Proiecte

National Projects

The project focuses on the spatial and temporal distribution of Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) in the Romanian Carpathians and their correlation with similar-aged successions containing OAEs in the Tethys Domain. To realize this project, representative successions covering the Baremian-Turonian interval in the Romanian Carpathians will be investigated. The main objective is to identify EAO1a (at the Barremian-Aptian boundary) and EAO2 (at the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary). The successions will also be investigated to identify the existence of oceanic anoxic sub-events, EAO1b, EAO1c and EAO1d, distributed in the Aptian-Albian interval. To realize this project, field investigations will be carried out in order to select representative successions and their lithologic/sedimentologic description. The successions will be thoroughly sampled and analyzed from the chemostratigraphic (d13C and d18O isotopes), micropalaeontologic, mineralogic point of view and in terms of paleomagnetism. These studies will highlight the spatial distribution of EOA in the Romanian Carpathians. In order to analyze the temporal distribution, cyclostratigraphic analyses will be carried out, allowing thus the highlight of the temporal distribution of the EOA in the Eastern and Southern Carpathians. The final objective of this project is to correlate the Oceanic Anoxic Events identified in the Romanian Carpathians with those in other regions of the Tethys Domain (in particular the Carpathian and Alpine areas).

PHASE 1 (04.01.2021 – 22.12.2021) – Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Middle Cretaceous Anoxic Oceanic Events in the Eastern Carpathians: carrying out a synthesis of the previous studies describing anoxic events in the Middle Cretaceous of the Eastern Carpathian Middle Cretaceous in order to select the working areas; identifying the representative sections of the Middle Cretaceous of the Eastern Carpathians, positioning and description of these sections; laboratory analysis of the geochemical, mineralogical, petrographical, sedimentological and micropalaeontological (calcareous nannofossils) samples collected from the Eastern Carpathians; interpretation of the obtained data and initiation of a database containing all the data obtained in the first year of this project for the studied sections in the Eastern Carpathians.

PHASE 2 (23.12.2021 – 28.12.2022) – Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Mid-Cretaceous Anoxic Oceanic Events in the Southern Carpathians:
analysis of published and in house papers on global anoxic events of the Middle Cretaceous of the Southern Carpathians to select the working areas; identification of the representative sections of the Middle Cretaceous of the Southern Carpathians, positioning and description of these sections; laboratory analysis of the samples collected from the Southern Carpathians; interpretation of the obtained data and completion of the database with all the data obtained in the second year of this project for the studied sections in the Southern Carpathians.

PHASE 3 (29.12.2022 – 28.12.2023) – Correlation of Global Anoxic Events in the Middle Cretaceous of Romania with other Tethysian areas:spatial and temporal analysis of the various global oceanic anoxic anoxic events and sub-events in the Romanian Carpathians identified in this project and comparisons with other Tethysian areas; results dissemination.

This project aims to investigate the geological formations corresponding to the Parathetys and Euxine mega-lakes (currently the Black Sea), through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates high-resolution biostratigraphy, organic geochemistry and geochemical proxies (strontium isotopes – Sr), combined with geochronology techniques (paleomagnetism and 40Ar/39Ar dating).

The overall objective of the DANUBIUS-RO project is to build, equip and operationalize the Romanian components of the DANUBIUS-RI pan-European distributed research infrastructure dedicated to river-sea systems for knowledge transfer to stakeholders. DANUBIUS-RI and its Romanian components, which will be built, equipped and operationalized through the DANUBIUS-RO project, address the entire international research community and will bring multiple benefits to Romanian research and to the socio-economic environment of our country. Thus, a national hub will be created for innovation and transfer of knowledge and advanced technologies in the priority area of research on the effects of global change on large river systems, with a focus on transition zones. The DANUBIUS-RO project will transfer research results to the economic environment by partnering with 10 SMEs to develop viable innovative economic solutions.

History and necessity of the project.  Why are the Danube and the Danube Delta important for research?

The supporting projects through which, during 2018 and 2023, the documentation to obtain the Completion Note (certifying the completion of the Jaspers – Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions evaluation and compliance with the European Investment Bank’s European funding requirements and recommendations for next steps) has been prepared are the following:

– Strategy and Actions to prepare the National Participation in the DANUBIUS-RI Project, acronym “DANS”, funded under the National Research Plan PN III – coordinated by INCDSB https://dans-suport.ro/;

– DANUBIUS – RI Preparation Support Project, acronym “DANS2”: funded under the Competitive Operational Program 2020-2023 – coordinated by INCDSB https://www.dans2.ro/;

This funding demonstrates the Romanian Government’s support to DANUBIUS-RI to fulfill its commitments.

The purpose of DANUBIUS-RO infrastructure – environmental protection, natural resources management, international collaborations

DANUBIUS-RO emphasizes the importance of science in society by linking advanced research with public education and the application of scientific results in industry. Through the initiatives dedicated to education and technology transfer, DANUBIUS-RO promotes a collaborative approach in which the public and industrial stakeholders become active partners in the protection and management of river-sea ecosystems. The concept of “citizen science” is central to this infrastructure, encouraging citizens to participate in data collection and analysis, giving them a direct and practical understanding of the environmental research. This involvement raises awareness and responsibility for ecosystems, and the practical application of scientific findings into industrial and social solutions demonstrates the significant impact of science on the sustainability and well-being of communities.

