Hungarian Geographical Bulletin

Lithological mapping with pseudo-labelling: Promise or overestimation in data-scarce settings?

szo, 27 dec 2025 15:49:20 +0000

Reference data are the most crucial points in model building. In geoscience, a scarcity of sufficient reference data is common. Pseudo-labelling (PL), i.e. incorporating high-probability data in the model-building process, offers a potential solution. We aimed to reveal the efficiency of PL in lithological mapping in a vegetation-free arid region of Sudan. Multiple Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) and Random Forest (RF) were used to classify a Landsat 9 image. Reference data were collected during fieldwork and through visual interpretation. Image processing yielded classified maps with associated probability layers, from which 1000 additional traditional samples (PL data) were extracted at a 95 percent probability. A detailed accuracy assessment was conducted, and accuracy measures were evaluated using statistical analysis and visual inspection. MARS was found to be an ambiguous classifier because the probability was too optimistic related to the overall accuracy (OA) (81% of samples had above 99% probability, OA = 98.2%) compared to RF (21% above 99%, OA = 98.1%); that is, despite the high probability, the accuracy improvement was only 0.1 percent. At the class level, the correlation between probability and the F1-score was low (0.21%). The original and PL-based models resulted in different maps with improved accuracy, although the new model version showed lower probability values for both the classifiers. Visual inspection proved essential for better insights into the spatial patterns: expert knowledge is crucial for controlling the occurrence of rock types and identifying false classifications. The main finding is that probability should be handled carefully, as it does not guarantee high model performance in classification, although the PL approach can lead to more reliable maps.

How extreme precipitation in 2010 altered urban heat island behaviour in Debrecen

Elemér László, Csaba Rácz, Attila Csaba Dobos, Péter Salavec — szo, 27 dec 2025 16:10:48 +0000

Earlier examinations of the urban heat island (UHI) characteristics in Debrecen revealed unusual behaviour in the years 2010 and 2011, while the following years exhibited characteristics expected according to the literature. The year 2010 in Hungary was characterised by anomalously high precipitation with several extreme events, including two Mediterranean cyclones in the spring, numerous convective systems in the summer, and several slow-moving frontal passages in the autumn. These led – both country-wide and in Debrecen – to record-high annual precipitation, and significant deviations in other meteorological elements like soil moisture and near-surface humidity characteristics. It is possible that the development of the urban heat island (UHI) in Debrecen was also affected. This study investigates the unusual behaviour of the UHI in 2010 and early 2011, focusing on how the excessive precipitation influenced the urban climate. Data from 2010 to 2015 were analysed, originally including temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, cloud cover and soil moisture
measurements from a city and a rural station. The current analysis shows that the high precipitation caused significant changes in soil moisture and relative humidity in the rural area, possibly leading to an increased latent heat flux at the expense of sensible heat. This might have reduced the UHI intensity during both day-time and night-time. With this, the study proposes a potential explanation for how long-term high precipitation can have lasting effects on UHI development, which may contribute to a deeper understanding of the interactions between extreme weather events and urban climate dynamics, which is crucial for urban planning and climate adaptation strategies in the context of climate change.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the water attitude scale: Insights from Hungarian student responses

András Béres, Tamás Száraz, Zsolt Hetesi, Szabolcs Czigány — szo, 27 dec 2025 16:24:05 +0000

Education plays a crucial role in shaping future generations. This is also the case for the formation of environmental attitudes. Hungary is a country with abundant water resources; however, fostering students with a strong water attitude is especially important for the future, even in such nations. The objective of this study was to adapt and validate the Water Attitude Scale (WAS) questionnaire for use with primary school students in Hungary. A total of 964 students from grades 5–8, enrolled in twenty schools located in Southern Transdanubia, completed the questionnaire. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the original factor structure was not an optimal fit for the data, prompting the development of a new four-factor model through exploratory factor analysis. The revised factors were: 1) The Value of Water and Responsibility, 2) Awareness and Education, 3) Water Usage at Home and in Society, and 4) Responsibility and Intervention. Analysis across grade levels revealed that fifth graders showed high initial awareness, which gradually declined in higher grades, while attitudes toward water use improved with age. Responsibility peaked in grade 6 but decreased slightly thereafter. The adapted questionnaire proved to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing water-related attitudes among Hungarian students, making it applicable for both diagnostic purposes in environmental education and as a foundation for longitudinal studies.

