The particle size distribution of the quartz from Port Bouet beach in Abidjan is monitored according to the dynamic seasons and by tidal cycle. Some sediment samples were collected monthly at high and low tide during topographic survey, others in the tidal cycle, every two or three hours at the foot of submerged stakes implanted in the foreshore. These samples show the granulometric sorting that takes place from one dynamic season to another. The grains are notably coarser during the season of weak agitation than during that of the strong agitation. The analysis of the average size of the sediments according to the cross-shore direction reveals that no part of the foreshore has a priori the largest particle size. From one year to another, during the same dynamic season, the largest size of the average grain can be met sometimes at the lower foreshore or at the upper foreshore. In a tide cycle, the grain size is constantly changing as the waves pass. These variations are not in the direction of evolution of the tide. The rise of the tide does not cause an increase in the average grain size, and, conversely, the tide descent does not lead to a decrease in average grain diameter.
The metropolisation of cities is a global phenomenon, which particularly affects coastal and economically attractive cities (haliotropism). The bay of Algiers, the economic core of the Algerian capital, is affected by intensive urbanization; this uncontrolled artificialisation, which has often been spread out in an anarchic way (precarious or state collective housing) is often transgressive over existing laws and planning instruments and has caused a significant environmental degradation of the coastal area. Certain urban areas, built on watersheds or on the edges of Oueds, have already been subject to disasters in the past (the floods of Bab El Oued 2003, Oued Korich 2001). The aim of this work is to analyze the urban growth in the bay of Algiers using remote sensing techniques. First of all, this will make it possible to identify the spatiotemporal trajectory of the urbanization during the last three decades, the emphasis is then put on the legislation in force and its effectiveness for the control of this littoralisation, and, in the end, one is interested in the morphologies of this expansion, by observing the spatiotemporal typologies of the forms of urban growth on the whole of the wilaya.
The paper presents an asssessment of nematode community structure and diversity performed in May 2018 within two habitats of the Romanian circalittoral zone. The differences in nematodes distribution as a result of Danube’s influence are also highlighted. Tolerant species to organic enrichment dominated the population structure within the terrigenous mud habitat with Melinna palmata, while a gradual decreasing of their abundances with habitat changing to mixed sediments with Dipolydora quadrilobata and with depth increasing was recorded. In total, 28 taxa belonging to 16 families were identified, of which 16 on mud and 22 on mixed sediments, respectively. The nematode trophic structure dominated by tolerant deposit feeders (84%), similar to the Maturity index (ranged values 0.18 – 0.73), evinced an overall poor ecological quality status of both habitats, which represent over 70% of the two Natura 2000 protected areas located within the perimeter, the Delta Dunarii – Marine zone and The South Lobe of Phyllophora Field of Zernov.
The article proposes a forecasting scenario to be used for improving the quality of land of one of the most developed industrial-agrarian regions of the European Russia – the Tula region. The purpose of the work is land-use forecasting using the Bayesian networks analysis. The networks were built by considering the most significant indicators of both the ecological state and the negative impacts on lands and, in addition, the potential indicators of the improved lands. As a result of the analysis, characteristic high rates of factor loadings were established determining the need for land management. One of the land management measures proposed within the project employed soy cultivation on 5% of the farmlands surface and of pennycress on 5% of the rest of lands for improving the ecological state and decreasing the need for undertaking land management measures from 91% to 83.5%.
The presence of bird feeding traces associated with undertracks of a small mammalian, probably similar to the European mink (Mustela lutreola), indicates the existence, unknown so far, of terrestrial fauna in the middle Pontian (Portaferrian) deposits from the Dacian Basin. The pecking and probing marks were probably produced by Charadriiformes and Anseriformes representatives, whose ichnospecies are known in the upper Oligocene and lower Miocene from Romania. Although there are no traces of invertebrates, usually associated with the footprints of birds and mammals, we assume that the described feeding traces and undertracks belong to the Scoyenia ichnofacies that is a shoreline environment with humid clay substratum and intermittent subaerian exposure.
Along with the alarming technological advance in recent decades, the accuracy of topographic data acquisition has become an increasingly accessible task, benefiting from innovations like LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). The cost reduction of these technologies was significant, because airplanes and helicopter flights were no longer necessary and drones currently have a very high potential for accurate and high resolution photogrammetry. The aim of this paper is to present the steps of generating numerous photogrammetric products (including the Digital Elevation Model) of a surface of 460 hectares, located in the village of Sarata Monteoru, along with the significance and applications of these models.