The DANUBIUS-RO project is supported under Priority 1 of the Smart Growth, Digitization and Financial Instruments Programme, Action 1.2. The project implementation period is 2024-2029.

The general objective of the project is to review the Management Plan and regulations of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, a protected natural area, Natura 2000 site, to increase the degree of protection and conservation of biodiversity. 

In 2022 and 2023, GeoEcoMar implemented the project “Assistance in Integrated River-Sea Systems Management”, aimed at supporting the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral – ESPOL (Republic of Ecuador). The project focused on knowledge transfer and training of Ecuadorian specialists in the sediment management and integrated management of the coasts of Ecuador and the Guayas Estuary – specific ecosystems under significant anthropogenic pressure, also suffering from severe coastal erosion. Bilateral working visits and research stages in Romania were organized for young ESPOL researchers. The collaboration has opened opportunities for joint participation in Horizon Europe projects and for Ecuador’s potential accession to the pan-European research infrastructure DANUBIUS-RI. The project was funded by the Romanian Agency for International Cooperation for Development (RoAid)

DANS2 project is a support project for the DANUBIUS-RO project and has as main objective the transmission of the final form of the application to the European Commission, which involves, besides the technical and financial documentation (European feasibility study, cost-benefit analysis, demand analysis), a series of specific studies. In addition and in order to comply with the limits imposed by the ESFRI statute (10 years from the entry on the roadmap), DANS2 project has foreseen the following actions to prepare for the launch of the implementation period of the Romanian pan-European infrastructure construction activities DANUBIUS-RI:

– Procurement of services for the writing of the service procurement documentation: execution of construction works, supervision of construction works, management and financial reporting, legal advice, technical consultancy for the writing of  documentation and assistance during the initiation and conduct of award procedures until the completion of the implementation of the DANUBIUS-RI project;

–  Acquisition of DDE design services, external design verification, software development for the management of research activity in the Hub’s laboratories;

– Benchmarking for research equipment and development of technical specifications;

– Updating the technical-financial planning – Study for the exterior design of the Hub location.

The project aims to prepare Romanian participation in the DANUBlUS-Rl project in optimal conditions and to expand the network of potential new users of the infrastructure by identifying, contacting, obtaining new letters of support, carefully following and taking into account their feedback in future developments.

The DANS2 project is a continuation of the DANS project, which was financed from the state budget, so it finances all the studies that are missing to complete the European application and obtain the funding for the major DANUBIUS-RO project: EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) Study for the Hub and Supersite; Carbon Footprint Assessment Study for the Hub and Supersite; Study on the safe use and disposal of laboratory chemicals for the Hub and Supersite; Appropriate Assessment Study for Natura 2000 sites for the Supersite; Study on basic elements for assessing the risks and vulnerabilities to climate change adaptation for the Supersite; Nzero energy efficiency – compliance with the European Commission Directive for the Hub and new research stations in the Supersite.

DANS2 is a project that is co-financed by the EUROPEAN UNION from the European Regional Development Fund through the Competitiveness Operational Program 2014-2020. The pan-European distributed infrastructure DANUBIUS-RI addresses Smart Specialization Domain 3: Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Subdomain 3.2 Environment and Climate Change.

 

Within this project, in addition to the implementation of consolidation mechanisms for the traditional research directions of INCD GeoEcoMar, provided for in the Institutional Development Strategy, it is envisaged the stimulation of the emergence of new directions and research topics, fields that respond to current challenges at a global level and to use the new technologies currently available for the researchers, thus:

  • the balanced development of the RDI staff with teams of INCD GeoEcoMar specialists, in the fields related to the institute’s main direction of research-development-innovation, the study of old and current marine-coastal-deltaic and fluvial systems;
  • the development of the specialization process in the narrow geological, ecological, biological, geochemical and geophysical subfields, in parallel with training in interdisciplinary fields (including innovation management, research marketing, intellectual property);
  • specializations for carrying out multidisciplinary analyzes of emerging pollutants in the Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea system (eg microplastics, substances with a harmful impact on organisms);
  • the development of innovation activity, by making inventions related to devices, equipment and methods, useful in various research directions of the institute, e.g.: seismoacoustics, magnetometry, gravimetry, mineralogy, paleontological studies, sedimentology, pollution in the coastal, deltaic and fluvial areas , geoarchaeology;
  • deepening the concept of “green” protection against floods and/or erosion;
  • the development of research in bioinformatics analysis, with applications in molecular biology and Environmental DNA (eDNA) for the purpose of investigating aquatic communities;
  • specializations in integrated investigations in the fields of geology, geophysics and biogeochemistry for the analysis of processes and phenomena that take place in the abyssal part of the Black Sea;
  • expansion of archaeogeophysics studies in the submarine field;
  • because in INCD GeoEcoMar a large amount of data is acquired through the specific activities, it is necessary to analyze large data flows; therefore, knowledge will be improved in the following areas:
    • methods of ordering and obtaining statistical information;
    • data quality assessment;
    • management of data gaps;
    • data grouping operations;
    • methods applicable to calendar date data.

