ARCCHIVES Conference

Invited Speakers

Vanda Piškur

Vanda Piškur holds a degree in Sanitary Engineering, specialising in environmental public health, is a certified specialist in food analytics, and holds a Master of Science in toxicology. Since 2013, she has been leading the Laboratory for Drinking Water and Natural Waters Control at the Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. She has extensive experience in the examination and evaluation of the sanitary safety of drinking water, groundwater, and surface water, with a particular focus on systematic water quality monitoring on the island of Krk. Her work is especially dedicated to the integration of chemical and microbiological indicators within water quality monitoring programmes, including the analysis of chemical pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, hydrocarbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Dalibor Paar

Associate Professor Dr. sc. Dalibor Paar is employed in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. He made his PhD in the field of solid state physics, and today he is involved in research in environmental physics, focusing on karst processes on the surface and underground, as well as on issues related to climate, water, ice, and the transport of pollution. He is also engaged in science popularization, with an emphasis on the application of new methods in education from early childhood in kindergarten to lifelong learning.

Žarko Kovač

Associate Professor Žarko Kovač is the vice dean of the Faculty of Science in Split and the principal investigator of the PHOTOCLIM project, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. With a background in physics and dynamical systems, Žarko’s primary interests are bio-optical modeling of primary production and bio-physical interactions in the ocean, focusing on the photosynthesis-light relationship. In his research, he seeks to apply dynamical systems theory to further develop primary production models with a special focus on the role of light. Broader interests include mathematical physics, sustainable development, ecosystem dynamics, and ecological modelling.

Damir Kapetanović

Dr.sc. Damir Kapetanović is a senior research associate and head of the Laboratory for aquaculture and pathology of aquatic organisms at the Ruđer Bošković Institute. He was principal investigator on one and a collaborator on two projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation, including the project AqADAPT – Adaptation of Whitefish Farming to Climate Change (work package leader for “Fish Health”). He led four bilateral projects (North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Germany) and participated in two more (China, Hungary). As a member of the AqADAPT team, he won second place and an award at the Blue-Cloud Hackathon 2022 for the concept prototype “PerfeCt – Performance of Aquaculture under Climate Change.” He is the author of one book chapter and more than 50 scientific papers, 49 of which are indexed in the Web of Science database.

Borna Debelić

Borna Debelić is a full professor at the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Maritime Studies where he teaches a number of economic courses on maritime affairs and transport. His research focus is on Coastal Zone Management and Commons Governance. He has published around 50 scientific papers and has presented on numerous international scientific conferences. Borna is a member of a number of respectable international and domestic scientific and professional associations and visiting professor on several European universities. He has also participated in numerous domestic and international scientific and professional projects. He is a certified EU project manager and was multiple times engaged as an expert evaluator of Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, CEF and CEF2 projects, as well as an expert in transport economics on the World Bank project for the maritime port development.

Andreina Belušić Vozila

Andreina Belušić Vozila completed her PhD in 2018 at the Department of Geophysics at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. Since 2024, she is employed as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Physics, University of Rijeka. Her research primarily focuses on extreme events and climate change in the Adriatic region, with a recent emphasis on agro-climatology. She has received several prestigious awards, most notably the "For Women in Science" award, presented by L'Oréal Adria and the Croatian commission for UNESCO at the Ministry of culture and media, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to scientific research.

Robert Lütkemeier

Robert Lütkemeier leads the “Water and Land Use” research unit at the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) in Frankfurt, where his team and he focus on sustainable water management solutions at the intersection of science, policy, and practice. Their work emphasizes climate change adaptation, employing quantitative and qualitative research methods to design water management strategies through transdisciplinary co-design processes. This approach brings together stakeholders from municipalities, authorities, companies, nature conservation, agriculture, and the water sector to collaboratively develop actionable, evidence-based solutions. With extensive international experience in Southern Africa and Europe, Robert brings deep insight into the real-world challenges of water governance.

