Climate variability in the summer of 2020 in south-west Romania in the context of climate change

Globally, 2020 ended the warmest decade since the beginning of the measurements (WMO), and the warmest year was 2016, marked by a strong and intense El Ñino. In Oltenia the warmest year was 2019 with the average for the whole region of 12.4°C and the deviation from normal of 2.5°C, followed by 2020 with the general average of 12.2°C and the deviation from normal of 2.3°C. After the 2019- 2020 warm winter, which was the second Mediterranean winter in southern Romania, followed the normal thermal spring in which climatic anomalies were frequent. The summer of 2020 was warm and marked by great climate variability, given by the presence of a weak La Ñina climate process. Since June, the average temperature is normal and unstable, the climatic alternations and the progressive increase of the air temperature, determined that in August the weather will be the warmest during the summer and an intense heat wave occurred at the end of the month with the peak on 1.IX.2020.The paper analyses special climate variability in the summer of 2020, which is the continuation of an extensive series of works on climate variability and climate change in southwestern Romania (I. Marinică 2006, I. Marinică, Andreea Floriana, 2016, 2020). The paper is useful to all those interested in climate variability and climate change in this part of Romania.

The springs from the ”Făget” area of Cluj.

To the south of the city of Cluj, in the perimeter called “Făget”, there are numerous springs often frequented by locals. From a geological point of view, there is a great variety of rocks of different ages and characteristics. The waters cantoned in these geological structures appear on the surface along the valleys, on the slopes or even in the unevenness of the interfluves. Their existence was facilitated by vertical erosion processes and mass movements of the material. Through the inventory of the area, 28 sources were identified and located. They can be divided into several categories: with drain, wells, inactive, dried, captured. Spatial coordinates were determined for each source. Where possible, the flow rate, temperature and concentration of dissolved in water substances were measured. There is a large gap in flow variation, relatively constant temperatures and wide limits of TDS values. The expansion of the urban area involves potential risks of a quantitative and qualitative nature.

Land use in a Subcarpathian Depression – Sălătrucel commune, Vâlcea County

The use of the lands from Sălătrucel Commune located in the Jiblea – Berslăvești Depression, at the contact between the Southern Carpathians – Cozia Massif and the Vâlcea Subcarpathians, bears the characteristics of the physical-geographical particularities, especially those of the relief configuration with the specific lithological structure. The Jiblea – Berislăvești Depression was a favourable geographical area for early settlement, which also attracted important changes in the natural landscape reflected in the current structure of land use

Aspects regarding the trend of the average annual, seasonal and monthly drainage of river water from the Căliman Mountains in the period 1950-2010

The Căliman Mountains are the highest volcanic mountains in Romania, being positioned on the western side of the Eastern Carpathians, between their central strip (north and east), south – the Harghita Mountains, and west – the Transylvanian Depression. This positioning gives special features of the water drainage, with both spatial and temporal differentiations. This paper analyzed the trend of average drainage from rivers in the studied group for the period 1950-2010, both multi-annually and seasonally and in the extreme months; the months taken into account being those with the lowest flows (January), respectively the largest (May). To evaluate the mentioned parameters, we used the help of Excel MAKESENS (Mann-Kendall test for trend and Sen’s slope estimates), which identified the type of drainage trend (positive or negative), and using the Sen nonparametric method to estimate the slope of the trend. Based on the type of trend obtained, 9 trend classes were obtained, and with the help of the slope, the net change rate was obtained.

Characteristics of the floods in Pechea village, Galați county.

This study aims to develop risk analysis methodologies on floods, analyze floods produced on the Suhu River in Pechea village (Galați county), and factors that favor flooding. Flood analysis represents one of the main concerns of researchers in hydrology in the context of climate change. It is increasingly leaving its mark on the frequency of precipitation and, implicitly, on the production of floods. We presented the definitions of floods, and we presented the study area in the first part of the article. The monthly and seasonal frequency of floods were analyzed, and there were calculated specific parameters of a flood produced in the study area. Then, the factors that favor the occurrence of floods were analyzed. The results obtained will contribute to the complete information on floods in small basins in the plain area on the Romanian territory.

Seismicity in Yemen and the Gulf of Aden in a geological context.

