Proiecte

The project aims to multidisciplinary assess the quality of the natural environment in the representative areas of the Danube Delta and the Razim-Sinoie Lagoon Complex, areas that are under the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors. The objective of the project is to estimate the causes of the degradation, as well as to identify the impact on the environment and socio-economic development in the region.

The project aims to carry out research on the accumulation of biogenic methane and the methane hydrates formation from sediments in the exclusive economic area of Romania at the Black Sea, with a focus on the geo-climatic and ecological implications.

Study on the European Parliament’s INSPIRE Directive and how it can be harmonized with data from marine buoys.

The project aims to carry out multidisciplinary research on the anoxic intervals in the Carpathian-Ponto-Danubian area that are necessary to highlight the hydrocarbon potential.

The project aimed at a comprehensive investigation of the Romanian sector of the Danube in order to substantiate the specific studies in the sectors with navigation difficulties. Its main objective was to study the critical areas for navigation: delimitation, morpho-sedimentary characterization, hydrodynamic processes, water and sediment balance, modeling, turbidity.

The project aimed at mapping and assessing the state of benthic habitats, thus contributing to the development of appropriate management measures for the sustainable use of marine resources. Information on benthic habitats on the Romanian continental shelf of the Black Sea and the species inventory were updated, and an estimate of the density and biomass of benthic populations was made. Thus, the project contributed to a better understanding of the dynamics, biotic potential and productivity of each investigated habitat type. The results were included in the database for integrated environmental monitoring at national and international scale.

The project aimed at developing local action plans for geodiversity, based on the following steps: compiling a database with the geological and paleontological sites in Dobrogea and their hierarchy according to the international, national, regional or local importance; selecting the most important sites in each major geo-techtonic unit of Dobrogea territory, that will be studied in detail regarding the geodiversity values; developing local action plans on geodiversity, that will be discussed with the local action groups established during the project implementation; these groups will include representatives from the National Agency for Protected Natural Areas (ANANP), county agencies for environmental protection, county and local councils, schools, members of local communities.  Dissemination, awareness and promotion activities will take place at the same time.

The project aimed to interdisciplinary approach the study of the time interval corresponding to the Holocene, that is, of about the last 11,700 years, starting from the assumption that only by deciphering the past and studying the situation of the present is possible the prediction of future evolution. The main targets pursued within the project are: determining the current geodynamic regime of the coastal area and deltaic area, as well as the current variation of the average sea level; studying the structure and content of the Holocene sedimentary quvert, in order to highlight and decipher the paleogeographic changes produced in the recent past.

The project aimed at the very detailed geophysical investigation of the submerged areas belonging to several archaeological sites located on the Danube (Aegyssus, Capidava, Turris, Sucidava, Axiopolis, Castravita, Desa, etc.), and of one area located in the Danube Delta (Halmyris, Salsovia, Troemsis, etc.), covering practically all the epochs of the ancient period from a historical point of view. As typology and chronology, the sites included various archaeological monuments illustrating the stages of the historical and topographical evolution of the fortresses, most of them being ports on the Danube. Geophysical studies conducted in the submersed area were useful for the future archaeological excavations to be executed on land, providing a more defined picture of the continuity of ancient vestiges (walls, port structures) in submerged areas. In the case of the Danube Delta sites, but also for those located on the Danube, the geophysical works (magnetometric and electrometric) aimed to identify sources of anthropogenic pollution of the soil and the basement – contemporary structures built in the area of the sites,  eventual pipelines that can cross these settlements, and last but not least, possible pollution feathers existing in the area of sites in the immediate vicinity of some industrial polluters, which could degrade the buried ancient structures. In order to eliminate as many of the anomalies generated by anthropogenic polluting factors (buried constructions of recent age, pipelines, oil polluted areas, etc.), it was necessary to carry out research with the use of GMsysv software, 3D and 2D models corresponding to the anomalies generated by the pollutants existing in the archaeological sites. The proposed methods for geophysical research in the submersed area were magnetometric, seismoacoustic (side sonar scan) and electrometric, respectively. Geophysical studies were conducted in the fluvietil area and lake adjacent to each archaeological site.The first works were topographic, with the help of which the skeleton of the field data acquisition networks was transposed into the field, with archaeologists also participating in this operation. The data acquisition works started from the topographic support network of each site, and the geophical mapping started with bathymetric measurements, followed by magnetometer measurements and ending with electrometric works. Previously, magnetic susceptibility studies were conducted on rock, brick, mortar, etc., samples necessary to calibrate the magnetometric method. Subsequent to the conduct of these studies, diving in the areas of interest were carried out to mark the in-situ, film and photograph any vestiges discovered. GeoEcoMar has diving equipment, underwater photography and filming.

The project aimed to answer several important questions related to the efficient management and adaptive management of protected areas on the Romanian coast, such as: How much do we know about the vulnerability and resilience of MPA ecosystems? What are the natural and socio-economic pressures exerted on MPAs? How do the systems evolve? What are the benefits offered by MPAs in certain sectors of the “blue economy”.