Marina Poje Sovilj

Marina Poje Sovilj is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia. Her research focuses on environmental radioactivity, radon measurements in soil, water, and air as well as neutron dosimetry. She has participated in national and international projects on radon risk assessment and radiological protection. Dr. Poje Sovilj actively works within the Laboratory for Low-Level Radioactivity and currently serves as Vice Head for Study and Students at the Department of Physics. She is a Board Member of the Croatian Radiation Protection Association and the Association of Physicists Osijek. She actively participates in organizing scientific symposia and is a member of the International Radiation Physics Society.

Shubha Sathyendranath

Dr Shubha Sathyendranath is a highly-respected Principal Scientist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (UK), where she is part of the remote sensing team. Her work is focused on ocean colour modelling, spectral characteristics of light penetration underwater, bio-optical properties of phytoplankton, modelling primary production, bio-geochemical cycles in the sea, climate change, water-borne diseases, biological-physical interactions in the marine system, ecological provinces in the sea, ecological indicators and phytoplankton functional types.

Matko Patekar

Matko Patekar was born in Zagreb in 1989. He is employed as an expert associate at the Croatian Geological Survey. His professional development is primarily in the field of applied karst hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry, as well as the management and implementation of EU and national projects. In 2025 he obtained his PhD with dissertation topic on the development of conceptual model for managed recharge of karst aquifer on the island of Vis.

Program

Water and Climate in Changing World

BLUE RECHARGE

Session chair: Alessandro Bosso (ART-ER, Italy)

https://www.italy-croatia.eu/web/bluerecharge

9:45

Project BLUE RECHARGE

By Diana Mance

10:00

Managed recharge of karst aquifers - theory, concepts, practice - case study of the Island of Vis (Croatia)

By Matko Patekar

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) methods have been successfully applied in aquifers with intergranular porosity for decades, but their application in fractured and/or karstified aquifers remains marginal. Specific challenges of MAR application in karst aquifers stem from structural and functional complexity of karst, its highly dynamic recharge and discharge behavior, scale effect, the lack of comprehensive and integrative methodologies for investigation, as well as scarce literature and case studies. Despite these challenges, an attempt to investigate MAR feasibility was conducted on the island of Vis, a small and remote island in the central part of the Adriatic Sea. On Vis, favorable geological and hydrogeological situation preconditioned the formation of karst aquifers from which groundwater of excellent quality is abstracted, and the island is autonomous in water supply. Despite this, intensive summer tourism and climate extremes exert high stress on local groundwater resources, occasionally leading to reductions in water supply. Detailed multidisciplinary (e.g., geological, hydrogeological, geophysical, hydrochemical) investigations were conducted during the last decades, resulting in an array of potential solutions to enhance safety and security of the local water supply, including MAR. The conceptual model of MAR is based on the retention of storm/flood water from the hilly areas of Hum in the western part of the island, and their subsequent infiltration through the existing channels in the Korita well field, thus enhancing local groundwater recharge.

10:15

Integrating Microbial and Chemical Control in Managed Aquifer Recharge: Towards Safe and Sustainable Aquifer Recharge in BLUE RECHARGE

By Vanda Piškur

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is emerging as a sustainable solution to enhance water security and protect groundwater resources from climate-induced risks, including salinization and over-extraction. The BLUE RECHARGE project focuses on evaluating the feasibility of using treated wastewater for aquifer recharge in coastal karst aquifers, with special attention to maintaining water quality standards and protecting public health. This presentation will highlight the role of microbiological monitoring, complemented by selected chemical analyses, in ensuring the safety of recharge practices. Routine microbiological testing at key drinking water sources in the Rijeka area and at the Ponikve reservoir sets the baseline for understanding microbial dynamics. Within the BLUE RECHARGE framework, monitoring extends to recharge waters and groundwater samples, focusing on indicators such as E. coli, total coliforms, and somatic coliphages, alongside chemical parameters including total nitrogen, total phosphorus, hydrocarbons, sulfides, and phenols. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of continuous monitoring strategies, especially in light of potential microbial contamination risks and the aquifer's role as a natural barrier. Drawing from international MAR experiences, including the Ezousa aquifer case in Cyprus, and applying Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) methods, the talk will illustrate how integrated microbiological and chemical monitoring strengthens the resilience of aquifer recharge systems and fosters public trust in water reuse practices.