An alluvial plain of about 25 km2 is situated on the upper segment of the Lapus River between Târgu Lapus town and Razoare, Borcut and Dumbraviţa villages. It covers a tectono-erosive basin, which was formed and evolved under tectonic forces, i.e. by the movement of blocks of the pre-Quaternary basement.Based on the results of previous morphological, geological and geophysical research and the recently performed sampling and analytical data, the character and the amplitude of these movements, as well as the environmental evolution of the site, from the beginning of Late Pleistocene until present days, can be determined. For this purpose, apart from previous borehole and mining data, the grain size distribution, the palynological content and the geochemical analysis of the sediments from shallow boreholes were processed. In this case, the heavy metal content of the samples originated from the hydrothermal ore bodies of Baiuţ area were used as “markers” in the sediment columns.
The Recent ostracod species Manawa staceyi Swanson, 1989, belonging to the superfamily Puncioidea, was originally considered a relict species related to the Palaeozoic Palaeocopa, ostracods, now extinct. During the last 30 years research on Manawa documented the basal position of the superfamily Puncioidea within the phylogenetic tree of the Subclass Podocopa. The Palaeocopa is possibly a heterogenous taxon containing both myodocopids and podocopids. Re-examination of the systematic position, phylogenetic affinities and evolution of the superfamily Puncioidea is presented using information from the comparative analysis of the body plans of Myodocopa and Podocopa, rationalised within morpho-functional modules: the carapace as a‘protective’ construct, the ambulatory complex, combined with feeding, reproductive and sensory systems. The significant traits of the different morpho-functional modules of the superfamily Puncioidea when compared to those of the ostracod Orders Podocopida and Platycopida suggest for the former group an independent phylogenetic position within the Subclass Podocopa, taxonomically treated as Order Punciocopida Schallreuter, 1968. Morphological traits such as the maxillulary endopodite and the 8th body limb of M. staceyi are considered deep genetic homologies existing within the Subclass Podocopa at the level of cellular regulatory systems. The widely gaping valves held in a ‘horizontal’ plane during the ambulatory activity and the collaborative structure and position of the 2nd antenna continued with respect to the 5th to 7th pair of limbs are considered solutions (adaptations) to psammobiotic life within the dynamic shallow marine habitats. Examination of the discrepancy between the low species diversity of Puncioidea and those of the species-rich nonmarine Cypridoidea may be as a result of the major differences in the way representatives of the two ostracod groups are able to actively perceive the surrounding environment as well as to their capacity to construct their niche, leading to successful speciation.
Since the resume in 2005 of the systematic geophysical and geo-ecological investigation of the Romanian offshore, over 13,400 km of gravity lines and over 48,000 km of magnetic lines have been acquired on the entire surface of the Romanian maritime space and over most of the Bulgarian one. Based on this data numerous maps of the gravity and magnetic anomalies, at scales ranging from regional to the highest detail, have been compiled. If prior to 1990, marine gravity and magnetic researches were exclusively used for the study of the Romanian continental shelf deep geological structure and for the assessment of its hydrocarbon potential, the latter researches has expanded the range of topics addressed: deciphering of also near surface structures, marine site characterization, geo-archaeology, environmental geophysics, detection of submerged objects, maritime space security. Mainly during the last years, an increasing involvement of marine magnetometry in projects dedicated to the study of the submarine cultural heritage and to enhancement of maritime space safety is noticed. The present results and findings due to marine magnetometry go far beyond all initial expectations.
The large wetland represented by the Danube Delta is characterized by various environmental conditions (terrestrial, swampy or aquatic), showing, among other characteristics, a rich and diversified vegetation. Its growth and distribution are controlled by the season and by the frequency of floods, and are influenced by erosion and accumulation processes. Topo-geodetic mapping of emerging aquatic vegetation is necessary for a better knowledge of its evolution and of the changes that occur in the aquatic ecosystems. Particular attention focused on the formation and movement of fixed and floating reed beds on lakes. By monitoring their dynamics, it would be possible to track the processes of obstruction or blocking channels and entrances in lakes, phenomena with negative consequences on navigation, fishing and tourism activities. Topo-geodetic assessment of the stability of the reed associations in the Danube Delta’s lacustrine complexes and ecosystems is important, because these environments are the main habitats for wildlife existing there. Topo-geodetic mapping has been aimed at delineating the aquatic vegetation fields which have been continuously expanding in the last period, leading to the suffocation of the aquatic life of the lake ecosystems, due to oxygen deficiency in the water. The water bodies under our survey are: Babina Lake, Ciortic (Dracului) Lake, and Corciuvate (Radacinoasele) Lake, located in the central-western part of Matiţa-Merhei aquatic complex. The study carried out on the evolution of the vegetation areas within the three lakes was performed for two distinct periods, namely 2006 and 2018. After the processing and interpretation of the available data, a significant decreasing trend of the free water surface was evidenced, associated with an increase of the vegetation covered areas. The most important free water surface reduction was observed in Ciortic (Dracului) Lake (37.07%), then Babina Lake (13.38%) and Corciuvate (Radacinoasele) Lake (5.23%).