The aim of the mobility project is to capitalize the expertise and experience of Dr. Cornel Olariu (researcher and Associate Professor in the Department ”Earth and Planetary Sciences” of the Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin) in the field of sedimentology and stratigraphy by his participation in meetings with researchers from the National Institute of Research Development for Marine Geology and GeoEcoMar, – GeoEcoMar as well as with students from the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of the University of Bucharest.

During his visit, Dr. Cornel Olariu will give a public lecture on the topic “Formation and evolution of submarine valleys on the continental slope: a key element in sediment transport to the basin floor”; he will be involved in the preparation of a project related to the transport and mixing of sediments from the Danube bed with sediments transported by coastal currents from the mouths of Ukrainian rivers: he will work with GeoEcoMar researchers on manuscripts with the topics: (a) the provenance of the Danube sediments and the main tributaries, (b) the transport of sediments in the Lower Danube area and in the marine influence area, and (c) the variation of the morphology of the Danube Delta front using historical bathymetric maps.

CO2-HyBrid is focusing on the demonstration of next level CCS technologies in major CO2-emitting industries. This will lead to a 20% more efficient CO2 Capture process compared to the state-of-the-art capture technologies. The main objective of CO2-HyBrid is the scale up and demonstration of a hybrid solution based on a membrane pre-concentration step and chemical absorption polishing step. Two membrane types, and two solvents will be used to produce two hybrid configurations to be tested in two test sites with different industrial gas properties (coal/natural gas fired power plant and Waste2Energy pilot installations). The CO2-HyBrid project aims to bring the membrane technologies and hybrid solution to TRL 6.

CO2-Hybrid will strongly contribute to the decarbonization of the energy system in a sustainable, resource efficient way, as membranes, in the first stage, have a very low footprint and their operation is sustainable as it has low energy consumption and no impurities in the main stream, in the second stage, chemical absorption process have a higher rate to capture CO2 with a lower thermal energy consumption for chemical solvent regeneration. Due to the separation of the impurities (dust, SO2, O2, etc.) in the membrane process, the degradation of the chemical solvents will be avoided.

 

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 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 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 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.

The project aims to develop and test novel practices for the identification and retrieval of subaquatic macro-plastics, primarily derived from discarded fishing gear, within the inner shelf of the western Black Sea. It seeks to recover derelict fishing gear for recycling, understanding transport and accumulation dynamics, and assessing microplastic pollution in living species and their habitats. Notably, the project addresses the significant impact of lost fishing equipment, or “ghost nets,” on marine biodiversity, highlighting risks to economically vital species and potential threats to human health through the food chain. Past studies reveal concerning levels of microplastic ingestion by Black Sea fauna, indicating urgent action. This project pioneers technologies and systems for identifying, recovering, and recycling macro-litter, focusing on ghost nets on the Romanian Black Sea shelf. Project objectives include confirming ghost net locations, recovering nets, evaluating fauna entanglement, and conducting microplastic studies. Advanced bathymetry tools facilitate precise mapping of litter, while custom recovery equipment ensures efficient retrieval. Fauna and sediment samples collected alongside ghost nets undergo thorough laboratory analysis to assess microplastic contamination. By addressing critical gaps in litter management and marine pollution research, this project aims to mitigate the impact of plastic waste on the Black Sea ecosystem and safeguard human health.

  • Preparing the participation of Romania, as coordinator, in the development of the DANUBIUS-RI distributed pan-European infrastructure through the implementation of the Major Project of Structural Funds for the Romanian component of DANUBIUS-RI (Hub, Data Center and the Danube Delta Supersite).
  • The development of the Romanian component of DANUBIUS-RI has the following effects: the in-depth study of the processes that influence the evolution of ecosystems in wetlands – river, delta/lagoon, coastal areas and the sea under the influence of rivers; the development of a knowledge-based economy that will support sustainable economic growth in the Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea system, while protecting the biodiversity and the characteristic natural ecosystems; master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral programs in collaboration with universities across Europe; conferences, specialized training courses, workshops, summer schools, etc.; e-learning and ecological educational programs for the local communities;

Recent research on climate conditions in the Cretaceous entered an exciting, multidisciplinary phase, in which geological, sedimentological, geochemical, mineralogical and paleontological approaches were integrated, and a better view of the climate change evolution during the warming intervals was achieved. The project’s theme thus became part of the current research on global warming. The extreme heat of certain Cretaceous intervals represented one of the best examples of “greenhouse” climate conditions in the geological record. The results of multidisciplinary studies (sedimentological, paleontological and geochemical) in the project provided answers to many of the questions in the field and were also related to the current concerns.  Due to the complete geological evidence from the Cretaceous stage and their paleontological wealth, the Carpathians in Romania perfectly served as „natural laboratory” for this topic.

The project’s general objective is to enhance the participation of Romanian consortia and organizations in the activities of the pan-European infrastructure DANUBIUS-RI, focusing on integrated studies related to the sustainable use of bioresources in the Danube–Danube Delta–Black Sea system.

By implementing the planned activities, the project will primarily contribute to consolidating Romania’s role within DANUBIUS-RI, while also fostering the development of scientific potential in a region that is unique in Europe and of significant interest to the European scientific community—the Danube Delta, a natural laboratory of European importance.