10:30

Radon dynamics in karst geology and water bodies: a case study from the Istrian peninsula

By Marina Poje Sovilj

Radon (²²²Rn), a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is the primary source of ionizing radiation exposure for the general public. This lecture presents the findings from long-term studies of radon in indoor environments, soil gas, and water sources, with focus on the Istrian peninsula. Characterized by karstic geology with porous limestone, Istria provides a complex setting for investigating natural radioactivity. Over 1200 indoor radon measurements were performed at approximately 500 locations, including private homes, kindergartens, and schools, during time period 2013 – 2015 and 2018 – 2019. Elevated concentrations were observed in educational institutions, with 15.5% of kindergartens and 21% of schools exceeding Croatia’s reference level of 300 Bq/m³. Simultaneously, radon in soil gas measurements, by using RM-2 detectors along with RADON-JOK permeability measurements, indicated a high geogenic radon potential (GRP). The results showed average concentrations around 90 kBq/m³ and localized peaks up to 500 kBq/m³. Complementary radon-in-water measurements were conducted by using emanometry (AlphaGUARD and AquaKIT measurement system) and liquid scintillation counting (LSC Tricarb 2900) methods. About 100 water samples from public supplies, private wells, and springs were analyzed, yielding an average radon activity concentration with standard deviation of 3.1 ± 1.2 Bq/L. These results highlight significant spatial variability in radon distribution, strongly influenced by geological and climatic conditions. The findings emphasize the importance of systematic monitoring and provide a scientific foundation for developing radon risk mitigation strategies in karstic regions.

10:45

Research on climate change in mountain regions of national parks and nature parks

By Dalibor Paar

Climate change in the mountainous regions of Croatia leads to measurable phenomena, with extreme events and processes—such as the melting of perennial ice in caves—being particularly evident. These processes affect the dynamic balance of ecosystems and create new challenges in their protection and sustainable management. In the context of climatic and other environmental processes, key questions arise regarding research methodology, the interpretation of results, and their practical application by potential users. Through examples of protected areas as users, we will present ideas and methods of environmental research in mountainous regions, with a special emphasis on determining the impact of climate change on vulnerable ecosystems. We will also highlight the importance of an interdisciplinary approach and its application in nature conservation and the preservation of mountain ecosystems.

11:00

The Impacts of Climate Change on Olive Cultivation in Istria

By Andreina Belušić Vozila

Quantifying the effects of climate change on olive cultivation is crucial, as olive orchards are facing increasing sustainability challenges due to shifting climatic conditions. Both temperature and precipitation exert varying impacts on the different developmental stages of this crops and their cultivars. To better understand these impacts, recent trends in phenological stages are assessed and a comprehensive database of bioclimatic indices has been analyzed. This database includes metrics such as the average growing season temperature, growing degree-days (GDD), the Huglin index, the dryness index, and the cool night index, all based on a combination of historical meteorological data and projections from regional climate models (RCMs) sourced from the EURO-CORDEX database. Climate projections for Croatia indicate a trend toward further warming and increased dryness, resulting in earlier olive flowering and fruit ripening. These changes are attributed to increasing mean, minimum, and maximum air temperatures, with the most significant changes occurring in February. Furthermore, a simple GDD model was developed and tested as a prognostic tool to predict the initiation of each phenological stage. The GDD with base temperature of 6 °C proved highly effective in predicting the entire flowering period. The developed GDD model shows strong potential for projecting the onset of olive flowering under future climate conditions in Istria.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Impacts

Session chair: Davor Mance (EFRI, Croatia)

11:45

Application of economic concepts in biophysical oceanography

By Žarko Kovač

Mathematical models of marine primary production have been around for quite a while in oceanography. They are typically built on biophysical principles, capturing how light drives the rate of carbon uptake through photosynthesis. In this talk, a different angle is explored, and marine primary production is looked at through the lens of economic theory. This is possible due to the strong mathematical parallels between biophysical and economic models, which opens the door to some interesting reinterpretations. By applying economic thinking, we offer a bioeconomic take on classical primary production models and introduce a set of new indicators for primary production. These indicators help describe and quantify the response of primary production to stochastic forcing and explain under which conditions marine primary production is fragile, or antifragile. Finally, we reflect on the broader significance of this approach, pointing out examples in the literature where bridging ideas from economics and production modelling could lead to valuable insights on both sides.