Coastal abrasion is a phenomenon with large ecological implications at global level and with major impact on the farming production and farmers‘ income in many areas, such as in the peculiar case of the village Kaliwlingi, of Brebes Regency, west of the Central Java Province, Indonesia. In order to ensure long term sustainability of aquaculture production in the area, the present study proposed an integrated approach based on the analysis of significant ecological and economic factors important in the decision making process of selecting the best suitable sites to perform this activity. Three species were chosen to be cultivated in accordance with the concept of Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), which will bring benefits both toecosystem by maintaining its balance and to farmers’incomes as well. These species are: the milkfish (Chanos chanos), the seaweed (Gracilaria verucosa), and the green mussel (Perna viridis). By using Geographic Information System (GIS) and based on the results of the ecological analysis it has been shown that 2,759 ha of the study area could be deemed as suitable for sustainable cultivation, while 1,852 ha - less suitable. The Specific Growth Rate (SGR) (%.d-1) of C. chanos, P. viridis and G. verucosa in the Suitable area were 2.67 ± 0.1, 0.57±0.1.89, and 3.65 ± 0.21, respectively. To determine the potential production of the abraded area, the mass yield was calculated. The production (tons) in the suitable area yielded 755 tons of milkfish, 525 tons of green mussel and 952 tons of seaweed. In addition, the results of economic analysis showed a B/C ratio of 1.7 million IDR with Payback Period of 2.7 cycles and Break Even Point of 5,612,350 IDR. However, at less suitable area, due to the ecological limiting factors, the aquaculture production was lower, as well as the economic efficiency.
The aim of this study was to assess the existing benthic organisms of the Musura Bay and Sakhalin area, in order to evaluate the habitat status within these areas. Musura Bay and Sakhalin Area belong to the avandelta, part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR). The ecological evolution of the Musura Bay and Sakhalin Area was significantly distressed by the hydro morphological changes developed in the catchment and by the local environmental circumstances. The two investigated areas are exposed to both continental and marine impacts, been marked by rapid changes in local environmental conditions (i.e., salinity levels, water transparency, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, wind speed etc.). At present, salinity has become an extensive threat to the structure and ecological functioning of coastal wetlands. For instance, salinity long-term monitoring showed a variation from 12 ‰ (in 1942) to 0.2 ‰ (at present) for Musura Bay, whereas for Sakhalin area the salinity is 6.9 ‰ (at present). In order to evaluate the interactions of benthic organisms and their natural environment, several analyses were performed (i.e., water quality status and the nature of the bed sediments). Resultsrevealed that the surface water quality is generally included in good-moderate category, even if some inadvertences were encountered as a result of local environmental conditions. Based on the obtained results, the nature of the bed sediments from Musura Bay and Sakhalin area, can be included in the terrigenous (siliciclastic) rich-sediment type with values higher than 50% of the total weight of dry residue. The faunistic research highlighted the presence of 17 taxa belonging to 11 major invertebrate taxonomic groups for the Musura Bay and the presence of 46 taxa belonging to 20 groups in the Sakhalin Area. The average general density of the benthic populations in the Musura Bay was 8 times smaller than in the Sakhalin Area. This study indicated that most of the identified species seem to be extremely tolerant to temperature and salinity variations.
The promotion of the Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technology relies on the priorities of the European Commission that includes the Circular Economy as a major challenge (European Commission, 2018).To this end, under the EU Research and Innovation Programme (Horizon 2020), the Commission will demonstrate the opportunities for moving towards a circular economy at European level with large-scale innovation projects. Romania is part of this program, and is trying to implement CCU technologies in near future. While Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies are well known, studied and are starting to be implemented, the usage of captured CO2 is less taken into account at present. These technologies involve the participation of more entities in several industrial branches, and the result is often only capturing CO2 in a cycle, which eventually is reaching to the atmosphere but later and after being used in some technological processes.
