Proiecte

The project aimed to bring added value through multidisciplinary, complex research regarding the knowledge of the patterns of interaction between natural and anthropogenic pressures, as well as their effects on the Black Sea ecosystem.

The project aims to carry out geological and geophysical studies on the flexure area and the upper part of the Continental slope of the North-West Black Sea. It studies the implications on the evolution of the marine basin, sediment transport phenomena, the stability of the continental slope, with a special look at the exploitation of marine resources in the deep-sea area.

The project will address several important questions related to the better management and adaptive governance of space and of exploitable or conservation-important biological resources, such as:

– What is the distribution of pelagic and benthic habitats according to the European Directives (such as MSFD, WFD) and the conservation and protection requirements?

– How can the requirements for conserving the integrity and functioning of habitats be integrated with those of sustainable economic development, in accordance with the principles of the bioeconomy and “Blue Growth”?

– What is the ecological status of habitats and their socio-economic potential?

– What is the future of biotechnology? Does the Black Sea have an unique or exploitable genetic potential?

– What is the impact of natural and anthropogenic pressures on the gene pool and phenotypes of benthic and pelagic organisms?

– What is the trend concerning the integrity, ecosystem functionality, and dynamics of these habitats?

The project aligns with the Water Framework Directive, the Habitats Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, contributing to improving knowledge regarding the distribution and role of benthic and pelagic habitats important for the development of specific sectors of the eco-sustainable maritime economy, as well as for spatial planning and the exploitation of biological or mineral resources.

The project involves geological, geochemical and sedimentological research of the coastal lakes in the south – Tashaul, Corbu, Siutghiol, Tabacariei, Agigea, Costinesti, Techirghiol, Tuzla, Tatlageac, Mangalia Swamp and Limanu Balta –, that are complex freshwater ecosystems in Romania that provide a wide spectrum of ecosystem services. Due to their high biological production and productivity, they are a huge reservoir of biodiversity, function as a natural biofilter and buffer zone, and are suppliers of natural goods.

The project aimed to substantiate specific studies in the representative sectors of the Romanian sector of the Danube – the areas exposed to flood risk, the areas exposed to increased erosion, areas with potential for implementing “green solutions (Nature Based Solutions)”, river – tributary river and, respectively, river – sea confluences, the area with islands, the area with a branched course, the area with meanders,  rectifications included, the area with arms ephemerally fed by the river, etc.

The project aimed at the scientific and technical substantiation needed to include two sites with natural CO₂ emissions from Banat and Harghita, with the status of natural laboratories, in the European network of research infrastructures in the field of carbon capture, transport and storage (ECCSEL – European Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage Laboratory Infrastructure), as well as the substantiation of the accession of GeoEcoMar to the ECCSEL consortium. The sites in Romania could have been made available to researchers across Europe for testing the new monitoring methods or for in-depth investigations of CO₂ migration mechanisms. These types of studies were important to prevent the potential risks associated with the geological storage of CO₂ and to increase the safety associated with the technology.

The project represented a nationwide premiere and is integrated into the ECCSEL enlargement strategy towards the Eastern Europe. The accession of GeoEcoMar to the ECCSEL consortium represented an opportunity for Romanian research in the field of geological storage of CO₂ and its recognition at European and international level.

The project aimed at documenting and creating a database of the geological and paleontological sites on the territory of Romania’s major geotectonic units by selecting the most representative sites for the assessment of the geo-diversity values ​​through geological audit.

The project aimed to conduct an interdisciplinary assessment of the environmental quality of deltaic ecosystems, focusing on surface water, sediments, and biota. It also included the evaluation of aquatic vegetation expansion and identifying erosion and sediment accumulation processes in key areas within the delta region. The primary objective was to assess the impact and associated risks resulting from natural dynamics and anthropogenic pressures, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding and more effective management of vulnerable wetland systems.

The project aimed at assessing the current state of the areas affected by the anthropogenic changes that occured in the Danube Delta and the coastal lakes, to conduct an integrated quality study of these ecosystems, that were under anthropogenic influences, as well as to formulate concrete proposals on the sustainable management of natural resources. It involved complex (qualitative and quantitative) studies and detailed multidisciplinary investigations on the Danube Delta branches, the inter-distributary areas and coastal lakes, and it was using modern research equipment and techniques such as multibeam bathymetry, currentometry using the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler – ADCP (necessary for measuring the morphology of the Danube riverbed and currents), the resulting data having a very high degree of precision.