12:00

Project TIME: Tipping Points and Abrupt Changes in Marine Ecosystems

By Shubha Sathyendranath

Focused on resilience and abrupt shifts in marine ecosystems, this project uses European Space Agency satellite climate-quality data to analyse phytoplankton productivity subtropical gyre anomalies, food chain efficiency, and coral reef stability, among other factors. TIME will combine satellite-based indicators with in situ measurements and ecological models to better understand the resilience of marine systems. Central to the effort is the Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI) time series, which will serve as a primary satellite data source. The team plans to refine methods for monitoring ecological stability and for detecting signs of abrupt change, focusing on interactions within marine ecosystems and their response to external pressures like climate change. While threats to ocean health are well known, TIME seeks to address critical gaps in how satellite data are used to monitor long-term trends and system vulnerabilities.

12:15

Telecoupled Waters: New spatial relationships via long-distance water transfers, tourist movements and international trade

By Robert Lütkemeier

Effective water management is essential for meeting ecological and societal needs, but challenges arise due to processes that transcend hydrological boundaries. This study examines telecouplings—long-distance effects on local water resources—focusing on three types: long-distance water transfers, impacts of international tourists, and virtual water volumes from international trade. Using case studies from Germany and Croatia, the research employs the telecoupling framework to analyze how these flows alter local water balances. The study uses water consumption statistics, groundwater recharge estimates, and trade data to quantify these impacts. Findings reveal both positive and negative effects of telecoupling flows. Long-distance water transfers can balance water deficits and surpluses, but they also pose risks to local water security. International tourists may increase water consumption in arid regions, while trade-related food consumption patterns can strain groundwater resources in irrigation-dependent areas. The study highlights the dual nature of telecouplings, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach in water management. It advocates for incorporating telecoupling effects into strategies, identifying intervention points to mitigate adverse impacts and enhance sustainability. This broader perspective is crucial for developing adaptive and resilient water management practices that address the dynamic and interconnected nature of water systems.

12:30

Climatology and Numerical Simulations of Desert Dust Events Over the Adriatic Sea

By Boris Mifka

12:45

Activities of the National Biodiversity Future Center of Italy

By Francesca Bretzel

13:00

Environmental Physics in Serbian Higher Education

By Darko Radovančević

Climate Impacts on Ecosystems and Coastal Landscapes

CRESCO Adria

Session chair: Iva Mrak (GRADRI, Croatia)

https://www.italy-croatia.eu/web/crescoadria

14:15

Project CRESCO Adria

By Davor Mance

14:30

Impacts of Climate Change on Fish and Bivalves in Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems

By Damir Kapetanović

Climate change is no longer a threat for the future, it is the reality in which we already live. Humanity's (co-)existence with its consequences is becoming increasingly clear and requires an understanding of the changes affecting the natural systems on which we depend. Aquatic ecosystems are particularly sensitive to climate pressures, and organisms such as fish and bivalves are among the first to feel the consequences of these changes. Climate change is putting increasing pressure on freshwater and marine ecosystems. Fish and bivalves show a range of physiological, immunological and behavioural responses to changing environmental conditions. Increased water temperatures, hypoxia, altered precipitation patterns, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and ocean acidification all have cumulative and often synergistic effects on aquatic species, affecting their distribution, reproduction, growth and survival. In addition, climate change affects disease dynamics, rising temperatures, changes in salinity and oxygen depletion favour the spread of various bacterial and parasitic pathogens and increase the health risk to fish and bivalve populations, especially in intensive aquaculture systems.Based on examples from the scientific literature and current events in the Adriatic region, the most important stress reactions of fish and bivalves to climate-induced environmental changes are shown, with a special focus on species that are economically important for the Republic of Croatia.

