National Projects

PN23300404 – Development of an Environmental Monitoring Methodology for Potential CO2 Storage Sites in Romania

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.

PN23300101 – Management and monitoring of the marine environment, part of the national strategy for highlighting regional and global climate change on the Romanian continental shelf of the Black Sea: a complex analysis based on the elaboration of geological, geophysical, geophysical, biological and geochemical maps, scale 1:50,000

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.

SturNet: Network for the Preservation of Sturgeon and the Sustainability of the Black Sea Basin Ecosystem

Sturgeons represent highly valuable faunistic resources, constituting a significant source of income and employment in the Black Sea basin. However, threats such as water pollution, habitat destruction, illegal harvesting, and trade endanger their survival. Sturgeon populations in major basins have declined by 70% over the past century, particularly in the Danube River and its Delta. The SturNet project aims to protect sturgeon populations and conserve the unique ecosystem of the Black Sea basin. Through collaborative research, data collection, and model development, our habitat conservation efforts will support the sustainable development of the region’s natural resources. The project aims to address these issues by developing a free digital mapping tool that provides information on sturgeon behavior and migration routes.

PN23300301 – Innovative system for managing the dynamics of the Romanian Black Sea coast by integrating direct measurements, numerical modeling, and remote sensing, creating the “Digital Twin” of the Romanian Coastal Zone

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.

DeuteroNoise: ERANET-JPI-OCEANS-Characterization of maritime noise in different european basins and its impact on ecological relevant deuterostome invertebrates (DeuteroNoise)

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.

MARCO-BOLO: MARine COastal BiOdiversity Long-term Observations

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.

MARBEFES PREMIERE:

The project aimed to assess the impact of stressors on the ecosystem and the regulating, supporting, and provisioning ecosystem services of the Romanian shelf waters of the Black Sea, which are influenced by the Danube and other anthropogenic sources. It contributed to understanding how these effects may impact environmental quality and biota.

The project was carried out in two stages:

Stage 1: Assessing the effects of stressors on the ecological status and ecosystem services of the Black Sea;

Stage 2: Determining the cumulative effects of pollutants and abiotic factors on species and ecosystem services.

PN23300203 – Identification through Complex Investigations of potential locations for Offshore Green Energy production systems (wind and waves) – INEVO

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.

PN23300201 – Applied research in recent deltaic sedimentary structures to highlight/parameterize the accumulation of marine mineral/energy resources

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.

PN23300102 – Development and technology for assessing, monitoring and controlling of plastic objects and particles pollution in the coastal and shelf area of the Black Sea

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.

PN23300302 – The impact of anthropogenic and climate changes, vulnerabilities, and adaptation measures to increase the resilience in the lakes of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

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.

PN23300103 – Improving the monitoring program of the Romanian Black Sea shelf in order to increase the capacity for assessing and predicting the impact of the multi-stressors on the marine ecosystem services

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.

PN23300202 – Development of an ecosystem approach to the sustainability of marine biological resources (jellyfish, macrophyte algae, molluscs) and of the production methods for expanding their biotechnological use

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.

PN23300303 – Optimising the sustainable management of natural resources, increasing water security and resilience of ecosystems in the Lower Danube basin affected by climate change and anthropogenic interventions

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.

PN23300304 – Development of an Intelligent Monitoring System for hydrological connectivity in the anthropogenic river ecosystems from the Danube Delta

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.

PN23300401 – Monitoring and evaluation of natural protected areas in the UNESCO Geoparks and aspiring geoparks in Romania and the development of a Citizen Science platform

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.

PN23300402 – Organizing the Database of INCD GeoEcoMar to operationalize the concept of Fair Data

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.

PN23300403 – High resolution geophysical research for spatio-temporal monitoring of hydrocarbon and wastewater contamination areas from PETROMIDIA refinery area and CONSTANTA-OIL TERMINAL port area

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.

RamonCO: Risk-based framework for assessing CO2 storage monitoring

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.

EROVMUS: Interface for remotely operated vehicles for ammunition studies

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.

Premiere Euro GO-SHIP: Developing a Research Infrastructure Concept to support the European Hydrography

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:

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

D3MN: Analysis of the Potential for the Sustainable Use of Vegetation in the Danube–Danube Delta–Black Sea System

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.

Early Cretaceous IDEAS: A multidisciplinary approach to the early Cretaceous paleoclimate: evidence from the Romanian Carpathians

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.