In the field of geology, geophysics and geoecology, INCD GeoEcoMar is a research institution of reference that is  focused on the study of the aquatic environmental components (marine, deltaic and fluvial). The research activity includes the following main areas: geological and geophysical studies within the Danube macro-geosystem – Danube Delta – Black Sea, research in the field of natural resources, minerals, energy (conventional and unconventional) and biological, geochemistry, oceanography and marine ecology, complex studies in the Black Sea coast, geology-paleontology, protected natural areas, impact studies and environmental balance sheets, specialized services and consultancy. GeoEcoMar has adapted its own development strategy for the coming years in accordance with the requirements of the evolution of Romanian society, but also taking into account the context of the changes at European level. Thus, starting from the national development priorities of Romania, the development strategy of GeoEcoMar aims to: investigate the aquatic environments for deep geological and geophysical knowledge, highlight new marine resources (mineral, energy, biological), study the effects of global climate change and anthropogenic impact on the system and propose the necessary measures to protect the aquatic environments, in order to improve their quality, applications in the field of marine natural hazards and the correlation of marine environmental surveillance networks with the international ones, increasing competitiveness and developing the knowledge-based economy.

The project involved an interdisciplinary study of the evolution of recent paleogeographic changes produced in the coastal area and in the Danube Delta that was carryed out by investigating the structure and content of the Holocene sedimentary quverture, as well as by determining the geodynamic regime.

The project continued the geophysical research in the submersed areas adjacent to the archaeological sites located downstream of the Drobeta Fortress (Castravita, Turis, Sucidava, Zimnicea, etc.) and was based on the experience of previous studies conducted in the same area. The main objective was to make a very detailed geophysical investigation of submerged areas belonging to several archaeological sites on the Danube, upstream of Sulina (Sacidava, Altenum, Axiopolis, Dinogetia, Halmyris, Aegyssus, Enisala and Argamum), which, from the historically and archaeologically points of view, virtually covers all the epochs of the ancient period. Geophysical studies conducted in the submersed area have been useful for future on land archaeological excavations. In the case of sites along the Danube, the geophysical works (georadar, magnetometric and electrometric) have aimed to identifying the sources of anthropogenic pollution of the soil and the subsoil. In order to exclude 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 using PotentQ software, 3D and 2D models corresponding to the anomalies generated by existing pollutant factors in the archaeological sites. The proposed methods for geophysical research in the submersed area were the magnetometric, seismoacoustic (side sonar scan) and electrometric method, respectively. Geophysical studies took place in the fluvial and lacustrine areas adjacent to each archaeological site. The first works were topographic, with the help of which the networks for the acquisition of field data were transposed into the field, the activity being also attended by archaeologists. Data acquisition works started from the topographic support network of each site. Geophysical mapping started with bathymetric measurements, followed by magnetometric measurements, and ended with electrometric work. Prior to this, magnetic susceptibility studies were carried out on rock, brick, mortar samples, etc., necessary to calibrate the magnetometric method. After conducting these studies, diving into areas of interest could be done to mark in-situ, film and photograph any vestiges discovered.

The project aimed at identifying the areas with high methane emissions in the atmosphere from the surface water mass, in relation to the amount released from sediments, dispersed in the water column and emitted to the atmosphere in different areas of the Black Sea. The project also aimed  to identify risk factors arising from sudden and high-intensity emissions, having an important role in assessing the climate response to sudden emissions from shallow areas and gas-hydrate reservoirs.

The Masterplan “Protection and rehabilitation of the coastal zone”, developed in 2011, forsees the restoration of beaches along the southern Romanian Black Sea shore (from Cape Midia to Vama Veche) through artificial beach nourishment, to be completed by 2027. The Masterplan also envisioned developing tailored solutions for protecting the beaches within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, considering their special status as part of the Biosphere Reserve. In these areas, traditional coastal protection methods, such as concrete groynes or breakwaters, should be avoided as much as possible, favouring instead soft or green alternatives.

The project focused on improving the understanding of the dynamics and composition of beach sediments along the Romanian Black Sea shore, providing the scientific basis for any restoration measures to be undertaken in the coming decade.