14:45

Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Maritime Common Good – Complex Good and (More) Complex Interactions

By Borna Debelić

Maritime common good, its subcomponents and sub layers, as well as its simultaneous classification into different classes of economic goods in the framework of modern economic theories, confirm its complexity and integrity. In the same time, strong and growing pressures on coastal commons, as well as growing concerns, are coming from different focal points (tourism, real estate business and construction, fisheries, preservation and protection, entrepreneurship, transportation, etc.) and different stakeholder groups (private, public, NGOs, SMEs, etc.) with different motivations and often conflicting goals (profit vs. protection, sustainability vs. exploitability, preservations vs. appropriation, economic diversification vs exclusive focus on tourism, etc.). This is all happening in the evolving international, as well as national, institutional frameworks, but even the governing (formal) institutional frameworks can be in collision, especially when addressing fundamental governing approaches aiming to achieve long term efficient and sustainable Integrated Coastal Zone Management. So, there is an evident and strong need to comprehensively address all those conflicting aspects and complex interactions in order to test and propose tailored made governing solutions able to improve integrated coastal zone management and coastal commons governance.

15:00

Coastal Infrastructure Vulnerability Assessment: An Integrated Approach (Case Study: Kusadasi-Selcuk, Turkey)

By Tuncay Kuleli

15:15

Flood Adaptation for resilient cities in the Adriatic: Insights from European Research

By Antonio Bocca

15:30

Pluvial Flood Hazard and Exposure Assessment in Coastal Croatia

By Nino Krvavica

15:45

Climate change impact on the landslide appearance

By Sanja Dugonjić Jovančević

P1: Particulate matter in the ambient air on the island of Krk, Croatia

By Marija Čargonja

P2: Examples of managed aquifer recharge in Croatia

By Bojana Hajduk Černeha

P3: The impact of seasonal tourism on water consumption in Istria (Croatia)

By Katja Milohanović

P4: Do Economies Recover Their Fisheries? Evidence of an Envi-ronmental Kuznets Curve for Fish Stock Status

By Ismar Velić

P5: An integrated framework for port-hinterland connection vulnerability to sea level rise: Izmir

By Seyma Bayazit

P6: Construction of a Knowledge Graph in the Climate Research Domain

By Andrija Poleksić

P7: Assessment of the ecological status of coastal waters in the area of Opatija using the CARLIT method

By Andrej Fućak

P8: Economics of Managed Aquifer Recharge

By Mara Trbojević

P9: ZnO-coated cellulose materials for wastewater treatment applications

By Tihana Kraljiček

P10: Case study in the BLUE RECHARGE project (Italy)

By Maria Chiara Molino

P11: Plastic debris in river water as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance

By Soraya Alfonsi

P12: BLUE RECHAGE pilot activities in Emilia-Romagna (Italy)

By Alessandro Bosso

P13: Field Data Infrastructure in the BLUE RECHARGE Project

By Karlo Veličan

P14: Hydrogeological studies on the Učka mountain (Croatia)

By Maja Oštrić

Here you can download the Program .

You can participate on-line using the following link:
https://meet.google.com/hqn-aaxo-bey

May 29, 2025 in Rijeka, Croatia

Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change: Understanding Impacts and Vulnerabilities

We are pleased to invite you to join us at the international conference ARCCHIVES 2025 - Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change: Understanding Impacts and Vulnerabilities, which will be held as a hybrid event on May 29, 2025.

The conference is organized by the Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Physics in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka.

The thematic areas of the conference include: Climate impacts on water systems Land use changes Marine ecosystems Biodiversity Socio-economic dynamics Integrated approaches to climate resilience Sustainable adaptation strategies Science-policy interface

We look forward to meeting you and welcome your participation in this important event!

Sincerely,

Conference Organizing Committee

ARCCHIVES 2025