DANS: Strategy and actions to prepare the national participation in the DANUBIUS–RI Project

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;

CESP: Development of the Support Center for the initiation and implementation of European and International R&D Projects within INCD GeoEcoMar

The project aimed to increase the capacity of GeoEcoMar to participate in the European Union’s Research Framework Programmes (Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe) by setting up a support structure for researchers called “The Support Center for European and International R&D Projects”, without legal personality within the GeoEcoMar’s Project Management and Marketing Office.

SETTING: Integrated thematic services in the field of Earth Observation – a National Platform for Innovation

The project aimed to enforce the research and innovation in the field of Earth Sciences and to increase participation in the European Research by:

– ensuring the visibility and access to interoperable multi-disciplinary data, available at national and international level;

– coordinating and operating a distributed infrastructure capable of providing services, facilitating new research and generating new products based on them;

– developing and implementing modern IT tools to facilitate the standardization, integration and access to large volumes of data.

INOPLAST – Innovative Solutions for identification and recovery of Macro-plastics derived from Fishing gear on the Romanian Black Sea Shelf

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.

PN19200102-Multidisciplinary research aimed at improving knowledge of the interaction between climate change and anthropogenic pressures and its effects on the Black Sea ecosystem

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.

PN19200302-Interdisciplinary research on benthic and pelagic habitats on the Romanian Black Sea shelf in support of the development/sustainability of socio-economic systems and understanding their role in the bioeconomy

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.

PN 19200301-Geological and geophysical studies on the flexure zone and the upper part of the NW Continental slope of the Black Sea: implications for the evolution of the marine basin, sediment transport phenomena, the stability of the continental slope, with a special focus on the marine resources exploitation in the deep sea area

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.

PN19200402-Geological, geochemical and sedimentological research to asess the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on the quality of water, fauna and distribution of sediments in the coastal lakes, with a view to the sustainable management of their natural 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.

PN19200204-Development of an integrated management for the pilot areas in the Romanian Danube sector, under the influence of climate change and anthropogenic interventions, through the application of complex investigation methodologies (geophysical, remote sensing, sedimentological, morphological, biological)

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.

PN19200503-The study of natural CO2 emission sites in Banat and Harghita for accession to the European ECCSEL network

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.

PN19200502-Harnessing and promoting the geological heritage in Romania by developing an unified geo-conservation strategy at national 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.

PN19200203-Assessment of the current state of deltaic aquatic ecosystems using specific environmental indicators (hydro-morphological, physical-chemical, and biological) and spatial planning mapping of wetland changes in key points of the Danube Delta areas

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.

PN19200401-Multidisciplinary research on the effects of the anthropogenic interventions on the Danube Delta and the coastal area, and the possibilities of environmental rehabilitation

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.

PN19200101-Development of the 1:50,000 scale national thematic maps (geological/geophysical/biological) of the Romanian Black Sea continental shelf

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.

PN19200202-Study of the geodynamic regime in Dobrogea, its influence on paleogeographic changes produced in the Black Sea coastal area, the Danube Delta included, as well as on the presence and human activities

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.

PN19200501-Geophysical investigations of great detail to identify, protect and capitalize the submersed archaeological heritage, under anthropogenic impact, in the area between Calarași and Sulina

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.

PN19200403-Identification and investigation of the potential risk areas for greenhouse gas emissions in the Black Sea and Danube river basin through complex geochemical, geological and geophysical methods

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.

PN19200201-Research on the dynamics and composition of beach sediments – scientific basis for assessing the effectiveness of beach restoration works included in the Masterplan for the Protection of the Romanian Black Sea Coast against erosion

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.

CO2-Hybrid: Hybrid Solvent – Membrane for post-combustion CO2 capture and utilization

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.

Mobility Researchers from Diaspora

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.

AMBIACVA: Excellence research to highlight environmental and biotic changes in ancient and current aquatic systems

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.

DANS2: DANUBIUS – RI PREPARATION SUPPORT PROJECT

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.

Assistance in Integrated River-Sea Systems Management

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)

Review of the management plan and regulations of DDBR

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.

DANUBIUS-RO: International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems

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.

OCEANROC: Spatial and temporal occurrence of the mid Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Events in the Romanian Carpathians and correlation with other Tethyan regions

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.

