Marine phanerogams are considered biological sentinels or indicators since any modification in seagrass meadow distribution and coverage signals negative changes in the marine environment. In recent decades, seagrass meadows have undergone global losses at accelerating rates, and almost one-third of their coverage has disappeared globally. This study focused on the dynamics of seagrass meadows in the northern Adriatic Sea, which is one of the most anthropogenically affected areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Seagrass distribution data and remote sensing products were utilized to identify the stable and dynamic parts of the seagrass ecosystem. Different seagrass species could not be distinguished with the Sentinel-2 (BOA) satellite image. However, results revealed a generally stable seagrass meadow (283.5 Ha) but, on the other hand, a stochastic behavior in seagrass meadow retraction (90.8 Ha) linked to local environmental processes associated with anthropogenic activities or climate change. If systemized, this proposed approach to monitoring seagrass meadow dynamics could be developed as a spatial decision support system for the entire Mediterranean basin. Such a tool could serve as a key element for decision makers in marine protected areas and would potentially support more effective conservation and management actions in these highly productive and important environments.

After mosquitoes, ticks are the most important vectors of infectious diseases. They play an important role in public health. In recent decades, we discovered new tick-borne diseases; additionally, those that are already known are spreading to new areas because of climate change. Slovenia is an endemic region for Lyme borreliosis and one of the countries with the highest incidence of this disease on a global scale. Thus, the spatial pattern of Slovenian Lyme borreliosis prevalence was modelled with 246 indicators and transformed into 24 uncorrelated predictor variables that were applied in geographically weighted regression and regression tree algorithms. The projected potential shifts in Lyme borreliosis foci by 2050 and 2070 were calculated according to the RCP8.5 climate scenario. These results were further applied to developing a Slovenian Lyme borreliosis infection risk map, which could be used as a preventive decision support system.

The human population is increasing. The ongoing urbanization process, in conjunction with climate change, is causing larger environmental footprints. Consequently, quality of life in urban systems worldwide is under immense pressure. Here, the seasonal characteristics of Maribor’s urban thermal environment were studied from the perspectives of surface urban heat island (SUHI) and urban heat island (UHI) A remote sensing thermal imagery time series and in-situ measurements (stationary and mobile) were combined with select geospatial predictor variables to model this atmospheric phenomenon in its most intensive season (summer). Finally, CMIP6 climate change scenarios and models were considered, to predict future UHI intensity. Results indicate that Maribor’s UHI intensity maximum shifted from winter to spring and summer. The implemented generalized additive model (GAM) underestimates UHI intensity in some built-up parts of the study area and overestimates UHI intensity in green vegetated areas. However, by the end of the century, UHI magnitude could increase by more than 60% in the southern industrial part of the city. Such studies are of particular concern, in regards to the increasing frequency of heat waves due to climate change, which further increases the (already present) heat stress in cities across the globe.

Europe has the world's largest network of protected areas. Of course, climate change affects these areas no less than others. However, scientists reported that forecasts on maintaining climatic suitability for species of European concern in some Natura 2000 areas across Europe are even worse compared to surrounding unprotected areas. From the Slovenian perspective, the most climate change exposed Natura 2000 areas, according to current forecasts, can be found in the Sub-Mediterranean or Sub-Pannonia regions. More stable bioclimatic conditions, as expected, are estimated in the uplands. Such studies, which offer an objective assessment of the impact of climate change in the area, are of immense importance to managers and decision-makers in protected areas in order to prepare and potentially implement mitigation measures on the relevant vulnerable areas. Evropa ima v svetovnem merilu najgostejšo mrežo zavarovanih območij. Seveda ta območja niso nič manj pod vplivov podnebnih sprememb v primerjavi z ostalimi. Skrb vzbujajoče je dejstvo, da so napovedi glede ohranjanja podnebne primernosti za vrste evropskega pomena v nekaterih Natura 2000 območjih po Evropi, v primerjavi z nezavarovanimi območji, celo slabše. Z vidika Slovenije bodo podnebnim spremembam v drugi polovici tega stoletja, po trenutnih napovedih, tako najbolj izpostavljene živalske in rastlinski vrste v omrežju Natura 2000 submediteranske in subpanonske regije. Bolj stabilne podnebne razmere bodo v višje ležečih predelih države. Tovrstne študije, ki ponujajo objektivno oceno vpliva podnebnih sprememb v prostoru, so še kako pomembne za upravljavce in odločevalce v zavarovanih območjih, da lahko pripravljajo in potencialno realizirajo omilitvene ukrepe na ustreznih ranljivih površinah.