During the past five years, a team of Agrogeological Division of the Hungarian Geological and Geophysical Institute has studied the nutrient elements potential of the East-Hungarian sandy soils. Among these elements, the natural potassium sources are insufficient, i.e. neither the soil forming sediments, nor the groundwater cannot satisfy the consumption of the plants. Therefore, the unique K-source seems to be the meteoric water. The authors consulting more than three hundred geochemical, ecological, meteorological, astrophysical and radiological articles, identified the origin of atmospheric K-bearing aerosolsThus, in this paper, the K-salts, as the main aerosol particles in ice and rain nucleation, with stratospheric origin were discussed, mainly based on references. In the stratosphere, the solid particles show a well expressed stratification: aerosols from desertic, volcanic and anthropogenic origin are concentrated mainly at 20 km altitude, the cosmogenic particles are observable at 50–60 km, while the measurements prove a relatively uniform distribution of K bearing particles, decreasing abruptly in the troposphere, under cloud formation level. K-bearing aerosols form micron sized, soft flakes built up by very thin acicular crystals. They represent ideal nuclei for ice split and rain drop formation. Therefore, we suppose, that the stratospheric potassium is formed by cosmic radiation induced Ar/K reaction, the reverse of K/Ar decay. The increased K+ content in rainwater (or snow) samples above of highly populated centers is explained by the same Ar/K reaction, which is induced by low energy electromagnetic waves (UHF smog) due to (experimented) their Tunnel effect.
This study aims to compare the water quality in distinct aquatic systems, situated in different representative areas of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania - a unique natural area of national and international importance. These areas are largely populated by a vast diversity of aquatic organisms, including rare species of plants, animals, aquatic birds and fish, many of them being endangered species. Any imbalances in these ecosystems, owing to natural and human-induced changes in the water quality may affect aquatic life. In this sense, water samples were collected from the surface layer of a freshwater environment (i.e., Babina, Radacinoasele and Ciorticuț lakes), as well as from mixed environments (i.e., Musura and Sahalin Bays) during August 2018. The following water quality indicators were considered: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrite-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, orthophosphates, chlorophyll a, total organic carbon, silica, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, sulphates, turbidity, total suspended solids, transparency and oxido-reduction potential. These parameters were analysed and discussed in relation to national and international environmental standards. Maps of spatial distribution of some quality parameters were obtained, showing variation as a result of local specific environmental circumstances, which change in time and space. These results suggest that the environmental indicators measured in drought conditions and low water levels showed generally good to moderate water quality status, in spite of many local triggers associated with natural and anthropogenic causes that can alter or impair the quality of the water. After this investigation performed during August 2018, it can be appreciated that the analysed water samples maintain appropriate levels that are suitable for the ecological status of the investigated aquatic systems, and, as expected, the aquatic habitats are ecologically balanced environments. The paper recommends the routine monitoring and periodical testing of the water quality to create and develop a database to reflect the natural variation and human related implications for water quality within these areas, and their short, medium and long-term evolution trends. The present work is important for water quality assessment to detect changes in water quality under human pressures and climate change and to protect and conserve these natural water resources. Abbreviations: Ammonium-Nitrogen (N-NH4+: mg/L), Before Present (BP years), Chlorophyll a (Chla: μg/L), Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR), Dissolved Oxygen Saturation (DO: %), Dissolved Oxygen Concentration (DO: mg/L), Electrical Conductivity (EC: μS/cm), European Union (EU), Global Positioning System (GPS), Hectares (ha), Nitrate-Nitrogen (N-NO3 -: mg/L), Nitrite-Nitrogen (N-NO2 -: mg/L), Orthophosphates (P-PO4 3-: mg/L), Oxido- Reduction Potential (ORP: mV), Silica (SiO2: mg/L), Sulphates (SO4 2--: mg/L), Temperature (t: oC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS: mg/L), Total Organic Carbon (TOC: mg/L), Total Suspended Solids (TSS: mg/L), Turbidity (NTU units), Water Depth (m), Water Framework Directive, (WFD), pH: (units), Water Transparency/Secchi Disc Depth (SDD: m), World Health Organization (WHO).