ACTiON: Advanced multitemporal modelling and optimisation of CO2 transport, utilisation and storage networks

The main objective of ACTiON is to establish how an efficient infrastructure, connecting CO2 sources with CO2 geological storage and non-geological utilization options, can be developed as part of regional decarbonisation efforts. ACTiON aims to research and develop a multitemporal integrated assessment model that will support stakeholders in the planning and design of large-scale, flexible CO2 transport, utilisation and storage networks. ACTiON will address geological and engineering constraints, the impact of economic conditions and regulatory environment, as well as the unavoidable uncertainties in defining them. A thorough understanding of the impact of flow phenomena on network design and operation is essential to de-risk the integrated operation by building in flexibility and resilience in response to operational changes in different parts of the chain. Will demonstrate the interplay between such issues by combining them into integrated component models for optimisation of transport, storage and utilisation networks. Complex subsurface and engineering features and processes, such as geological flow barriers, geo-mechanical constraints and well performance, will be implemented as modular computationally independent proxy models to provide the building blocks for integrated models. ACTION will consider networks that link multiple suppliers of CO2 to multiple injection wells and storage locations including depleted fields, saline aquifers and EOR. ACTION will aim to provide the building blocks and workflows for network developers, as basis for efficient design and safe operations. The multitemporal modelling capabilities will be applied to a number of case studies that cover approaches to CCUS network development in different EU Member States, the US and Canada. Pipeline and ship transport will be included, as will be networks of different complexity aiming to support the development of fit-for-purpose, future-proof CO2 transport, utilization and storage networks.

REX-CO2: Reusing existing wells for CO2 storage operations

Identifying the assessment criteria according to which a hydrocarbon well can be reused for CO2 storage in a technically safe and economically feasible way. GeoEcoMar is the coordinator of the work package “Legislative, environmental and social aspects” (WP6). This work package requires each of the six participating countries to analyze the provisions of their own legislation regarding the reuse of oil and gas wells for carbon dioxide storage. This analysis aims to identify the possible legislative gaps, which national regulatory authorities need to fill in order to make the reuse of wells possible.

SUST-BLACK: Sustainable development at the Black Sea

Between 8-9 May 2019, the National Institute for Research and Development for Marine Geology and Geoecology – GeoEcoMar organized the conference “Sustainable Development in the Black Sea” at the premices of the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest. The conference was organized under the auspices of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and had the support of the European Commission and the Ministry of Research and Innovation. On this occasion, the “Bucharest Declaration” was issued and a strategic research and innovation agenda for the Black Sea was advanced. The conference was an official high-ranking event having as goal to raise awareness on scientific research dedicated to the Black Sea, as well as on marine research in Europe in general. The conference brought together stakeholders interested in building a sustainable and innovative society in the Black Sea region – research communities and academic communities, representatives of all countries in the Black Sea basin, policy makers, professionals, representatives of local communities, representatives of various NGOs in the field of environmental protection, business people. The event took place on 8 and 9 May 2019 (plenary and parallel sessions) and was followed by a two-day trip (optional) on the Black Sea coast in the area of the Razelm Sinoe lagoon system, part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (10-11 May 2019).

ECOBASE: Establishing CO2 enhanced Oil recovery Business Advantages in South Eastern Europe

Establishing CO2 enhanced Oil recovery Business Advantages in South Eastern Europe (ECOBASE) project aims to develop prospective revenue stream models and business models for CO2-EOR in South Eastern Europe and support the large-scale implementation of CCUS in the region. The project is being carried out in three countries in South Eastern Europe – Turkey, Romania and Greece – with the support of TNO Netherlands and IRIS Norway. ECO-BASE will access the potential of EORStore through the following activities: carrying out an inventory of CO2 sources (potential capture projects) and reservoirs (potential locations for geological storage and for the use of CO2 for the purpose of increasing oil production with permanent storage) in Romania, Turkey and Greece; carrying out EORStore case studies as a reference for the assessment of EOR potential at national level; identifying and carrying out case studies for business plans and revenue streams achieved through CCUS; establishing national roadmaps for CCUS, with an essential role as an accelerator for CO2-EOR; organizing knowledge transfer workshops for CCUS stakeholders.

ALIGN-CCUS: Accelerating Low-carbon industrial growth through CCUS

The ALIGN-CCUS project aims to accelerate the transition of the current industrial and energy sectors towards a future in which their economic activities will produce low carbon emissions, in which carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) will play a key role. ALIGN addresses specific issues in the CCUS chain for industrial regions in ERA-NET countries, allowing for the large-scale implementation of the effective implementation of CCUS by 2025.

