2026-04-17T15:04:44Z https://geostudies.net/oai.php

10.3897/geostudies.1.e115877 2024-01-29 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Raykova, Marina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9114-8849 University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria author Naydenov, Alexander https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9302-994X 2024-01-29 2024-01-29 2024 GeoStudies 3033-0238 1 11 25 2024 funder Bulgarian National Science Fund 10.13039/501100003336 10.6000/1929-4409.2020.09.244 10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102719 10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100568 Visiting/living (in) the Alps: Towards a tourist-residential convergence? P Bourdeau author M Varotto author 2012 text Padova University Press, Padova 2012 195 204 10.3390/su13063573 J Chan author 2021 2021 10.1016/j.trip.2022.100691 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2015.11.007 10.33182/tmj.v10i2.2327 10.54055/ejtr.v32i.2704 10.3390/su14169969 2023 2023 European Commission (2023) NUTS – Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/nuts/overview 10.1007/s00168-022-01147-5 10.1016/j.tourman.2017.01.018 10.1080/14616688.2016.1175024 10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104416 10.1080/13032917.2020.1781221 10.3390/su13147750 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.987384 10.29036/jots.v12i22.253 2022 2022 National Statistical Institute (2022) Business Statistics: Tourism. https://infostat.nsi.bg/infostat/pages/module.jsf?x_2=226 10.1080/13032917.2020.1771742 10.4102/ac.v23i1.1066 10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104287 M Raykova author 2023 2023 10.1016/j.annals.2011.10.004 10.1016/j.tourman.2014.06.007 2008 2008 UNWTO (2008) International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008. https://www.unwto.org/tourism-statistics/on-basic-tourism-statistics-irts-2008 2020 2020 UNWTO (2020) 145 Key Tourism Statistics. https://www.unwto.org/tourism-statistics/key-tourism-statistics 10.54664/QZFP3742 10.1007/978-3-030-94350-9_102 10.3390/ijerph182010835 2018 2018 WTTC (2018) Domestic Tourism – Importance and Economic Impact. https://wttc.org/Portals/0/Documents/Reports/2018/Domestic%20Tourism-Importance%20Economic%20Impact-Dec%2018.pdf?ver=2021-02-25-182514-683 10.1016/j.annale.2022.100055 10.1016/j.matcom.2010.05.005 10.3897/geostudies.1.e115877 https://geostudies.net/article/115877/ https://geostudies.net/article/115877/download/pdf/ https://geostudies.net/article/115877/download/xml/ Tourism is a very important sector for the Bulgarian economy with its GDP share varying between 10 and 13% before the COVID-19 health crisis. In 2021 domestic tourism accounted for 89% of the personal travel expenditures of Bulgarians. The purpose of the present paper is to analyse public attitudes towards the domestic leisure tourism in Bulgaria and its spatial distribution at the NUTS-2 regions and the residence place type level. The data used in the research are from a national representative survey based on a two-staged random sample stratified by the Bulgarian districts and the residence place type (capital, district administrative centre, town and village). The methodology includes: literature review, descriptive analysis, spatial analysis, average values, building one- and two- dimensional frequency distributions, statistical hypothesis testing, etc. The indicators used in the paper are: practices for domestic leisure tourism, stay duration in domestic resorts, frequency of domestic leisure tourism, people not practicing domestic leisure tourism, domestic leisure tourism average satisfaction level. The obtained results show the differences between those indicators in NUTS-2 and residence place type level, as well as between summer and winter leisure tourism. The presented results are of particular importance, since some of these differences are significantly large. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Bulgarian domestic tourism domestic travel holiday tourism motivation NUTS-2 regions questionnaire survey spatial criteria statistical analysis vacation tourism Spatial analysis of public attitudes towards domestic leisure tourism in Bulgaria Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.1.e109372 2024-01-29 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Ganev, Kostadin National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Gadzhev, Georgi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6159-3554 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Georgieva, Ivelina https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9370-3521 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Ivanov, Vladimir https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9768-1049 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Miloshev, Nikolay 2024-01-29 2024-01-29 2024 GeoStudies 3033-0238 1 1 10 2024 10.1016/j.procs.2017.05.149 D Byun author 1999 1999 10.1175/1520-0469(1999)056%3C3789:DCFIMA%3E2.0.CO;2 2003 2003 CEP (2003) Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emission (SMOKE) Modeling System, https://www.cmascenter.org/smoke/ H Denier van der Gon author 2010 2010 2015 2015 EEA Technical Report (2015) EEA Technical report No 4/2015, Projections in hindsight an assessment of past emission projections reported by Member States under EU air pollution and GHG legislation. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/projections-in-hindsight 2019 2019 EMEP/EEA Guidance (2019) EMEP/EEA Guidance. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/emep-eea-guidebook-2019 2016 2016 EU Directive 2016/2284 (2016) Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2016.344.01.0001.01.ENG 10.1007/978-3-319-15585-2_20 I Georgieva author 2018 2018 2019 2019 Guidance 2019/C77/01 (2019) Guidance for the development of National Air Pollution Control Programmes under Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (2019/C77/01). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52019XC0301%2801%29 10.55630/dipp.2022.12.28 10.1007/978-3-030-70190-1_8 2020 2020 MOEW [Ministry of Environment and Water] (2020) National Air Pollution Control Program 2020–2030. https://www.moew.government.bg/bg/dulgosrochna-strategiya-za-smekchavane-na-izmenenieto-na-klimata-do-2050-g-na-r-bulgariya/ 10.5065/D6DZ069T 10.1504/IJEP.2011.042609 2023 2023 UCAR/NCAR (2023) Weather Research & Forecasting Model v4.5. https://ncar.ucar.edu/what-we-offer/models/weather-research-and-forecasting-model-wrf 2016 2016 UNFCCC (2016) Revision of the "Guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, Part II: UNFCCC reporting guidelines on national communications". https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2016/sbi/eng/l22.pdf 10.3897/geostudies.1.e109372 https://geostudies.net/article/109372/ https://geostudies.net/article/109372/download/pdf/ https://geostudies.net/article/109372/download/xml/ Bulgaria has developed national emission reduction strategies for the period from 2020 to 2029 and the years after 2030, in accordance with EU Directive 2016/2284. Our fundamental aim in this study is to assess the effects of the strategy on the PM near surface concentrations in Bulgaria. All the simulation was done by the modeling system U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Models-3 for 2008 to 2014 period and with 9 km horizontal grid resolution for the selected region – Bulgaria. The meteorological background that was used is with 1°x1° resolution from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Analysis Data. There are 5 emission scenarios structured: 2005 emissions (reference period), 2020–2029 emissions projected with existing measures (WEM) and with additional measures (WAM), projected after 2030 WEM and WAM emissions, as parallel calculations were performed with all of the scenarios. Making parallels between the concentrations, with different scenarios simulated, gives the possibility to evaluate the national emission reduction strategies’ effect. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS emission reduction strategies emission scenarios numerical simulation pollution modeling PM near surface concentrations Assessment of the national emission reduction strategies effects for Bulgaria (2020–2029 and after 2030) on surface FPRM and CPRM concentrations Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.1.e113477 2024-05-21 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Ivanov, Vladimir https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9768-1049 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia, Bulgaria author Dimitrova, Reneta PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE, Sofia, Bulgaria National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Georgieva, Ivelina https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9370-3521 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Gadzhev, Georgi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6159-3554 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Ganev, Kostadin National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Miloshev, Nikolay 2024-05-21 2024-05-21 2024 GeoStudies 3033-0238 1 43 57 2024 10.3897/geostudies.1.e113477 https://geostudies.net/article/113477/ https://geostudies.net/article/113477/download/pdf/ https://geostudies.net/article/113477/download/xml/ According to future climate projections, the expected thermal stress environmental conditions will get worse if the authorities do not apply appropriate measures for mitigation and adaptation to these changes. The health issues concerning air pollution and extreme temperatures have assumed great importance in recent years. The objective of this study is to estimate the thermal comfort in two of the biggest cities in Bulgaria - Sofia and Varna and their surroundings for the year 2017 by biometeorological indexes. We use computer simulations of the atmospheric parameters that define the thermal comfort indexes, by Advanced Research Weather Forecast Model WRF ARW version 3.9. We performed the simulations on four domains for 2017 with an output frequency of 1 hour. The outermost domain has a horizontal resolution of 9 km and encompasses the Balkan Peninsula. It uses initial and boundary conditions from the 0.25-degree NCEP Final Operational Model Global Tropospheric Analyses datasets with a time-frequency of 6 hours. The estimation of the thermal comfort conditions is performed with characteristics called indexes. The differences in the number of cases between the indexes are due to the specific definitions and the meteorological factors that each of them takes into account. Some of these characteristics have applications depending on the specific thermal conditions. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Heat index Physiological Equivalent Temperature Predicted Mean Vote thermal comfort thermal stress Universal Thermal Climate Index wind chill WRF Modelling of the heat and the cold risks in Sofia and Varna – preliminary results Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.1.e115530 2024-05-21 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Jordanova, Neli https://orcid.org/https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9959-4456 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Jordanova, Diana https://orcid.org/https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0595-3153 2024-05-21 2024-05-21 2024 GeoStudies 3033-0238 1 27 42 2024 funder Bulgarian National Science Fund 10.13039/501100003336 10.3897/geostudies.1.e115530 https://geostudies.net/article/115530/ https://geostudies.net/article/115530/download/pdf/ https://geostudies.net/article/115530/download/xml/ Identification of magnetic minerals, which determine the magnetic properties of natural rocks, sediments and soils, is of crucial importance for any further interpretation of their magnetic signature in environmental or paleogeographical context. One of the major and widely used methods for determination of kind of magnetic phases in natural materials is by obtaining the Curie/Neel temperature of the respective magnetic mineral. In this contribution, we report a set of thermomagnetic measurements of high-temperature behavior of magnetic susceptibility for topsoils from the territory of Bulgaria, aiming to reveal the pedogenic and lithogenic signature. The data are considered and reported in respect to the parent rock type. Our results suggest that pedogenic magnetic minerals are represented mainly by fine-grained maghemite and/or hematite with possible Al-substitutions in the crystal lattice. This phase is expressed on the heating run of the thermomagnetic curve as a “hump” with a maximum at 250–300 °C. Coarse-grained magnetite is identified as a dominant lithogenic magnetic mineral. Hematite’s presence in a sub-set of red-colored soils is confirmed by additional analyses of isothermal remanence acquisition curves. Two hematite coercivity components were identified, related to pedogenic and lithogenic origin, respectively. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS soil magnetism magnetic minerals magnetite hematite Thermomagnetic analysis applied for identification of lithogenic and pedogenic iron oxides in topsoils from Bulgaria Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.1.e120103 2024-05-28 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Kroumova, Yulia https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3117-3504 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Trenkova, Tanya National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Nedkov, Stoyan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0052-9815 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Ravnachka, Aleksandra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3502-7815 2024-05-28 2024-05-28 2024 GeoStudies 3033-0238 1 59 74 2024 10.3897/geostudies.1.e120103 https://geostudies.net/article/120103/ https://geostudies.net/article/120103/download/pdf/ https://geostudies.net/article/120103/download/xml/ In the contemporary digital world, data is a pivotal capital considered an economic factor for generating digital products and services. The rapid growth in data volume and their heterogeneity requires optimization of the data management in order to extract higher added value from them. In the context of this issue, one of the goals of the National Scientific Program “Environmental Protection and Risk Reduction from Adverse Events and Natural Disasters” is the creation of a unified geo-informational environment integrating the data from the work packages. To realize this goal, the present study examines certain aspects of data quality related to their usability. By reviewing basic standards for geospatial data, the metadata paradigm, and previous experience in data quality assessment, a theoretical framework with the main stages of a methodological approach evaluating the suitability of primary data sources for building a unified geoinformation database has been developed. The research results reflect the application of developed criteria systems (detailed and generalized) in analyzing the quality and the study of the suitability degree of selected information resources for one of the Program’s working packages. The results of extensive surveys from work program packages have been generalized. Selected primary data sources have been catalogued, and a multicriteria methodological approach has been developed to assess their quality in terms of their suitability for the unity of the database. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Data quality assessment geospatial database interoperability Operational suitability assessment of information resources for a geospatial environmental database unity Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.1.e133185 2024-11-28 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Oynakov, Emil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8992-5581 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Popova, Mariya https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4221-971X 2024-11-28 2024-11-28 2024 GeoStudies 3033-0238 1 75 87 2024 10.3897/geostudies.1.e133185 https://geostudies.net/article/133185/ https://geostudies.net/article/133185/download/pdf/ https://geostudies.net/article/133185/download/xml/ The present study comprehensively analyzes seismic events recorded by the National Operative Telemetric System for Seismological Information (NOTSSI) in 2023. Seismic data are collected in real-time by 26 Bulgarian