Natura Croatica Issue number: Natura Croatica, Vol. 9 No.1

Prostorna razdioba glavnih tipova šuma u Hrvatskoj kao funkcija makroklime

Authors: Oleg Antonić, Dragan Bukovec, Josip Križan, Antun Marki, Dalibor Hatić

Authors and affiliation

  • Oleg Antonić Rudjer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Dragan Bukovec Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Josip Križan Oikon Ltd., Vlade Prekrata 20, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Antun Marki Andrija Mohorovičić Geophysical Institute, Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac bb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Dalibor Hatić Oikon Ltd., Vlade Prekrata 20, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The model of spatial distribution of major forest types in Croatia was developed as a function of macroclimatic variables (monthly mean temperature, monthly precipitation, monthly mean global solar irradiation and monthly potential evapotranspiration) and variables derived from digital elevation model (terrain aspect and slope). Neural networks were used as modelling tool. The model was developed within the frame of a raster geographic information system with a spatial resolution of 300 × 300 m, and it was based on a forest vegetation map (in scale of 1 : 500000) and interpolation macroclimatic models. The agreement between modelled and mapped forest types was very good, which suggests a strong correlation between macroclimate and the main forest types in Croatia and high model reliability. The model was applied to the entire area of Croatia, aiming at the construction of the potential spatial distribution of major forest types. The model could be useful for reforestation planning and for prediction of vegetation succession under assumed climatic changes.

Keywords

air temperature, DEM, GIS, neural networks, potential evapotranspiration, potential vegetation map, precipitation, solar irradiation

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