MARCO-BOLO PREMIERE: Long-term observations of coastal marine biodiversity

The project aims to respond to the modern challenges regarding loss of biodiversity and habitats by approaching the molecular investigation of the Black Sea environment and its species. Sustained 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.

Unlike the ”classical” approach based on morphological characters, Barcoding and e-DNA techniques rely on the genetic markers to identify species. Worldwide, the number of marine species whose genome has been sequenced is only 190, while the proportion of those in the Black Sea is less than 0.1% of the total of over 2000 existing species.

Multiproxy reconstruction of Eurasian MEGALAKES connectivity and isolation patterns during Neogene-Quaternary times

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

CTS: CO2 Transport and Storage directly from a ship: flexible and cost-effective solutions for European offshore storage.

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.

Management Support Project for the preparation of the Preparatory Phase – H2020 of the International Center for Advanced Studies for River-Sea Systems

The pan-European distributed infrastructure project “International Center for Advanced Studies for River-Sea Systems” – under the coordination of Romania – has reached an important point in its maturity. Thus, DANUBIUS-RI has received the status of a Flagship project in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region since 2013 and, most notably, has recently been accepted as an ESFRI project.

Thus, on March 10, 2016, in Amsterdam, with the launch of the ESFRI 2016 Roadmap, the Pan-European Distributed Infrastructure Project for Advanced Research in River-Sea Systems DANUBIUS-RI was one of the 6 newly admitted projects on the list of pan-European ESFRI infrastructures. This inclusion on the ESFRI list confirms, on the one hand, the importance of DANUBIUS-RI as a science, education and innovation hub and its degree of maturity, but on the other hand, it obliges us to continue its implementation at standards of scientific excellence and at a sustained and alert pace. Following the inclusion of DANUBIUS-RI on the ESFRI 2016 Roadmap, the European Commission (Directorate-General for Scientific Research and Innovation) decided to support the implementation of the project (development of the pan-European infrastructure) through a dedicated support project (INFRADEV 2-2016).

DANUBIUS-RI is thus the first pan-European infrastructure project that brings together specialists from all fields relevant to the study of freshwater and marine environments. The project is also the first to pay special attention to processes in transitional environments (deltas and estuaries). Both through its structure – and through its operating logic, DANUBIUS –RI will support the interdisciplinary research activities that will follow phenomena from the river-sea continuum – in a sequential way that will encourage interdisciplinarity (from observations, field measurements, to analyses, modeling and the integration of natural aspects with social and economic ones for the implementation of governance plans). In these aspects, the project is unique both in Europe and the world.

FLUVIMAR: Research of excellence in river-delta-sea systems for highlighting the climate change at regional and global levels

The project of excellence aims to engage GeoEcoMar in the global cooperation and competition in the research and development field by increasing its performance in the field of activity (geo-ecology of marine, deltaic and river systems) at the level of research departments and collectives, having the following results:

increasing the visibility at national and international level by publishing scientific articles in high impact publications and journals, participating in international scientific events that are significant for the research field, organizing scientific events having as topic the complex analysis of the Danube macro-geosystem – Danube Delta – Black Sea to be attended by personalities in the field from the country and abroad;
harnessing and disseminating the knowledge and research results in the scientific and private environment;
adapting the development strategy to the requirements and evolution of the research market, by understanding the internal and international influences and trends in which GeoEcoMar operates;
supporting the national competences within the research institutions that present relaunching opportunities in economic areas of interest for Romania;
planning the human, material, financial and informational resources available to GeoEcoMar, depending on the importance of the projects/contracts and the evolution of the market;
permanently raising the training level of the human resources, especially of young people, with openness to the new, so that GeoEcoMar can quickly and efficiently respond to beneficiaries;
introducing new research methods, required by the market and useful not only to research, but also to industry, academia, and business environment (eg new isotope laboratories, microbiology, etc.);
providing high-level technical assistance and scientific and technological services in the priority areas;
initiating and developing viable collaborations with partners from the public and private economic environment;
promoting the international cooperation programs by accessing all the offers specific to the field of activity;
accessing other categories of projects/contracts, domestic or international, both with state and private institutions (eg direct contracts with large companies in the energy industry, projects of UNESCO, NATO, IAEA, etc.);
widening the investigation area of Mare Nigrum marine research vessel in order to carry out scientific missions, not only in the Black Sea, but also in the Mediterranean Sea and other marine basins;
supporting government institutions to mitigate adverse marine trends, both scientifically and geopolitically;
multidisciplinary, complex approach of research and development activities through closer cooperation with the academic and research institutions in the field of activity, but also outside the field of activity.