stations, supplemented by numerous stations from neighboring countries, enhancing the precision of hypocentral location determinations. The main kinematic parameters and the magnitude of the earthquakes are estimated utilizing an adaptation of the product HYPO’71. In the practice of NOTSSI, two types of magnitude estimates are used. Magnitude MP is determined by measuring the maximum amplitude of the P wave. The seismic moment magnitude MW is estimated from the seismic moment M0 - a quantity that combines the rupture area and the residual displacement along the fault with the strength properties of the medium (shear modulus µ). The present study transforms MP, into the more reliable and widely used magnitude scale MW.MW allows for homogenizing the magnitude estimates in the available seismological information and creating a homogenized catalog. The energetically homogenized catalog ensures compatibility of the input seismological information and a reliable assessment of the energetic distribution of earthquakes. The year 2023 was remarkable for the two devastating earthquakes, magnitudes M7.8 and M7.5, that occurred in Eastern Turkey on February 6th, followed by more than 40 000 aftershocks. They caused human losses and enormous material damage.  Although they were more than 1500 km from the territory of Bulgaria, the main shocks were partially felt on the high floors of some buildings.The earthquakes analyzed in Bulgaria and its surroundings in 2023 were primarily low-magnitude events with uneven spatiotemporal distribution. The hypocenters’ depth distribution was in the upper levels of the earth’s crust. The largest number of events were registered in the Rilo-Rhodope seismic area, which covers the Struma and Rhodope seismic zones. The highest concentration of seismic events is observed again in the Struma seismic zone. In the Srednogorie region, along the Maritsa River valley, on June 7, 2023, occurred the strongest earthquake for 2023. It had a magnitude of 4.8 and an intensity of 6.5 in the epicentral area.Looking at the overall picture of earthquakes in Bulgaria in 2023, we should also note the weak seismic events in the Burgas and Strandzha regions in Southeastern Bulgaria and the region of Northwestern Bulgaria.For the last five years, 2023 has been characterized by the highest seismicity, as measured by the number of registered events (68 with MW>3) and the highest magnitude (MW4.8). text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Balkan Peninsula Bulgaria earthquakes seismicity 2023 Seismicity of the Territory of Bulgaria and Adjacent Lands Based on NOTSSI Data for 2023 Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.1.e137361 2024-11-28 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Ilieva, Nadezhda https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9553-2509 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Kazakov, Boris https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7935-1409 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Varadzhakova, Desislava https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6072-464X 2024-11-28 2024-11-28 2024 GeoStudies 3033-0238 1 89 104 2024 10.3897/geostudies.1.e137361 https://geostudies.net/article/137361/ https://geostudies.net/article/137361/download/pdf/ https://geostudies.net/article/137361/download/xml/ Ghettoised urban structures form an essential component of the urban environment wherever they are found and their distinctive physical traits make them clearly identifiable. In the present study, various theories, concepts and viewpoints – mostly of European and American scientists – have been examined and the theoretical aspects of the term "ghetto" have been outlined through the prism of the Bulgarian reality – based on the example of the Roma neighbourhood of Harman Mahala in the City of Plovdiv. The main research question to which an answer is sought is: are the Roma neighbourhoods in Bulgaria essentially ghettos and how many of the characteristics of the ghetto do they exhibit? The study is based on a survey amongst 500 inhabitants of Harman Mahala or 27.8% of its population, as well as on in-depth, semi-structured interviews, with representatives of local authorities, educational and health mediators from the studied Roma neighbourhood school principals, teachers and students. Through the application of the so-called checklist method, it was established that the studied Roma neighbourhood meets all but one condition (Involuntary segregation), in order to be referred to as a “ghetto” and, therefore, it can only be regarded as a “ghettoised urban structure”. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS ghetto ghettoised urban structure Roma segregation Bulgaria The Theory of the Ghetto through the prism of the Bulgarian reality (a case study of Harman Mahala, Plovdiv) Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.2.e144761 2025-03-07 geostudies

