Coastal areas are dynamic and complex systems exposed to waves, high tides, and storm surges. Often, these areas are densely populated and have essential socio-economic values for the region and country. Any changes or disruptions can cause a tremendous social burden. Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) is one of the most used and straightforward methods to assess coastal vulnerability. This paper aims to analyse and summarise the current state of published coastal vulnerability indices. The analysis seeks to develop a regional vulnerability index for the eastern Adriatic coast, specifically for the Istrian peninsula. A total of 18 published papers were reviewed. A detailed survey was performed on three groups of variables that represent (a) the physical features of the coast, (b) the amount of influence of wave energy on the coast, and (c) exposed socio-economic factors. While choosing Physical and ecological variables is relatively straightforward, choosing Socio-economic variables is particularly challenging. The number of variables differs significantly from one author to another. As a result of the huge variety of global coastal characteristics and different research approaches, there is no universal CVI. Therefore, analysed indices are not suited for the calculation of the vulnerability of the Istrian coast without modification. A 5 × 5 m cell dimension was proposed as the most suitable for analysing the physical vulnerability of the Croatian coast of Istria.

Radiocarbon analyses of 14 modern, pre-bomb marine organisms collected between AD 1836 and 1946 along the eastern Adriatic coast were performed. The¹⁴C ages of five algal and nine mollusk samples were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Marine¹⁴C reservoir ages (R) and regional offsets (ΔR) were calculated and compared. The marine reservoir ages of shells and algae significantly differ, even though both inhabit the hard substrate from the intertidal zone to shallow sea. Coralline algae had a considerably lower reservoir age (355 ± 34¹⁴C yr) and ΔR value (–9 ± 34¹⁴C yr) than mollusks (R 513 ± 53¹⁴C yr; ΔR 154 ± 52¹⁴C yr), though the variability of R was high in both groups. Although the microlocations of pre-bomb samples were not known and the studied mollusk species are able to inhabit marine or estuarine environments, it can be assumed that they were not significantly influenced by a freshwater admixture, due to their δ¹³C values being mostly in the marine range. However, as the entire eastern Adriatic is formed in carbonates, mollusk shells could be influenced by limestone-depleted¹⁴C. In examining new data together with previously published data, the marine reservoir effect (MRE) for the Adriatic area is estimated to be 424 ± 57¹⁴C yr (ΔR is 77 ± 57¹⁴C yr). Without mussel shells, the estimated MRE is 378 ± 44¹⁴C yr (ΔR is 28 ± 45¹⁴C yr). The presented values are comparable to the MREs and mean ΔRs obtained for the Mediterranean by other authors.

On the central part of the Velebit Mountain the traces of the Pleistocene glaciation have been found. The domination of the dissected relief, characterized by numerous elevations and depressions, in the conditions of low temperatures and...

Tufa is a fresh-water surface calcium carbonate deposit precipitated at or near ambient temperature, and commonly contains the remains of macro- and microphytes. Many Holocene tufas are found along the Zrmanja River, Dalmatian karst, Croatia. In this work we present radiocarbon dating results of older tufa that was found for the first time at the Zrmanja River near the Village of Sanaderi. Tufa outcrops were observed at different levels, between the river bed and up to 26 m above its present level. Radiocarbon dating of the carbonate fraction revealed ages from modern, at the river bed, up to 40 kBP ~20 m above its present level. These ages fit well with the hypothesis that the Zrmanja River had a previous surface connection with the Krka River, and changed its flow direction toward the Novigrad Sea approximately 40 kBP (Marine Isotope Stage 3). Radiocarbon AMS dating of tufa organic residue yielded a maximum conventional age of 17 kBP for the highest outcrop position indicating probable penetration of younger organic material to hollow tufa structures, as confirmed by radiocarbon analyses of humin extracted from the samples. Stable carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) of the carbonate fraction of (−10.4 ± 0.6)‰ and (−9.7 ± 0.8)‰ for the Holocene and the older samples, respectively, indicate the autochthonous origin of the carbonate. The δ¹³C values of (−30.5 ± 0.3)‰ and (−29.6 ± 0.6)‰ for organic residue, having ages 5000 BP, respectively, suggest a unique carbon source for photosynthesis, mainly atmospheric CO₂, with an indication of the Suess effect in δ¹³C during last centuries. The oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O) agrees well with deposition of tufa samples in two stages, the Holocene (−8.02 ± 0.72‰) and “old” (mainly MIS 3 and the beginning of MIS 2) (−6.89 ± 0.34‰), suggesting a ~4 °C lower temperature in MIS 3 compared to the current one.