The occurrence of amber in the Upper Eocene deposits of the outer Moldavide Nappes is herein presented. The geological significance and various properties of the amber from the Duraș Site (Neamț County) are, for the first time, discussed. The primary amber occurrence is located in the glauconite-rich siliceous arenites, of the Lucacești Formation, latest Eocene, i.e., Priabonian, in age. The chemical properties and IR spectra of the amber from the Duraș are similar to those of the Almaschite amber variety, from the same region, but different from other amber varieties, such as Rumanite (Buzau region, South - Eastern Carpathians), Muntenite from the Southern Carpathians, and Schraufite (North - Eastern Carpathians, Bucovina).
The presence of Mammillichnis ichnogenus in the Gura Șoimului Formation, cropping out in the Pleșu Anticline axis, represents the first paleoichnological argument that confirms the Early Miocene age of this unit. This argument broadens the distribution areal from Vrancea half-window at south, to Bistrița half-window at north. The regional expansion of Arthrophycus (=Sabularia) paleoichnocenosis, which is often associated with Mammillichnis, indicates that the Gura Șoimului Formation has the same age with Vinețișu and Podu Morii units located on the external flysch of the Eastern Carpathians (i.e., Tarcau and Vrancea nappes). Based on the paleoichnological content, the Almașu Formation (=Almașu Sandstone) does not represent the stratigraphic equivalent of the Gura Șoimului Formation; the Almașu Sandstone ichnofauna is continental, while the Gura Șoimului Formation ichnofauna is marine.
In this paper we analyze the corrosion behavior of the MAG-M mechanized butt welding with metal-cored wire and rutile flux-cored wire at two welding positions PA and PC at in situ conditions of the Black Sea. The following materials were used in this experimental programme: base material (high strength steel sheet EH 36, dimensions 300 x 150 x 10 mm), filler material (metal cored wire (E70C6MH4) and rutile flux-cored wire (E71T1MH4) according to AWS A5.18, diameter 1.2 mm) and auxiliary materials (M21- Corgon 18 gas mixture and flat concave channel ceramic support). The samples were immersed in sea water harvested in the Black Sea and then subjected to corrosion tests by electrochemical methods.
The studied area in this paper, belongs to the lower sector of the Danube River and is comprised between Turcescu islet (km 345) and Cernavoda (km 297). This area is characterized by numerous branches, secondary branches and islets, indicating a state of hydro- morphological instability of the riverbed. The hydro-morphological changes that occurred over the time in the analysed sector, have significantly affected the morpho-hydrography of the secondary branches. The consequences of riverbed changes in the Bala branch-Danube bifurcation area were reflected by increasing the takeover capacity of water by Bala branch to the detriment of the Old Danube. As a result of this process, a deepening of the Bala branch occurs at low waters, endangering the optimal depths for navigation, the occurrence of critical points for navigation downstream, morphological changes of the islets and the main elements of the riverbed. Along the analysed range, the number of islets present in the Old Danube riverbed increased during the period 1908-2008; in the last part of the interval (2008-2016) the number remained unchanged. Also, it is observed an increase in the total length of the islets and also changes in their geometry and position.
Chlorophyll a (Chl a) and phaeopigments a (Phaeo a) spatial distribution in the Western Black Sea was studied in relation to environmental factors and mesozooplankton community. For that purpose, CTD parameters, nutrients, chlorophyll pigments, and mesozooplankton total density and biomass were measured at 33 stations, distributed along the Romanian shelf waters, in June 2016. The studied area was divided into 4 subareas (NIS – northern inner shelf, NOS – northern outer shelf, SIS – southern inner shelf, and SOS – southern outer shelf). The hydrological regime, characterized by large Danube’s flow and a coastal upwelling phenomenon observed both in the NIS and SIS, strongly influenced the spatial variability of Chl a and Phaeo a. Surface Chl a and Phaeo a showed the highest concentrations within NIS, followed by NOS, both subareas subjected to larger freshwater input from the Danube River. The vertical distribution of Chl a in the inner shelf waters generally showed a subsurface maximum layer within 6–24 m (the shallower and stronger ones within NIS). The outer shelf waters displayed two subsurface maxima; an upper one (within 7–20 m) and a deeper one, slightly higher than the upper one, observed both in NOS and SOS at 30–45 m depth. Phaeo a showed relatively similar vertical profiles to Chl a, with a subsurface maximum generally coinciding with subsurface chlorophyll maximum. The meroplankton showed positive correlations with the chlorophyll pigments, which suggest a strong link between pigments abundances and distribution and development and production of larvae in the coastal waters.