The study presents geologic investigation of Yemen and the Gulf of Aden with a special focus on geophysical, seismic, tectonic and topographic mapping performed by the integrated approach of QGIS and GMT scripting. Cartographic visualization is crucial in geologic analysis, data processing and prognosis of mineral resource prospects. The region of Yemen and Gulf of Aden was formed as a result of Arabian and African plates movements and still tectonically active. Besides, the Gulf of Aden contains mineral resources of hydrocarbons which makes this region actual for investigation. The IRIS database on earthquakes was used for visualization of the magnitude of submarine earthquakes in the Gulf of Aden for the period of 2007-2020. The paper presents 6 new thematic maps for the region of Yemen and Gulf of Aden. The research presented an analysis of correlation between the geological, topographic and geophysical settings. Through combined approach of cartographic high-resolution data visualization and geologic analysis, this paper contributed to the regional geological studies of Yemen, Gulf of Aden and the Middle East.

Episode with strong downslope wind in the Southern and Curvature Carpathians in the period 5-6 february 2020

The phenomenon that occurred during the blizzard from February 5-6 in the mountains and especially on the southern slopes of the Southern Carpathians, is known in the literature as "strong downslope winds". This phenomenon occurred in a typical blizzard configuration, in which the differentiated advection of temperature led to the formation of a very stable air layer, with thermal inversion approximately between the levels of 850 and 700 hPa; and it also contributed in this layer to the change of wind direction to vertical. Thus, the existence in the same air layer of two factors favorable to the formation of a critical level, created the ideal conditions for generating strong downslope winds.

Episode with strong downslope wind in the Southern and Curvature Carpathians in the period 5-6 February 2020

The phenomenon that occurred during the blizzard from February 5-6 in the mountains and especially on the southern slopes of the Southern Carpathians, is known in the literature as "strong downslope winds". This phenomenon occurred in a typical blizzard configuration, in which the differentiated advection of temperature led to the formation of a very stable air layer, with thermal inversion approximately between the levels of 850 and 700 hPa; and it also contributed in this layer to the change of wind direction to vertical. Thus, the existence in the same air layer of two factors favorable to the formation of a critical level, created the ideal conditions for generating strong downslope winds.

Natural hazards of Izvorul Crișului.

" The presence of the Izvorul Crisului local territorial administrative unit (commune), in the western part of the Transylvanian Depression, not far from its border with the Apuseni Mountains, implies the existence of various natural hazardous processes. Their manifestation, in the presence of anthropic components and their activities and goods, determines their hazard attributes. Of the possible natural hazards (geological, geomorphological, atmospheric, hydrological, biological, etc.), only the geomorphological, hydrological, and meteorological ones will be addressed in this paper. The presence of these natural processes may cause material damage and victims, for this it is necessary to know their magnitude. Thus, the present study aims to identify the potential hazards which exist in the Izvorul Crisului administrative unit and to assess the susceptibility to these natural processes. To achieve this objective, specific maps will be made, which finally, beside the supporting role for the analysis of natural processes, will become tools for the management of these conditions, tools to reduce the induced risks."

The Ecosystems of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve state-of the-art

Taking into account the morphologic-hydrographic configuration of natural ecosystems or ecosystems partly modified by man the area, its flora and fauna communities and the long-term human impact, the two main categories of Danube Delta ecosystems associated with Razim-Sinoie lake complex, coastal marine waters and the Danube flood plain between Isaccea and Tulcea, as part of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, have been delimited: natural ecosystems or ecosystems partly modified by man; anthropic ecosystems. To identify and characterize ecosystems, there have been analysed the data on hydrography, morphology, biodiversity, human settlements, types of land use, spatial changes through the construction of agricultural, fisheries, forestry polders, modification of the network of channels and canals with consequences on the water circulation system inside the delta. The first category, of natural and partly modified by man ecosystems comprises 23 types (water bodies: running waters-Danube and its main branches, channels and canals; standing freshwater-lakes; standing brackish and salt waters-coastal lagoons, coastal, marine zones; wetlands: water fringe vegetation-flooded reed beds, floating reed beds , riparian willow formations, frequently flooded river levees; forests, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation: temperate riverine forests-mixed oak woods, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation, steppe meadows, meadows on low marine levees; dunes, beaches).The second category, of anthropic ecosystems includes 7 types (agricultural lands, forest areas-plantation on the river banks, fish farms, settlements-villages, towns). With the establishment of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in 1990, with the statutory provisions on the protection and conservation of biodiversity, the deltaic landscape, some of the previous pressures were reduced, but the pollution of the Danube waters less consolidated beaches (Sulina, Sfântu Gheorghe, Chituc) and related with touristic activities, on ecosystems as a whole. The tourism activities also must represent not only a positive and dynamic development factor but also a practical solution to keeping the environment unaltered. These aspects were mentioned in the characterization of the ecosystems presented in this article.