 

Observations on board the vessel and in particular measurements in the water column remain core activities in oceanography. In accordance with the Framework Directive on the Marine Environment Strategy, each sea/ocean-opening Community state, including Romania, implements programmes to monitor the physicochemical parameters in the water column thus providing data to support the international hydrographic community.

However, the degree of participation and involvement of the Romanian marine scientific community within the international hydrographic network is relatively limited. Thus, the Euro GO-SHIP project proposes a program aimed at providing services and opportunities such as:

  1. Training in good laboratory practices, access of Romanian researchers to the infrastructures of research organizations/institutes in Europe (European Infrastructure Sharing);
  2. Improving the quality of the provided river data by developing and testing a new method of conservation and analysis of seawater for nutrient determination;
  3. Secondary control of data quality with a view to strengthening the ability to estimate the uncertainty of observations.

The EROVMUS project aims to create an established interface for ROV (remotely operated vehicle) pilots, enabling them to easily and efficiently launch the ROV services in missions related to the identification/location of unexploded underwater munitions stranded on the seabed. These include both a multi-operational platform equipped with a series of sensors and software creating solutions. The activities envisaged are related to navigation improvement, the introduction of autonomous identification routines, as well as high-performance image acquisition technologies. The data obtained from multiple sensors will be overlaid to produce an equivalent of the standard primary Heads UP (HUD) display for the pilot, thus reducing the number of displays that is necessary for efficient operation. Furthermore, solutions for implementing virtual reality (VR) technology will be analysed, allowing the use of virtual displays and the combination of images from multiple cameras to create a single large virtual display to improve ammunition identification. The project will develop, test and optimize a range of tools and assess their interoperability with several existing ROV models and brands. This will create a potential product range that could be implemented by other ROV equipment manufacturers.

The project outcome has the potential to both improve the current technical state of the equipment and to create new jobs, thus improving the European competitiveness in the underwater technology sector.

Accelerating CCS to achieve significant CO₂ reductions by 2030 requires close integration of technical, economic, social, and environmental disciplines to support decision-making related to permitting, ensuring safe containment, and maintaining compliance during the execution phase of CCS projects. The RamonCO Project aims to further develop and fully apply the modeling/inversion framework developed in DigiMon and to assess societal challenges and requirements, as well as costs, in order to develop risk governance strategies for industry and regulators, incorporating them into decision-support tools.

The project will develop and demonstrate methodologies and tools for compliance assessment and risk-based monitoring on an industrial scale, including the analysis of operational data from sites equipped with relevant monitoring technologies. At the start of the project, we will initially test the inversion framework using synthetic data and then explore the possibility of obtaining suitable real-field data for testing the methodology with industry partners. Furthermore, we will model CO₂ storage sites that are in the planning phase, such as depleted gas fields in the Netherlands. We will also investigate how different perspectives on CO₂ storage across European countries influence risk assessment (for EU CO₂ storage hubs) and how these insights can be used to make informed decisions regarding the monitoring systems.

Hydrocarbon and wastewater contamination of land and groundwater in the vicinity of refineries, fuel depots, oil fields and even pipelines is one of the biggest environmental protection problems. The localization and determination of the spatio-temporal distribution of contamination is currently based exclusively on the use of direct biochemical analysis methods of soil samples and water taken from the surface or from boreholes. The information thus obtained is punctual and, for this reason, cannot provide an overall picture of the contamination of the land and, in particular, of the groundwater. The integration of punctual information into a three-dimensional spatio-temporal image of areas contaminated with hydrocarbons and wastewater becomes possible through the appropriate use of geophysical and hydrogeophysical methods. The main purpose of the project is to carry out a geophysical research program for the spatio-temporal monitoring of contamination with hydrocarbons and/or wastewater, resulting from the refining, storage and transport activities of petroleum products in the vicinity of the Petromidia refinery, and in the Port Constanta – Oil Terminal area, respectively. The implementation of this program requires the simultaneous performance of highly detailed hydrogeological and geophysical investigations at different time periods (time-lapse investigations), both in areas with high potential for contamination with oil and wastewater, as well as in the uncontaminated areas. The program will allow the implementation of a specific geophysical investigation strategy in accordance with the nature of the pollutants, the nature of the pollution source and the local hydrogeological conditions. It will also be used in the observation, prevention and spatio-temporal assessment of pollutant plumes in the area of refineries and oil depots.

The proposal “Organization of the INCD GeoEcoMar database for the operationalization of the Fair Data concept” aims to organize the scientific data collected within the research activities of INCD GEOECOMAR according to the FAIR Data concept, promoted at European level through the recommendation of the European Commission and at national level through the “Law on Open Data and Reuse of Public Sector Information”. Historical scientific data will be migrated from the current database to a database attached to a web portal accessible from both the intranet and the internet. An analysis of existing standards in the field will be made and the portal’s data and metadata catalog will be developed according to FAIR principles. The functionalities of the portal will be improved through extensions that best meet the needs of users, while respecting the defined standards at the same time. A final test of the catalog and the possibilities of data harvesting from a reference portal to the portal developed within the project, as well as from it to the reference portal, will be carried out. The final result is the consolidated database with INCD GEOECOMAR historical scientific data, which can be accessed by interested users and offer possibilities for automatic data retrieval by other data portals that respect the FAIR principles.

