Located at the northeastern corner of the Adria microplate, the Alps-Dinarides junction represents a key region for understanding how the Adria microplate interacts with stable Europe. However, little is known on how the present-day deformation imposed by the rotation of the Adria microplate is absorbed across the Dinarides. Using morphotectonic analysis based on satellite and aerial images, accurate topographical maps, and digital elevation models combined with field investigations, we mapped in detail the three main active faults of the Northern Dinarides. Geomorphic and geological cumulative displacements ranging from a few meters to several kilometers have been identified on those faults and dated for the most recent ones using 36Cl exposure dating. Those results yielded a total right-lateral motion of 3.8 ± 0.7 mm/yr oriented N317. Comparing our results with the motion expected from Adria rotation models suggests that the Northern Dinarides absorbs most of the predicted Adria-Eurasia motion, thus representing the eastern boundary of the microplate. However, a significant E-W component is lacking, suggesting that part of the stress imposed by the microplate rotation is transferred farther to the east. Finally, bounds placed on the Plio-Pleistocene kinematics confirm that faulting onset occurred during the Early Pliocene and evidence a significant kinematic change at the Early/Middle Pleistocene boundary.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2562133
Reliable assessment of seismic hazard in Ljubljana, which is expected to be enhanced by the influence of soft sediments on seismic ground motion, it very important. Since existing microzonation studies were inadequate, we performed an extensive survey based on microtremor method. We prepared iso-frequency and iso-amplitude maps which show a clear differences between the part of Ljubljana built on soft lacustrine sediments and the part built on gravel. By additional measurements in characteristic, mostly public buildings, we determine their main resonance frequencies. We developed a new method which gives better results than established methods. By comparison of measurements inside buildings with a free-field map of sediment fundamental frequencies we identified buildings for which a danger of soil-structure resonance exist. This study represents an important contribution to quantitative assessment of the influence of soft sediments on seismic ground motion in large urban areas.
COBISS.SI-ID: 795230
Wide carbonate platform environments developed on the western passive margin of the Tethys during the Late Triassic, after a major climate change (Carnian Pluvial Episode) that produced a crisis of high-relief microbial carbonate platforms. The peritidal succession of this epicontinental platform (Dolomia Principale/Hauptdolomit, Dachstein Limestone) is widespread in the Mediterranean region. However, the start-up stage is not fully understood. The original platform to basin depositional geometries of the system have been studied in the north-eastern Southern Alps, close to the Italian/ Slovenian boundary where they are exceptionally preserved. This stratigraphic interval was correlated with the Tuvalian succession of the Dolomites, allowing depiction of the depositional system on a wide scale of hundreds of kilometers. This large-scale depositional system presents features in common with some Palaeozoic and Mesozoic carbonate build-ups (for example, the Permian Capitan Reef complex, Anisian Latemar platform), both in terms of architecture and prevailing carbonate producers. A microbial-dominated carbonate factory is found in the outer platform and upper slope. The recovery of high-relief microbial carbonate platforms marks the end of the Carnian Pluvial Episode in the Tuvalian of Tethys.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2693205
The paper summarizes the observation of the Potoška planina landslide, which is located in the Karavanke mountain range in NW Slovenia. This paper presents the monitoring of surface movement patterns at the toe of the Potoška planina landslide using two independent survey techniques. The sliding mass is composed of tectonically deformed and weathered Upper Carboniferous and Permian clastic rocks covered with a large amount of talus material, which is unstable and prone to landslides. Additionally, the Bela torrent causes significant erosion and increases the possibility of mobilization of the sliding mass downstream. In order to estimate surface movement patterns over a monitoring period of 22.5 months periodic monitoring was conducted using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetry, which provides high-resolution images and tachymetric geodetic measurements that enables accurate control of photogrammetric analysis of surface displacements. According to our results, the movement pattern at the toe of the Potoška planina landslide indicates a steadily downslope movement of the entire area with localised surges superficial slips.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2566485
In Slovenia and its immediate NW surroundings, a variety of landslide forms exist, presented in the 4th World Landslide Forum Post-Forum Study Tour. A fundamental common characteristic of landslides located in the Vipava River Valley and Soča River Valley (Slano blato, Rebrnice, Stogovce, Stože, Strug) is the high landslide velocity, due to heavy rainfall and soil wetting. These failures correspond to complex landslides, in which unstable masses develop into debris flow. In all cases, the sliding occurred in clastic rocks (mostly flysch) and located below steep slopes composed of highly permeable carbonate rocks. Due to faults and cracks in the surface rocks, a large part of precipitation is able to penetrate and supply the weathered clastic zones with additional water. In contrast, the geological complexity of each landslide area and surrounding caused the differences in movement types, sediment grain sizes and sliding surface. All these landslide forms can be placed in the category of rainfall-induced landslides that became active in unfavourable geological conditions. Similar unfavourable conditions also prevail at the Potoška planina landslide, where debris flow flooded the village of Koroška Bela in the eighteenth century. While active movements and geo-mechanical properties of the soils at Potoška planina indicate that the landslide material could generate a debris flow during heavy rainfall.
