61 L A N D F O R M E V O L U T I O N I N M O U N T A I N A R E A S STUDIA GEOMORPHOLOGICA CARPATHO-BALCANICA Vol. XLIV, 2010: 61–76 PL ISSSN 0081-6434 SZABOLCS ÁKOS FÁBIÁN 1 , ISTVÁN PÉTER KOVÁCS, BERTALAN RADVÁNSZKY, GÁBOR VARGA RECENT LANDSLIDE ACTIVITY IN THE TIHANY PENINSULA (BALATON HIGHLAND, HUNGARY) Abstract. Landslides have affected the shore of Tihany Peninsula since the Balaton was formed. Nu- merous movements have been recognized on the peninsula in historical time, but information is una- vailable about landslides around the Ciprián Spring. However, we identified two landslides next to the spring in the last decade. A footpath is continuously demolished and relocated in the vicinity of the spring. The Former Hungarian studies indicate a strong connection between the length of rainy period and mass movements, however in the studied area a continuous database of precipitation and exact date of mass movements is unavailable. Based on statistical analysis of precipitation of synoptic me- teorological measurement stations (Siófok and Keszthely) and incomplete datasets of Tihany we think that two rainy periods may have impacted landslides. Key words: mass movement, climate change, geomorphic hazards, springs, Hungary INTRODUCTION Among the hazardous natural processes, the mass movements represent an outstanding phenomenon in Hungary (P é c s i and J u h á s z 1974; S z a b ó 1996; Fá b i á n 2003; L ó c z y et al. 2007; S z a b ó et al. 2007). These can be interpret- ed as local hazards, since their appearance is rather punctiform; similarly, the mass movements on a larger scale can be interpreted only on detailed maps and map series (cf. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14/b in S z a b ó 1996). More than 80% of the registered mass movements belong to the landslide category (F o d o r and K l e b 1986; S z a b ó 1996). There are Hungarian geomorphologic regions and microregions, where — due to the coincidence of the motion-triggering natural and anthropogenic fac- tors — the mass movements occur more frequently. Such areas are for instance the zones of riverbank and lake-side high bluffs being investigated by K a rá c s- o n y i and S c h e u e r 1972; S c h e u e r 1979; F o d o r et al. (1981), S z a b ó (1996) and J u h á s z (1999, 2004), which have a minor territorial extension, though 14% of the registered movements takes place within their region.