings suggest that Chir Pine not only alters landscapes but also community ecological memories, rural people, agricultural patterns, and rural ecological knowledge systems. The local people’s perceptions narrate their experiences of disappearing springs, decreasing fodder availability, increasing forest fires, and the slow death of mixed forests turning into Chir-dominated forests. Rather than treating local perceptions as anecdotal, this study positions them as critical data points that offer early warning signs of broader socio-environmental and climatic stress.
Tree avenues in urban settings represent an important element of urban green infrastructure (UGI), providing ecological, aesthetic, and social benefits. However, they can also contribute to allergenic risks that affect public health. This study aimed to analyze the tree species distribution within tree avenues in the Nova Detelinara district of Novi Sad, Serbia, with a particular focus on their allergenic potential. A field inventory was conducted during April 2025, which identified 849 individual trees belonging to 39 species. Each species was categorized by its allergenic potential based on data in the literature, and an Index of Allergenicity of Urban Green Zones (IUGZA) was calculated for the detected individuals found in 14 observed streets to assess the overall allergenic risk of the species composition within the area. Analysis of the allergenic potential of the identified species showed that most species had low (41%) or moderate (31%) allergenic potential, with only one species which was very low. In the observed UGI element, trees with moderate allergenic potential were the most abundant (48%), followed by high (31%) and low (15%) potentials, while very high and very low allergenic potential were present in 6% and one tree, respectively. The IUGZA index values ranged from 0.01 to 0.37, classifying species composition in Stevana Mokranjca Street as high-risk (IUGZA > 0.3), whereas all other streets fell within the low-risk category (IUGZA < 0.2). The findings contribute to the development of more informed, local- and city-level approaches to establishing and managing the use of UGI, as well as species selection strategies that balance ecological criteria with public health considerations.