COBISS.SI-ID: 8095585
Late Permian and lowermost Triassic strata of the Masore section in western Slovenia have been restudied by means of bio- and lithostratigraphy. This section is mainly characterized by a carbonate succession of the Bellerophon Formation deposited in a shallow marine ramp environment that was located in the western part of the Palaeo-Tethys. The Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) transition is marked by laminated microbialites – stromatolites interpreted to reflect a deeper ramp environment. The conodont elements recovered enabled the recognition of the Hindeodus praeparvus zone of the uppermost Permian (Late Changhsingian) in the Bellerophon Formation. Gondolellids are documented in the PTB transitional interval with microbial microfacies, whereas the Isarcicella staeschei Zone (Early Griesbachian, Early Triassic) is recognized in the tectonically separated Werfen Formation just above the microbial microfacies part of the section. The lowermost part of the microbialites is characterized by Late Permian species of foraminifers indicating that at least this part of the section is still Upper Permian.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2689877
The development of remote sensing techniques enables the application of new methods for monitoring the Earth’s surface almost on a daily basis. As a result, remote sensing has been intensively used, especially in the last decade, in the field of monitoring, and mitigation and prevention of natural and anthropogenic disasters. One of the fields that profits from combining remote sensing and in-situ data is monitoring surface displacements due to slope mass movement processes. Six partners have joined knowledge, expertise and technology in the framework of the European project called Integrated Interferometry and GNSS for Precision Survey (I2GPS) to develop a unique unit that combines two existing techniques – radar interferometry (PSI) and GPS – and thus enables displacement monitoring in three dimensions. The landslide area above Koroška Bela near Jesenice was chosen for the testing of the developed unit.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2257749
In Slovenia and worldwide, rainfall-induced landslides lead to considerable damages, even causing human losses. In order to reduce the impact of this kind of landslide, several researchers analyzed rainfall-induced landslides in this country, but to date, no rainfall thresholds have been developed for a landslide warning system at national scale. In this paper, the definition of rainfall thresholds for rainfall-induced landslides in Slovenia using software MaCumBA (Massive Cumulative Brisk Analyzer) is presented. The present work is one of the first attempts to determine I–D rainfall thresholds in Slovenia at national level and it can represent a first step toward the definition of a national EWS for Slovenia.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2542165
The paper presents first comprehensive study of the Late Cretaceous sedimentary evolution and geodynamics of the northern-most parts of the Adriatic Carbonate Platform. The study deals with a broad area and includes several geological sections. Distinctive differentiation of sedimentary environments through time and across the investigated area indicate the interplay and predominance of certain internal and external factors (e.g. eustasy and tectonic conditions at adjacent plate margins) in the depositional evolution of the studied area.
COBISS.SI-ID: 42676013
We determined kinematic characteristics of the Idrija fault by geomorphological analysis of LiDAR data. 100 km long Idrija fault, striking N310° and dipping about 80°NE is often considered as the potential source of the 1511 M 6.8 earthquake. We examined in detail the Idrija fault trace along a 20km long swath in the central portion of the fault. Morphological evidences such as offset streams and ridges and major drainage abandonments suggest ongoing movement. At three sites, cumulative dextral offsets were measured (35m 65m, 140m, 360m) and significant vertical component was revealed by a rake ranging from 0 to 33°. The derived slip vector is striking N303°–N310°. The slip rate for the Idrija fault was estimated at about 1.5 mm/yr over the last 20 kyr.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2273877