The urban heat island phenomenon (UHI) is a consequence of anthropogenic activity and local climatic conditions. Most UHI studies address large metropolitan areas. However, the data show that UHI magnitude can reach high values even in small urban systems. The study focused on the seasonal dynamics of the UHI magnitude variable (average, maximum and minimum temperature anomaly) in the town of Ljutomer by considering different weather types. Under anticyclonic or advective air circulation pattern, predominantly in summer, UHI magnitude in Ljutomer can reach values comparable to midsize or large urban systems (up to 8°C). The results of such studies are of particular concern in regard to increasing frequency of heat waves as a consequence of climate change, which further increases the already present heat stress in cities all over the Globe. Pojav mestnega toplotnega otoka (MTO) je posledica antropogenega spreminjanja prostora ter lokalnih podnebnih razmer. Večina študij o MTO obravnava velika metropolitanska območja. Podatki kažejo da je jakost pojava MTO lahko velika tudi v malih urbanih sistemih. V študiji smo se osredotočili na jakost pojava MTO v luči povprečnih, maksimalnih in minimalnih dnevnih temperatur zraka v različnih vremenskih tipih po sezonah v mestu Ljutomer. Ob anticiklonalni ali advektivni zračni cirkulaciji, predvsem v poletnih mesecih, je jakost MTO v Ljutomeru primerljiva srednjim in velikim urbanim sistemom (tudi do 8°C). Rezultati študije so še posebej zaskrbljujoči z vidika vse pogostejših vročinskih valov kot posledice podnebnih sprememb, ki še dodatno povečujejo, že tako prisotni, toplotni stres v mestih.

Case Studies of Climate Change Effects Spatial Analysis: A monograph Based on Findings from the Project Preventing Heat Stress in Urban Systems Under Climate Change (ARRS J7-1822). In the period of digital transformation of society, information technologies are gaining in importance. This includes geographic information systems that link location data to all types of descriptive information, thus providing a basis for mapping and spatial analysis. The latter is used today in both science and industry. With the help of this type of analysis, it is easier to understand past and present spatial patterns that are the result of the interaction of natural and social conditions. Based on the recognized trends, we can then estimate what the further spatial development will be. The ability to predict objectively is one of the key features that further increases the usefulness of spatial analysis in terms of evaluating the consequences of climate or environmental crisis. This fact is the reason for the creation of the monograph entitled Case Studies of Climate Change Effects Spatial Analysis. The publication is divided into three chapters. The first deals with urban environments and addresses the issue of increasing heat stress as a consequence of the emergence of urban heat island effect (UHI) and a warmer atmosphere due to (anthropogenically driven) climate change. The second chapter deals with the effects of climate change on selected habitats of the cultural landscape, whether in intensive or extensive agricultural use. In the third chapter, the content shifts from terrestrial to costal and marine environments. V obdobju digitalne preobrazbe družbe na pomenu pridobivajo tudi informacijske tehnologije. Sem sodijo geografski informacijski sistemi, ki povezujejo lokacijske podatke z vsemi vrstami opisnih informacij, in s tem zagotavljajo osnovo za kartiranje in prostorsko analizo. Slednja se dandanes uporablja tako v znanosti kot v industriji. S pomočjo tovrstne analize lažje razumemo pretekle in sedanje prostorske vzorce, ki so posledica interakcije naravnih in družbenih razmer. Na podlagi zaznanih trendov lahko nato celo ocenjujemo, kakšen bo nadaljnji prostorski razvoj. Prav zmožnost objektivnega napovedovanja je ena izmed ključnih lastnosti, ki dodatno poveča uporabnost prostorskih analiz z vidika vrednotenja posledic podnebne ali bolje okoljske krize. Prav to dejstvo je povod za nastanek monografije z naslovom Primeri prostorskih analiz vplivov podnebnih sprememb. Monografija je razdeljena na tri poglavja. Prvo obravnava urbana okolja in se dotakne problematike vse pogostejšega toplotnega stresa kot posledice pojava mestnega toplotnega otoka (MTO) in toplejše atmosfere zaradi (antropogeno pospešenih) podnebnih sprememb. Drugo poglavje monografije obravnava vplive podnebnih sprememb na izbrane habitate kulturne krajine, bodisi v intenzivni ali ekstenzivni kmetijski rabi. V tretjem poglavju pa se vsebinsko premaknemo iz kopenskih na obmorska in morska okolja.