The aim of this project is to increase the responsibility for the protection of natural and cultural heritage by directly involving the general public in scientific observations. The project will monitor natural reserves and assess geosites and archaeological sites in Romania included in sustainable development territories – geoparks and characterize the state of geoconservation and the anthropogenic and natural threats to them using a Citizen Science platform. The general objective of the project is the holistic approach to the natural and cultural heritage in UNESCO International Geoparks and UNESCO Aspiring Geoparks in Romania with the direct involvement of citizens in geoconservation. The project aims to develop the tools and products for assessing the pressures and threats to natural and cultural heritage in Geoparks, enriching the knowledge base on the link between the abiotic/biotic environment and human habits and activities, based on an updated inventory of cultural heritage, developing means of monitoring the relationships between the natural environment and cultural heritage elements specific to the territory, as well as the threats. It also aims to create the tools and strategies dedicated to communication, heritage education, awareness of the importance of natural and cultural heritage and a socio-economic environment friendly to natural and cultural values, as well as the development of a strategy for aspiring geoparks, based on the balance between nature management, environmental protection and economic development of the Romanian and foreign UNESCO geoparks.

The abiotic (the water and sediment fluxes, the physico-chemical properties of water and sediment) and biotic ( the biodiversity, structure and functionality of food webs) characteristics of deltaic systems depend on the level of hydrological connectivity with the main river channel. The Danube Delta bears the imprint of the evolution of climatic and anthropogenic conditions that in recent centuries have intensely transformed the natural conditions of the Danube river basin. These changes (morphological, hydrological, sedimentological, ecological, etc.) at the scale of the receiving basin have been amplified by the recent anthropogenic developments (in the last 200 years) within the delta; these have affected the hydrological connectivity, producing local readjustments of the riverbed morphology and, implicitly, interruptions in the trophic chain caused by the decrease in the liquid and solid transport capacity on the anthropogenically rectified meanders and, also implicitly, towards the interdistributary depressions.Therefore, the need to monitor hydrological connectivity descriptors, which mainly include the frequency, duration, time and rate of exchange of different water bodies and sediments, must be taken into account in order to avoid ecological and economic disaster. In this regard, the development of an Intelligent Hydrological Connectivity Monitoring System dedicated to the anthropized ecosystems in the Danube Delta becomes necessary, because it would help prevent and manage correctly, quickly and efficiently the emergency situations that may occur following the degradation or even the interruption of hydrological connectivity. This Intelligent Monitoring System will significantly reduce the costs related to the field campaigns for measurements. An integrated method for monitoring the hydrological connectivity of the Danube Delta will be developed, allowing the real-time detection of both the interruptions in water and the sediment flows and, thus, the blockages in the food chain, as well as the possible pollution. The installation of this system in vulnerable locations will help the local and national administrations, the environmental authorities and other stakeholders to make timely decisions, in order to restore the hydrological connectivity so that both the ecological disasters (interruptions in the functionality of the food chain, pollution) and the economic difficulties (navigation difficulties or even interruptions in river circulation caused by reduced water flows or siltation of riverbeds) can be avoided.

The climate and land use changes have a major impact on the hydrological system, and the population growth and infrastructure development generate even greater dependence on the hydrological system. Pressure on the water resources can eventually lead to periods of scarcity, jeopardizing people’s access to water, energy and food, hindering the economic development, causing social and geopolitical tensions, and irreversible damage to the environment. To manage the water resources more effectively, a paradigm shift is needed, from a sectoral to a holistic approach, in order to optimize water use without any negative effect on other sectors.The current project aims to develop the solutions for optimizing the resource in the Danube River area, to satisfy both the economic-societal needs and the ecological functions of the river ecosystem. To achieve this goal, the project aims to deliver a series of results such as – the development and testing of new methodologies for the hydromorphological and water quality assessment of the Danube, the adaptation and development of nature-based solutions for flood risk reduction, improved navigation, as well as water quality and ecosystem status; the quantification of water resource use in the lower Danube; and the development of recommendations to improve water resource management and increase the ecosystem resilience.

The project will contribute to the formation of a demand-driven economy, which is estimated according to the information related to the production and consumption of healthy and sustainable food and which will provide an extensive platform for the development of products that help increase the transparency and addresses the key challenges identified within the Blue Economy. Together with the interested companies, it will provide fertile ground for ideas and solutions for startups to thrive within the new strategy. The project will provide important information on the structure, functions and dynamics of the marine ecosystem in the Romanian area of the Black Sea to identify and map the pelagic and benthic habitats with economic potential, establish their health status and carrying capacity, carry out the assessment of non-fish resource stocks and identify areas allocated for mariculture.

The project will provide scientific support in the development of start-ups in the Romanian Black Sea region, contributing with updated information on the status of non-fish resources and available stocks, and will develop/improve/test the technological methods for the processing of the valuable ingredients, such as collagen from marine gelatinous zooplankton, which is taken from the shore and introduced as secondary raw material or from accidental catch during pelagic fishing; calcium carbonate from waste generated in the processing of molluscs and vegetable charcoal from macrophyte algae aggregations on the Romanian Black Sea beaches. The developed processing methods will be compared with traditional methods to obtain optimized processing lines for the ecological and sustainable use of resources. The initiative involves new products and processes that make it possible to capitalize on national marine resources, promoting sustainability, decarbonization and circularity of the economy. The project is ambitious, but also realistic, based on current knowledge and the expertise of key and non-key members.