Santa Catarina State University, Florianópolis, Brazil author Silva, Daiko https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4274-6460 Rio Grande do Norte Federal University, Natal, Brazil author Ferreira Paes-Cesário, Marília https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8395-9070 Paraíba Federal University, João Pessoa, Brazil author Gomes do Nascimento, Felipe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4881-1385 University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil author MAFRA, KENNEDY KAUFUMMAM COSTA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9555-7191 Florida Christian University, Orlando, United States of America author Neto de Santana Oliveira, Simone https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6292-9339 2025-03-07 2025-03-07 2025 GeoStudies 3033-0238 2 1 20 2025 10.3897/geostudies.2.e144761 https://geostudies.net/article/144761/ https://geostudies.net/article/144761/download/pdf/ The world lives in the age of the internet, real-time information, and a growing appreciation and concern for diversity across all areas of society. As a result of these transformations, discussions about the rights of people with disabilities and the challenges they face in navigating urban spaces and participating in various activities, including everyday tasks that should be guaranteed by law, as well as sports and leisure activities, have become more prominent. In this context, this study aimed to assess the accessibility conditions for people with disabilities at Joaquina Beach in Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina, located in southern Brazil. This research is characterized as exploratory and descriptive, with an applied nature, and qualitative analysis. It was organized into two stages: a theoretical phase, including bibliographic and documentary research as primary investigative strategies, and a field phase, based on the application of a checklist to assess accessibility conditions on beaches. The checklist covered the following aspects: 1) Support points for specific assistance for people with disabilities; 2) Access routes; 3) Communication and signage; 4) Parking spaces for vehicles; 5) Toilets; and 6) Beaches. The results indicate that Joaquina Beach currently does not offer satisfactory accessibility conditions for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage and implement public policies that can provide better conditions for accessing the beach and waterfront facilities, ensuring greater autonomy and freedom for all individuals. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Accessibility Brazil Florianópolis Joaquina Beach Santa Catarina waterfront Accessibility challenges at Joaquina Beach, Florianópolis, Brazil Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.2.e145652 2025-05-14 geostudies

Paraíba Federal University, João Pessoa, Brazil author Santos Custódio, Ramom https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1168-8072 Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Brazil author Brambilla, Adriana https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5603-4195 Florida Christian University, João Pessoa, Brazil author Vanzella, Elidio https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6217-4722 Paraíba Federal University, João Pessoa, Brazil author Nascimento, Felipe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4881-1385 Pernambuco Federal University, Recife, Brazil author Fernandes Carvalho de Melo, Priscila https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5296-933X 2025-05-14 2025-05-14 2025 GeoStudies 3033-0238 2 21 34 2025 10.3897/geostudies.2.e145652 https://geostudies.net/article/145652/ https://geostudies.net/article/145652/download/pdf/ The hotel industry is facing an increasingly competitive market in which customer loyalty is crucial to gaining a competitive edge and increasing profitability. Loyalty programs are valuable strategies for customer retention, especially in an environment of high competition and high acquisition costs. In this context, the general objective of this research was to analyze the loyalty programs used by the hotel sector in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. As far as the methodological procedures are concerned, this paper was characterized as descriptive, with a qualitative-quantitative approach, under a field study. Data was collected by applying a questionnaire to 10 hotels located on the beaches of Cabo Branco and Tambaú. The results indicated that, in many cases, there is a growing use of technology and marketing tools to improve customer relations and increase the attractiveness of loyalty programs, especially the use of CRM and e-mail marketing. However, there are significant challenges, such as high costs and a lack of technological integration, which prevent these programs from reaching their full potential. It was suggested that future studies analyze the impact of omnichannel strategies and the use of artificial intelligence in the management of loyalty programs. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Hospitality João Pessoa loyalty lodging establishments marketing Marketing strategies for building customer loyalty in hotels in João Pessoa-PB Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.2.e126114 2025-05-30 geostudies