uBioGas: Underwater geological structures and accumulations of biogenic methane – associated geochemical processes

Compared to the thermogenic accumulations, the biogenic gas accumulations occur under more predictable geological circumstances. Globally, it has been estimated that more than 20% of methane reserves are biogenic. In Romania, the interest in geological accumulations of biogenic methane has steadily grown over the last decade, so that the largest discovery, with estimates of accumulated methane values that would cover the entire domestic consumption needs for a period of 6-8 years, is the biogenic gas accumulated in the Domino structure in the Romanian Black Sea exclusive economic zone.
This research program contains three component sub-projects:
– Plio-Quaternary geological structures favorable to methane generation and accumulation in the Romanian Black Sea area;
– Determination of geo-biochemical parameters associated with geological structures within the geological context highlighted by project 1, in order to model 1D methane generating processes and build analogies for the generation and accumulation processes in the Plio-Quaternary sediment stack;
– The paleogeographic evolution of the studied regions, in the context of current and Quaternary environmental and climatic changes, their influence on the processes of methane generation and accumulation;
The project is an interdisciplinary one, involving researchers from the fields of geosciences (geologists, geophysicists, geochemists), natural sciences (chemistry, physics, biology), from almost all regions of Romania. The project is intended to capitalize on the Romanian research infrastructure at the Black Sea, but also to contribute to its further development by completing and updating the equipment necessary for research, in line with global technological developments, including the specialization of researchers for new technologies.

PN18160102 – Assessment of the ecological status of the Danube Delta aquatic ecosystems and Razim-Sinoie Lagoon Complex based on the temporal and spatial analysis of the hydro-morphological, physico-chemical and biological indicators

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.

PN18160302 – Research on the accumulation of biogenic methane and the methane hydrates formation from sediments in the exclusive economic zone of Romania at the Black Sea: geo-climatic and ecological implications

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.

PN18160403 – Integration of the GeoEcoMar database into the Geographic Information System for marine data

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

PN18160201 – Multidisciplinary research (sedimentological, geochemical and paleo-biological) of the anoxic intervals in the Carpathian-Ponto-Danubian area and of the hydrocarbon potential

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.

PN18160101 – Evaluation of the impact of the global changes and anthropogenic interventions on the quality of the Danube environment, highlighting the morpho-sedimentological evolution of the Danube riverbed, focused on the sectors with navigation difficulties

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.

PN18160301-Investigation of the marine benthal and pelagic habitats from the Romanian Black Sea coast in order to understand their role in the bioeconomy (Blue Growth)

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.

PN18160502 – Highlighting the values of geodiversity and geoconservation of Natura 2000 sites in Dobrogea, therefore contributing to the promotion of geosciences at the national level

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.

PN16450503 – Complex, qualitative and quantitative assessment of the ecological changes caused by the rectification of the Sfântu Gheorghe Branch’s meanders and the development of a measures program to rehabilitate the environment that is under their influence

Complex, morphological, hydrological, sedimentological and ecological study of the areas affected by anthropogenic changes that have occurred in the Danube Delta, with emphasis on the rectified meanders of the Sfântu Gheorghe Branch and the lowlands nearby. The project aims at qualitative and quantitative assessment of the human activities impact on the biodiversity of the area by analyzing the biocoenosis and the quality of water and sediments, quantifying the environmental impact of anthropogenic activities caused by the meanders rectifications of the Sfântu Gheorghe Branch and building a measures plan to rehabilitate the environment that is under their influence.

PN16450203 – The movement of the Earth’s crust and the associated paleogeographic evolutions produced during the Holocene in the Danube Delta and the coastal area – Tools for the scientific substantiation of the integrated management of the coastal area and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

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.

PN16450502 – Geophysical, environmental and engineering studies for the development of the national natural and cultural heritage (case study – the Danube River and the Danube Delta), including the investigation and assessment of soil and subsoil pollution

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.

PN16450501 – Assessment of natural and anthropogenic pressures on the marine protected areas for a better sustainable management of resources

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.

PN16450301 – Complex study of the marine hazards generating risk for exploration – exploitation activities of resources through the combined use of the geophysical acquisition technologies (2D seismic, OBS, multibeam, side sonar scan, sub-bottom profiler, etc.), coupled with the geological interpretation of information

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.