The main objective of the project is to improve the current monitoring program of the Romanian continental shelf by introducing and developing new monitoring methodologies, in order to increase the capacity to assess and predict the impact of natural and anthropogenic multi-stressors on ecosystem services and, implicitly, on the well-being of coastal communities. The project will include 11 phases, 3 phases each in the first three years, when the services of Climate Regulation, Seawater Chemical Conditions and Physical, Chemical and Biological Conditions of Habitats will be addressed, in order, and 2 phases in the last year of implementation. For each of these services, the associated pressures and risks, as well as indicators for assessing ecosystem services, will be identified in advance. These indicators will be tested during the annual oceanographic expeditions and then analyzed and mapped. Finally (phase 10), a model will be developed to assess and predict the cumulative impact of natural and anthropogenic stressors on the Regulation and Maintenance ecosystem service. In addition to this model, the project will also bring other novelties to the monitoring program by proposing a new method for sampling pollutants, especially of the emerging ones. A series of passive contaminant sampling equipment will be designed and built and the results obtained will be used both for the elaboration and publication of a Register of Emerging Contaminants, as well as for the development of a method for estimating the risk of the presence of emerging contaminants on ecosystem components. In the last phase of the project, the new monitoring methodologies will be tested and demonstrated.

The research project, which has immediate applicability, highlights a significant topic in the study and assessment of the quality of the deltaic natural aquatic ecosystem components. Generally, the project’s relevance derives from fundamental principles and concepts related to preserving and conserving natural ecosystems, particularly due to unique ecosystems such as those of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. To prevent the degradation of the Danube Delta’s natural environment – a valuable eco-region, internationally recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, Biosphere Reserve and Wetland of International Importance – it is important to promote sustainable measures aimed at protecting fauna and flora, reducing water pollution, combating fish poaching, promoting sustainable fishing practices, supporting nature-based tourism, and developing strategies for mitigating and adapting to unavoidable climate change. The integrative and systematic approach shapes the foundation for achieving the project’s objectives. A rigorous assessment of the current changes occurring in the unique ecosystems of the Danube Delta will be conducted using a multidisciplinary scientific and technical approach, deriving from various domains and fields. The research project database will be augmented with relevant information on real scientific and socio-economic interests that can be used to develop sustainable environmental and socio-economic restoration programs for the Danube Delta region. Several tools and methods will be used for interdisciplinary integration, including hydrological, sedimentological, biological, and geophysical surveys, including applications of geomorphological field mapping and topo-bathymetric measurements. The project outcomes will contribute to sustainable development and conservation strategies for the deltaic area, which is vulnerable to both natural (e.g., climate warming, floods, droughts) and anthropogenic (e.g., pollution, agriculture, uncontrolled conventional tourism) impacts.

Although in recent years, due to the growing awareness of the effects of climate change, the annual production of plastic objects has decreased, the amount of microplastics in nature is constantly increasing. This fact is caused by the high amounts of waste already in the natural terrestrial or aquatic environment, as well as by the numerous deposits stored not according to standards, that, by disaggregation and under the influence of the natural factors, are generating micro and nano-plastic particles. The plastic polymers texture itself allows the storage of other toxic pollutants (heavy metals, POPs, PAHs, etc.), the longer these objects remain in nature their concentrations increasing all the more.

The ingestion of microplastics by aquatic and terrestrial species has been indicated as one of the factors that modify the pathology of various organs, changes in the degree of the lipids absorption or the dysfunction of the reproductive system being reported, for example. Although the medical trials on the impact of microplastics on living beings, especially mammals, are at a preliminary stage, there are clear signals that the other types of pollutants stored in the polymer texture are harmful as well.

Given the fact that, in recent years, the presence of microplastics in high quantities in all types of samples – water, sediment and fauna, has been demonstrated, it is considered necessary to have a monitoring project on the variation of macro and microplastic concentrations in the key areas, as well as the monitoring of economically important aquatic species. The project’s first component aims to monitor plastic objects and particles pollution from the key areas of the Romanian coastal and shelf area, the tourism areas, the commercial ports, the marine fish farming, the protected areas within the coastal area of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the area of the bay, as well as other locations where worrying concentrations of waste have been and will be identified.

The second component of the project represents the development and technology of the different methods to identify or collect plastics, depending on their size, from various natural environments. The need to eliminate plastic objects from the aquatic environment is all the more important as these objects have the ability to absorb pollution, and by being ingested by the aquatic life, the pollution is then transferred into the food chain. Among the examples of technologies that will be proposed and developed within this project are devices to collect macro and microplastics from dry beach sediments and CHIRP type sonar to identify the artificial objects accumulated at the substrate level.