Human-forest relationship in the Budapest agglomeration: an urban-rural divide among forest visitors

szo, 27 dec 2025 16:43:22 +0000

This paper conducted 1000n survey comprising 27 questions at five urban and semi-natural sample sites to analyse the human-forest relationship in Budapest and its suburban areas. The study examines the relationship between the respondent residence types – the urban-rural divide – forest use, human-nature connectedness (HNC), environment-related well-being, and activities categorized under pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). The present study employed statistical analysis with the R statistical program. The results revealed significant differences between respondents living in Budapest, suburban areas, and rural areas. Budapest residents and suburban dwellers spend less time visiting forests but hold more positive views of Hungary’s environmental status. People living in Budapest also had a significantly lower nature dependency score determined by living conditions (-) and education (+). Moreover, pro-environmental habits were slightly higher among city dwellers but lower among suburban newcomers. Education levels also proved to be a more significant variable in determining whether respondents supported green policies. A further finding indicates surveys conducted in natural settings may also influence and fortify respondents’ forest valuation, HNC, and PEB.

A possible strategy for the economic restructuring of a rural region based on wine tourism: Case study of Blue Mountains, Moravia

Vaishar Antonin, Milada Šťastná — szo, 27 dec 2025 16:54:07 +0000

The article deals with the restructuring of a region focused on intensive agriculture at a time when agriculture ceases to be a source of wealth. It explores the possibilities of using tourism in an area with a high proportion of arable land without neither significant historical heritage nor natural attractions. The study method is a complex geographical analysis that determines the conditions under which the transformation of the micro region takes place. This analysis results in an overview of the microregion’s most significant strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The applied solution is the use of a specific brand, using the significant presence of wine culture. The use of this brand for marketing is presented. The increase in competition ability is based on the introduction of the idea to promote the area under the brand Blue Mountains and the use of other ideas that significantly differentiate the studied region from its neighbours. The key prerequisites are the cooperation of the actors. The main contribution of the article lies in the study of local experiences with tourism promotion and place marketing as one of the possibilities for transformation into a post-productive economy.

”Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold” – The role of familiarity on the revisit intention to neighbouring countries

László Kökény, Borbála Szüle, Zoltán Birkner, Gabor Michalkó — szo, 27 dec 2025 17:05:34 +0000

The aim of this study is to narrow down the research gap identified while uncovering the impact mechanism of destination familiarity on the revisit intention to the neighbouring countries. The research, justifies the hypothesis established based on the literature review by placing the analysis in the context of Hungary, located in the heart of East-Central Europe, and its relations with the seven neighbouring countries. In addition to the database of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office on the outbound travels of the Hungarian population, we build on the database of a survey conducted in 2023, with representative sampling, under which 400 Hungarian citizens with outbound travel experience were interviewed. The analysis was executed using simple and multivariate statistical methods. It was concluded that travellers of a non-neighbouring country perceive higher familiarity with the given destination, but it is not affecting more the revisit frequency than it is in a neighbouring country. The results will help to understand the tourist mobility between countries in a particular geopolitical situation due to the storms of history. The study highlights management implication and limitations; moreover, proposes directions for future research.

Wacquant, L.: Bourdieu in the City: Challenging Urban Theory

Márton Berki — szo, 27 dec 2025 17:20:22 +0000

Jankó, F.: From Borderland to Burgenland. Science, Geopolitics, Identity, and the Making of a Region

Norman Henniges — szo, 27 dec 2025 17:39:02 +0000