In line with the global goals agreed under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) is rapidly increasing, but their socio-economic benefits remain difficult to predict and are still under debate. The challenge is to demonstrate to users of the “blue economy” that MPAs are essential tools for protecting, maintaining and enhancing marine ecosystems and to assure them that marine protected areas can provide optimal and sustainable ecosystem services to society. The project proposed pro-active conservation measures necessary to achieve the “favourable conservation status” of species and habitats and the “good ecological status” of the entire marine ecosystem. Obtaining new field data, in line with EU policy principles (DCA, DCSM, etc.), contributed to the development of an assessment of ecological pressures on MPAs and to the establishment of the status of ecosystem services.

Geological interpretation of geophysical information and development of risk maps for the continental shelf of the Black Sea, emphasising on the areas with surface gas accumulation and the areas with tectonic hazard.

The project aimed to achieve an integrated management of the Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea coastal area macro-geo-system by applying a geo-ecological monitoring program.

DELMAR project aimed to develop an interdisciplinary approach to benthic habitats on the Romanian Black Sea shelf and their evolution. The project emerged in the context of the transposition into the national legislation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), which complements the provisions of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC applied to coastal and transitional waters, a Directive that imposes a holistic approach to the marine environment, based on the adoption of adaptive management, which also covers the offshore area. At the time of the project, Romania had a habitat classification system derived from the implementation of the Habitats Directives 92/43/EEC and Birds Directives 79/409/EEC, through which Special Areas of Conservation were established, included in the Natura 2000 network. These are located mainly in the coastal area, while the offshore area, although characterized by the presence of biotopes representative of the bionomy of the Romanian shelf, is excluded from this classification scheme. The application of the EUNIS classification system within the specific framework of each region by Member States implies the integration of non-biological components (substrate, hydrogeological and hydrochemical conditions) and biological components (structure and condition of component communities) in the definition and delimitation of habitats in each region. These elements must, according to the DCSM, form the basis for the application of sustainable management, which capitalizes both the intrinsic value of biological diversity and the services provided by the habitat.

The project aimed to apply a complex investigation methodology to the Romanian sector of the Danube, in order to substantiate specific studies: river – tributary river and, respectively, river – sea confluences, the area with islands, the area with meanders and the area with a branched course, including rectifications, the area with arms ephemerally fed by the river, etc.;

The project aimed to outline a number of geological energy and CO2 storage solutions to stimulate the renewable energy production in Romania, coupled with the reduction of the energy exports and greenhouse gas emissions.

The project aimed to characterize and assess the current state of aquatic ecosystems in the Danube Delta and the Razim-Sinoie Lagoon Complex by carring out periodic monitoring and estimating the trend of evolution of the quality of the ecosystems thare are under the impact of the natural and anthropogenic factors, in order to evaluate and predict the hydro-sedimentary processes and environmental risks, especially in a more important (large economic) region.

The project aimed to carry out complex geological and geophysical investigations to highlight the reserves of mineral aggregates located on the Romanian Black Sea inner shell. These investigations were aimed at designing and implementing a technology for investigating the shelf area in order to map the accumulation of mineral aggregates and to create a map of the probable existence of the mineral aggregates accumulations on the Romanian shelf at the Black Sea.

The project aimed to carry out strategic studies of national interest, strategies and forecasts, accompanied by the drafting of specific materials (maps, profiles, columns, etc.), necessary for the sustainable development of Romania.

The project aimed to protect and capitalize on the national geological and archaeological heritage, under anthropogenic impact, by increasing knowledge, as well as proposing protective measures, promoting Earth Sciences and life, environmental education includeed. The main purpose of the project was pre-university education and geological literacy of the general public, offering also educational activities in the field of geology for students of specialized faculties. The project involved the elaboration of a structured educational program in the form of three packages: school education, internships for the students of the faculties with geological profile and ”scientific literacy” of the general public. The first phase of the project consisted in the elaboration of the program of activities for a period of two years, the realization of promotional materials, as well as the conclusion of partnership protocols with the institutions interested in the proposed activities in the project. The educational program included three projects, with several types of activities for each project, developed according to the target audience category: the project “Hour of geology” for pupils; an internship project for students; a project of popularization of geology for the general public (which included conferences for the general public, proposals of geological trips and organization of events type “School otherwise”, a “Week of geology”, “Day of open gates”, workshops for pupils and preschoolers). During the 2-3 phases of the three projects, the dissemination activities (by participating in national and international conferences and symposiums and publishing scientific papers) were also carried out. The popularization of the research results of the project included the development of an itinerant exhibition to promote the superior Cretaceous fossil fauna of the Hateg Basin (in the additional phase 4).

The project aimed to highlight the climatic and environmental changes that have occurred in the Carpathian-Pontic-Danubian area from 6 million years ago to the present time. The project aimed to respond to a series of problems related to the global warming.