Recently CCS value chain started considering ships for direct injection, not only transport. The CTS project will evaluate the global potential of this technology for facilitating permanent CO2 storage using case studies from offshore on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, Baltics, Black Sea and Atlantic coast of Portugal. CTS will study the impact of direct injection from ship on the definition of capture clusters and storage facilities by developing CCS scenarios in four different offshore regions in Europe. The efficiency of the scenarios from the perspective of cost and abated CO2 emissions compared to existing plans and scenarios will be evaluated. One of the project goals is to advance direct ship injection technology further together with NEMO Maritime – the industrial partner developing one of such solutions. Direct ship injection is a flexible and low cost solution that can help accelerate CO2 storage and contribute to reducing emissions already by 2030. CTS aims at improving cost and efficiency along the value chain; developing new markets by better addressing the need of smaller emitters; increasing LCA and TEA knowledge for the value chains in selected areas. By utilizing offshore storage and building trustful communication with stakeholders in selected geographical locations, CTS also aims to contribute to strengthening the acceptance of CCUS technologies.

The main impact of the project is to provide a technology that will allow to decrease costs, reduce conflicts with other marine activities and increase flexibility for early start of CO2 injection in offshore regions, therefore addressing some of the major issues that can hinder the deployment of CCS in Europe on a scale able to deliver required mitigations before 2030.

The project aims to engage new stakeholders in four offshore regions through versatility, flexibility and cost efficiency of direct CO2 injection from ship for permanent storage. The key outcome is design of a full CCUS value chain including direct injection from ship, with engagement of the stakeholders along it. Creation of a full value chain design will promote stakeholder engagement and create a platform for evaluation of the business cases by individual stakeholders by giving them a realistic scenario to adhere to.

The outcomes should help to increase roll-out of the CCS value chains not only through technological advantages of direct ship injection, but also by reducing the threshold for smaller emitters and unlocking offshore storage potential in sites becoming commercial due to lower capex and opex of direct ship injection. Generally, CTS contribution is to map potential emitters, prepare conceptual design of the value chain with a focus on ship design, wells, and storage site.

The project “Applied research in recent deltaic sedimentary structures to highlight/parametrize the accumulations of marine mineral/energy resources” aims to implement the latest technologies of in situ and laboratory investigation, as well as to process the obtained information for the investigation of the marine sediments, in order to develop and diversify the blue economy in Romania.

Until now, no such applied marine research had ever been conducted in Romania. In the European context of stimulating the development of blue economies (in close connection with the marine domain), it is desirable that Romania promote this type of applied research. Applied research through very high-resolution seismo-acoustic methods and geochemical methods is considered, aiming to identify and characterize the deltaic submarine sedimentary bodies, the areas where both mineral and non-conventional energy resources can accumulate. Compared to the classical seismic methods used (in industrial hydrocarbon prospecting), the vertical resolution envisaged is between 0.4 and 3m, compared to 10-15m in the case of classical methods. Considering the high-resolution capacity of the methods that will be used, we appreciate that recent sedimentary structures, of shallow depth and thickness, capable of hosting accumulations of mineral substances (heavy minerals-placers and/or unconventional biogenic methane) will be discovered.

The project meets the current trend of developing blue economy technologies, in accordance with European Union directives regarding prioritizing  the implementation of green energy production systems. The EU directives target reducing the overall dependence on conventional energies having a negative impact on ecosystem. In this respect, Black Sea Romanian coast presents a definite potential for both marine and wind dynamics, therefore pointing to major near future investments and development. Currently, there are no specific studies concerning the evaluation of favorable locations and availability for wind/wave farming, hence the novelty of the proposed project.

INEVO pursues to determine the areas of optimal potential as future locations for energy conversion systems from renewable energy sources.  Based on geological, morphological, geophysical, oceanographic and climatic data, the project will deepen the already existing geological and morphological studies by collecting and including new data to validate the potential areas of interest. Planning and conducting new acquisitions of geophysical, geological, oceanographic and meteorological data will include the development of an innovative and integrative methodology with significant efficiency of operational costs, benefiting from the optimal use of the EMSO-EUXINUS infrastructure. The integrated data interpretations provided by the project, including geological and morphological thematic maps, as well as oceanographic models for the target areas, will constitute turnkey solutions for future investors.

The project aims to assess the impact of stressors upon the marine ecosystem, and especially the cumulative effect of climate warming and contaminants on the ecosystem services, such as regulation, support and production of Black Sea habitats under the Danube influence. Keeping in mind the risks posed by the pollutants input into the Black Sea and the global warming, the current proposal will contribute at understanding how these risks may affect the Black Sea ecosystem services in the future.

The project aims to respond to modern challenges regarding the loss of biodiversity and habitats, by approaching molecular investigation of the Black Sea environment and its species. Sustain efforts towards harmonization of molecular techniques are made globally in order to halt the loss of biodiversity in agreement with the UE Biodiversity Strategy 2030 desiderates (“to put Europe’s biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030”) and The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/CE), which requires the achievement of Good Environmental Status of biodiversity and habitats. Barcoding and e-DNA techniques rely on genetic markers to identify species unlike the ”classical” approach based on morphological characters.