University of Mining and Geology, Sofia, Bulgaria author Stavrev, Petar National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography — Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Trifonova, Petya https://orcid.org/https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9728-9984 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography — Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Metodiev, Metodi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2950-9105 2025-05-30 2025-05-30 2025 GeoStudies 3033-0238 2 35 49 2025 funder Ministry of Education and Science 10.13039/501100005992 10.3897/geostudies.2.e126114 https://geostudies.net/article/126114/ https://geostudies.net/article/126114/download/pdf/ Analysis and solution of the forward magnetic problem for models of disjunctive layered geological structures, such as faults and layer discontinuities, are developed in this paper.  Magnetic anomaly components Z, H, T, ΔT and Ta resulting from disjunctive geologic structures are similar to those caused by thin-layer magnetic sources of finite size. Structures of a discontinuous horizontal layer, an up-thrown fault, inclined, normal or reverse faulted, an over-thrusted structure and also a thick-layer fault of the relatively small throw are examined. The composition of different forward magnetic models of disjunctive structures and their calculations can be facilitated by the applied specific properties of thin layers with unlimited depth extent. A method of rotation is proposed to analyse the anomalous magnetic effects caused by discontinuous crustal structures. The results shown are useful in analysing field magnetic data, recognising sources, inverting anomalies and interpreting geophysical data. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Magnetic anomalies forward modelling 2-D structures equivalent compact source analytical expressions Magnetic effects of disjunctive thin layers in 2D forward models and their equivalent magnetic sources Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.2.e145909 2025-06-20 geostudies

Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil author Souza Queiroz Melo, Alessandra https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0742-5418 Amazonas State University, Manaus, Brazil author Martins, Cláudia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1830-2042 University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil author Pinheiro do Nascimento, Elimar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8514-2117 Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natall, Brazil author Ferreira Paes-Cesário, Marília https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8395-9070 2025-06-20 2025-06-20 2025 GeoStudies 3033-0238 2 51 65 2025 10.3897/geostudies.2.e145909 https://geostudies.net/article/145909/ https://geostudies.net/article/145909/download/pdf/ The objective of this study was to investigate how gastronomic tourism has been approached in academic productions both nationally and internationally. The research used a qualitative methodology, with emphasis on bibliographic research, carried out on the journal portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). The search was directed to the period from 1990 to 2022, in order to gather the theoretical support necessary to deepen the understanding of the theme. 25 articles that were most aligned with the object of study were selected. The results indicate that scientific research on gastronomic tourism is recent, covering a period of about three decades, with different approaches and perspectives. The presence of convergent and divergent points was found between the articles, addressing aspects such as cultural identity, symbolic values and socioeconomic development. However, the main focus of the research was the analysis of the materials and methods used in the selected academic productions, which allow us to understand the most recurrent methodological approaches in the investigation of gastronomic tourism. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Gastronomic tourism gastronomic experiences methodology comparative analysis Gastronomic tourism: a comparative analysis of the literature Review Article

10.3897/geostudies.2.e159500 2025-10-27 geostudies

Paraíba Federal University, João Pessoa, Brazil author Araújo, Brenda Paraíba Federal University, João Pessoa, Brazil author Brambilla, Adriana https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5603-4195 UNIFUTURO, João Pessoa, Brazil author Vanzella, Elidio https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6217-4722 Paraná Estadual University, Apucarana, Brazil author Nascimento, Felipe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4881-1385 Pernambuco Federal University, Recife, Brazil author Fernandes Carvalho de Melo, Priscila https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5296-933X 2025-10-27 2025-10-27 2025 GeoStudies 3033-0238 2 67 83 2025 10.3897/geostudies.2.e159500 https://geostudies.net/article/159500/ https://geostudies.net/article/159500/download/pdf/ The addressed theme focused on the importance of online reviews in contemporary hotel industry, emphasizing the crucial role customers play in sharing their opinions and experiences through review platforms. Therefore, the research aimed to contribute to the improvement of hotel services by highlighting the relevance of perceived quality in various aspects, such as location, comfort, cleanliness, cost-benefit, and Wi-Fi availability. In this context, the main objective of this article was to analyze the most present positive and negative factors in online reviews of hotels in the Cabo Branco district, Paraiba. Regarding the methodological approach, reviews of hotels listed on the Booking and TripAdvisor platforms were collected and analyzed, focusing on the Cabo Branco district, PB. The results revealed that location, cleanliness, and Wi-Fi quality emerged as the main positive aspects highlighted by customers, while cost-benefit and the amount paid for the service were pointed out as the main negative factors. For future research, it is recommended to conduct longitudinal studies to monitor the evolution of reviews over time, as well as a more in-depth investigation into the factors that influence customer satisfaction in the hotel industry. This includes aspects such as organizational culture, customer experience, and technological innovations. These approaches can provide valuable insights for the development of effective management strategies and the improvement of hotel service quality. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Lodging establishments booking.com quality tripadvisor Analysis of online reviews of hotels in the Cabo Branco District, Paraíba, Brazil Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.2.e180731 2025-12-22 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography — Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Ilieva, Nadezhda https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9553-2509 Institute of Philosophy and Sociology — Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Petkova, Kamelia 2025-12-22 2025-12-22 2025 GeoStudies 3033-0238 2 85 106 2025 10.3897/geostudies.2.e180731 https://geostudies.net/article/180731/ https://geostudies.net/article/180731/download/pdf/ This study examines the transformations in fertility among Roma living in urban settings in Bulgaria by combining demographic data, a large-scale quantitative survey, and in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that despite the traditionally high fertility rates and favourable age structure characteristic of the Roma population during the 1990s and the early 21st century, the last two decades have been marked by a distinct decline in both overall fertility and adolescent childbearing. Changes in reproductive behaviour are shown to result from a complex interplay of socio-economic conditions, migration processes, educational trajectories, shifting family roles, and religious influences. The data demonstrate a strong association between the number of children, educational attainment, employment status and income levels, with higher levels of education and economic stability correlating with planned parenthood and smaller family size. At the same time, the large-scale migration of young Roma abroad exerts a dual effect: on the one hand, it generates a demographic vacuum at the local level, and on the other, it transfers norms of postponed parenthood and limited fertility. The interviews highlight increasing female emancipation and the growing role of education as an internal regulator of reproductive decision-making. The article argues that fertility should not be conceptualised as an isolated demographic characteristic, but rather as a reflection of social inequalities and the dynamic processes of adaptation within Roma communities. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Fertility Roma communities reproductive behaviour migration education Bulgaria Fertility among Roma in Urban Settings in Bulgaria: Contemporary Trends, Determinants and Social Consequences Research Article

10.3897/geostudies.3.e176708 2026-03-16 geostudies

National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Raykova-Tsankova, Plamena https://orcid.org/https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7060-0296 National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Solakov, Dimcho National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria author Simeonova, Stela https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8528-8709 2026-03-16 2026-03-16 2026 GeoStudies 3033-0238 3 1 11 2026 10.3897/geostudies.3.e176708 https://geostudies.net/article/176708/ https://geostudies.net/article/176708/download/pdf/ Strong earthquake with moment magnitude MW7.5 hit the city of İzmit, Turkey with devastating effect in August 1999. The earthquake occurred in the North Anatolian Fault (NAF),and was followed by an intensive aftershock activity. It is assumed that the studied earthquake is a part of a seismic sequence that started in 1939 along the North Anatolian Fault.  Over a period of 60 years or more, a series of large earthquakes moved progressively from east to west by the fault. The analysis of the space-temporal pattern of seismic clusters (foreshocks and aftershocks) distribution of the 1999 Turkey earthquake, is presented in the research. The properties of aftershock sequence (distinct cluster in space and time) allow for a time-dependent prediction of aftershock probabilities. Aftershock activity can sometimes cause more destruction than the main earthquake, due to factors such as radiation pattern, location and the cumulative nature of building damage. If the distribution of aftershocks over time is considered as a non-stationary Poisson process, the maximum likelihood method is used to estimate the parameters of the modified formula of Omori - power-low decay. A transformation from the time scale t to a frequency-linearized time scale τ is applied to test the correspondence between different statistical models and the occurrence of an aftershock sequence. As a final step of the study, a criterion - Akaike’s information criterion is used to determine the best model for the temporal distribution of aftershocks.The results of the study show that the precursor aseismic gap before the August 1999 MW7.5, Turkey earthquake is not observed. The aftershock sequence shows a complex temporal pattern - one secondary aftershock sequence with a different value of p – parameter. text/html en_US NIGGG-BAS Foreshocks aftershocks temporal distribution 1999 Turkey MW7.5 earthquake North Anatolian Fault Temporal characteristics of the fore-aftershock sequences of the 1999 Mw7.5 Turkey earthquake Research Article