PN16450101 – Geological monitoring of the Romanian Black Sea continental shelf

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.

PN16450403 – Mapping of the benthic habitats on the Romanian continental shelf of the Black Sea – a tool for the sustainable use of the marine resources, including their conservation

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.

PN16450102 – Danube River: morpho-sedimentological evolution and complex, qualitative and quantitative assessment of the geo-ecological changes that occur under the influence of the climate change and anthropogenic impact

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.;

PN16450303 – Complex geological and geophysical study of the sedimentary basins in Romania in order to outline the most appropriate structures for energy and CO2 storage.

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.

PN16450104 – Interdisciplinary monitoring of the quality of the aquatic ecosystems in the Danube Delta and the Razim-Sinoie Lagoon Complex in order to evaluate the influence of the natural and anthropogenic factors on the evolution of hydro-sedimentary processes and the estimation of environmental risks

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.

PN16450302 – Complex, geological and geophysical investigations to highlight the mineral aggregate reserves located in the Romanian internal shelf of the Black Sea

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.

PN16450202 – Applying the numerical modelling in the study of water and sediment dynamics for the coastal area of Romania

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was used within the project, being implemented on the Black Sea and detailed in the coastal area of Romania. Several simulations were carried out in various meteorological and flow conditions of the Danube in order to study the influence of the external factors on the coastal currents. Also, with the help of a numerical model of the processes in the vicinity of the coast in stormy conditions, the impact of storms on some beach profiles on the Danube Delta coast was also studied.

PN16450401 – Geological – geophysical – geoecological mapping of the Romanian Black Sea continental shelf

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.

PN16450504 – Promoting and educating in the field of Earth Sciences: implementation of a program dedicated to education and the general public

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).

PN16450201 – Climatic and environmental changes from 6 million years ago untill the present time: natural and anthropogenic impact in the Carpathian – Pontic – Danubian space

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.

Premiere pentru H2020 EMSODEV

By knowing the environmental conditions specific to areas with a depth of more than 300 m, with their particularities in the Black Sea, the location and construction conditions for individual or networked monitoring equipment are substantiated, with periodic measurements or continuous monitoring (fixed point location). Based on the knowledge of the physico-chemical parameters per site – equipment, efforts to build prototypes (e.g. EGIM, current meters, tsunami meters, etc.) can be directed so that they can withstand corrosive environments (salinity, H2S), low temperatures (5 – 7 0C) and high pressures (more than 3 atm). Using the information obtained in the project for deep-sea environments, the conditions for the development of life forms (e.g. methane-consuming bacteria) adapted to darkness, lack of oxygen, extreme temperatures and pressures can also be characterized.

DANUBIUS-RO-2: Support for the development and consolidation of DANUBIUS-RO

DANUBIUS RO-2 project responds to the national commitments assumed by Romania, as the coordinating state of the European research infrastructure DANUBIUS-RI, and supports the transition from the preparatory to the operational phase.

DANUBIUS-RO national infrastructure is currently under development, with the essential components – the Hub, the Danube Delta Supersite and the Data Center being in various stages of technical and logistical preparation -, while in June 2025 the official establishment of DANUBIUS ERIC was internationally recognized.

Within this project, GeoEcoMar is responsible for coordinating the activities for the Work Package 2 (WP2), which aims to strengthen the legal, institutional and administrative framework of the infrastructure in accordance with European ESFRI standards. The aim is to carry out the current activities of DANUBIUS ERIC and to gradually transfer the responsibilities to the DANUBIUS-ERIC staff who will be employed, as well as to develop links with other European research infrastructures.

GeoEcoMar is responsible for organising and operationalising DANUBIUS-ERIC, coordinating ESFRI and ENVRI-BEERI collaborations and maintaining relations with pan-European infrastructures. GeoEcoMar will thus carry out, together with the other partners, the following two activities:

Activity 2.1. ERIC international support; All actions needed to organise and operationalise DANUBIUS-ERIC will be coordinated by GeoEcoMar.
Activity 2.2. Synergies with other ERICS and ESFRI projects (pan-European research infrastructures) in the field of environment; Coordination of collaborations at the level of ESFRI and ENVRI-BEERI (Board of European Environmental Research Infrastructures) will continue to be ensured by GeoEcoMar in line with the responsibilities previously exercised.

DANUBIUS RO-2 is a support project that has no research activities and is exclusively dedicated to the operational and functional preparation of the national infrastructure, as an integral part of the DANUBIUS-RI network.

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