Among noise sources, maritime traffic is of relevance on animal wellness, although its impact is little known in many European sea-basins. To date, there has been an almost exclusive focus on vertebrates, in which noise involves the mechanoreceptor cells of the ear and can cause hearing impairment or deafness. Homolog cells have been discovered in tunicates, marine invertebrates closely related to vertebrates, thus opening the question on their ability to sense and be affected by noise. Tunicate mechanoreceptors sense sound waves and particle movement and are predictable targets of noise pollution. DeuteroNoise aims to characterize the noise pollution caused by maritime traffic (also using simulations) in selected sites of the North Adriatic Sea, Lagoon of Venice, North Sea, Black Sea, and Barcelona shore, and test its effects on behavior, nervous system and sensory organs, immune system, and resilience in marine invertebrates closely related to vertebrates (deuterostomes): hemichordates, echinoderms, cephalochordates, and tunicates. These animals are common in European seas and cover different levels of the trophic network, from the holoplankton-meroplankton to sessile or sedentary primary consumers. Noise level will be detected on site and simulated in the laboratory. A behavioral, morphological and genetic survey will be conducted on sampled animals living in polluted vs non-polluted areas. Moreover, animals will be exposed to noise in laboratory-controlled conditions to verify its effect on larval, juvenile and adult stages at individual level and over generations. Comparative studies will allow us to: highlight causes of noise pollution in the different basins; determine how species react to it; identify its genetic and morphological signatures; predict sensitivities in closely related animals that cannot easily be studied in laboratory or on-site; predict noise pollution and infer the best practices to reach the Good Environment Status of European basins.

 

The project will develop the first “Digital Twin” of the Romanian coastal area by integrating geomorphological, remote sensing and bathymetric data with sedimentological analyzes results and numerical modeling. This information will be organised in a database adhering to Open Access and FAIR principles, and visualized  in a GIS instance, making it available to a wide range of end users.

The geomorphological field measurements of the coastal area will be coordinated with the acquisition of remote sensing data from satellites and drones. New bathymetric data will be integrated into a grid required for the hydrodynamic numerical modeling of the Romanian coastline. A system will be developed to integrate all types of data  for collection, storage and access them within the FAIR framework. The database, hosted on a dedicated server, will facilitate the development of a first “Digital Twin” focused on the Romanian coast. This Digital Twin will integrate, data from  direct measurements,  remote sensing and the updated numerical model, in line with Open Access and FAIR policies. It will reflect the significant changes of the Romanian coast,  after the  restoration interventions. An important tool will be therefore created for the identification and update of the areas of the Romanian coast that are prone to natural hazards, as well as which of those areas may allow the development of the Blue Economy activities. The “Digital Twin” of the Romania’s coast will provide valuable insights into the area’s dynamics, particularly focusing on low-lying shores (beaches) to a wide range of users (citizens, entrepreneurs, scientists and policy makers), by offering an innovative set of interactive and visualization tools, useful for informative, educational and coastal zone management purposes.

The proposed project has as main objectives the management and monitoring of the marine environment in the context of anthropogenic and climatic changes, the area of interest being the north of the Black Sea continental shelf near the maritime border with Ukraine. The northern extremity of the Romanian part of the Black Sea is economically and geo-strategically important, being also the least known area in the maritime area of Romania. The project will provide data of scientific and economic interest, for example – the existence of marine resources (including biological, sedimentological – sands, limestones at various depths), concentrations of heavy minerals, etc, data on existing pollution in the area, as well as genetic changes (based on DNA analysis of marine organisms) under anthropogenic and climatic pressure. Geophysical data will involve deciphering the marine substrate (geomorphology, bathymetry), but also possible buried metal objects, geomorphological changes. The backscattering geophysical method will be used for the first time in Romania (as the main indicator of the physical variability of the upper marine sediments), and the geochemical characteristics of superficial sediments (content in organic matter, calcium carbonate, heavy metals, etc.), the diversity and abundance of benthic organisms will also be studied. The final goal of the project is the good management of the Romanian continental shelf of the Black Sea, meaning that oceanographic maps at 1:50 000 scale will be made – digital maps with many levels of information (layers in format Geographic Information System – GIS). These products represent the cornerstones for the spatial planning of the Romanian Black Sea shelf. Considering that the current Core Project (Program NUCLEU) will last more than 4 years, and the investigated area will be the northern one, the monitoring will also be carried out geo-ecologically. Innovative techniques and methodologies will be used. Finally, a database will be created for the northern part of the Black Sea continental shelf.

In the context of the preparation of a CCS project in Romania, this project aims to develop an innovative environmental monitoring methodology for potential CO2 geological storage projects.

This methodology supports storage operators who must implement monitoring in all phases of the storage project, based on the monitoring plan (mandatory according to Law 114/2013 for the geological storage of CO2 in Romania), resulting from the risk analysis.

The innovative methodology will be based on the implementation of geophysical, geochemical and biological methods of environmental analysis to highlight potential CO2 leakages from the storage reservoir. The project will also demonstrate the feasibility of less-used geophysical methods for monitoring the geological storage of CO2. With the testing of the methodology on natural analogues of the geological storage of CO2 for CO2 geological storage, areas with natural CO2 emissions and natural CO2 reservoirs, the project aims to understand the mechanisms that ensure the integrity of a storage site, as well as the mechanisms for migration of CO2 to the surface.

The results of the project will be integrated into a database developed according to FAIR principles.

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