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This study addresses a very topical issue, climate changes, increasingly present recently, with negative effects on our entire existence, with repercussions on agriculture and the way food is produced in general. In the last decade, climate changes have been increasingly present and adapting to these changes is essential. In this paper, two crops, barley and alfalfa are presented, and how these climate changes produced in the Sânnicolau Mare area during 2020-2022 had negative effects on the soils and, above all, on the production of barley and the number of mows in alfalfa. In the elaboration of the paper, the bibliographic study was combined with a series of laboratory analyses regarding the properties of the two types of soil identified. The idea was developed on the basis that we monitored the annual thermal and pluviometric regimes impact on crops and on soil evolution, through their distribution and through the specific adaptability of the plants to risk conditions in a short period of time. These climatic changes are obvious not only from one year or from one season to another: they appear within the same locality bringing obvious changes in terms of the amount of precipitation in a certain area of that locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangalia area harbors in the western Black Sea a distinctive marine environment thriving under specific hydrochemical conditions, largely influenced by a significant number of sulphurous springs occurring in shallow marine waters. These springs led to the designation of the area as part of the Natura 2000 Marine Protected Area (MPA) network at European level (Underwater Sulphurous Springs from Mangalia - ROSAC0094), as unique hydro-geomorphological features in the region. In 2021 and 2023, two research cruises led by GeoEcoMar investigated underwater sulphurous springs primarily located offshore of Mangalia (Constant, a County, Romania). The study area, located between 17-29 meters water depth and 1.8-3 km offshore, encompasses two marine protected areas: the Underwater Sulphurous Springs from Mangalia (ROSAC0094) and Cape Aurora (ROSCI0281). The research combined geophysical and geochemical techniques and sediment sampling. Considering the susceptibility of these natural systems to human activities such as fishing and dredging, as well as the impact of ecological and climate changes, this paper offers significant insights contributing to the development of effective conservation and management strategies for these environments. The surveys were conducted for benthic habitats mapping, with the objective of improving our understanding of these ecosystems' distribution, composition and dynamics. As these sulphurous waters are rich inmethane, a powerful greenhouse gas, our results also contribute to the inventory of greenhouse gas sources. The results presented in this paper provide valuable new insights into this specific environment, contributing to the understanding of its complex functioning and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper purpose was to assess the impact of climate change on wheat, maize and sunflower yield in the period 2017-2021, using statistical data from National Institute of Statistics (NIS) and National Administration of Meteorology (NAM) and other sources. Comparison method was used to evaluate the deviations between the registered air temperatures and precipitations and the 1981-2010 climatological norm. Graphic method reflected the dynamics of monthly air temperatures and rainfalls in each year. Descriptive statistics for mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation reflected an more comprehensive image upon air temperature, precipitations and yield. Correlations and regression equations were used to establish the intensity of the kinks between climate factors and yield. The highest average air temperature In Romania was 12.130C in 2019. In the period 2017-2020, the average annual temperatures exceeded the climatological norm 1981-2010 accounting for 9.10C. The lowest rainfalls, 614.2 mm, were recorded in 2019, being below of 633.1 mm the norm for the period 1981-2010. The high temperatures associated with drought and low precipitations have deeply affected yield of many agricultural crops, including maize, wheat and sunflower. The highest wheat yield 4,888 kg/ha was achieved in 2017, and the lowest one, 2,966 kg/ha in 2020. Maize registered the highest performance of 7,644 kg/ha in 2018, and the lowest one, 3,977 kg/ha in 2020. Sunflower carried out the high performance 3,041 kg/ha in 2018, and the lowest one, 1,858 kg/ha in 2020. The worst agricultural years for these three crops was 2020, but 2017 favored wheat, while 2018 favored maize and sunflower. The correlation coefficient had in general small values between average temperature and yield, but a higher link with precipitations level. The multiple correlation between yield, air temperatures and precipitations was: r= 0.817 for wheat, r = 0.116 for maize and r = 0.504 for sunflower. In the South Eastern Dobrogea, the driest area in Romania, the rainfalls declined by 65% in the period 2018-2020 having a deep negative impact on sunflower seeds yield, which decreased from 4,282 kg/ha in 2018, to 1,503 kg/ha in 2020. The correlation between precipitations and sunflower yield positive and very strong (r = 0.737). As a conclusion, the climate conditions should be analyzed in each farm and farmers have to take measure to adapt the technologies for sustaining production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper emphasizes the importance of subsidizing agricultural activities, taking into account the climate changes that are more and more evident making agricultural holdings particularly vulnerable from an economic point of view, the most exposed being the small ones. The technical-economic the economic-financial analysis methods drew a technical-economic diagnosis of a small-scale vegetable farm in Romania, in order to highlight the major impact that subsidies have in achieving incomes that ensure the continuity of the activity. The vegetable farm under study was established in 2018, being included in the category of micro-enterprises paying income tax. It owns agricultural land exclusively on lease, the existing crops being those of wheat, corn, alfalfa, bell peppers and melons, with average productions/ha achieved similar to or below the average productions/ha recorded at national, regional and county level. From an economic and financial point of view, this holding presents a financial instability during the analysis period, based on the losses recorded in 2018 and 2020 and a non-compliant financial autonomy based on insufficient equity capital. It does not have the ability to generate constant profit during the period included in the study by capitalizing on production, it being small and insufficient, which denotes the major dependence on the income from exploitation subsidies in order to be profitable. Liquidity indicators evolve fluctuating and solvency is generally downward and positioned above the safety threshold, which places small-scale vegetable farms at risk of insolvency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop management in the Romanian agriculture faces many risks and challenges that directly influence the technical and economic performance of the farms and implicitly the sustainability of the agricultural sector. These challenges range from climate change to resource issues, from plant health problems to market and regulatory issues. It is therefore essential to understand these issues in detail to develop effective crop management strategies and support Romanian agriculture in the face of a complex and changing environment. Through methods of statistical analyses and bibliographic documentation, we will identify and analyze this risks and challenges in detail in order to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the agricultural landscape in Romania in order to develop some necessary measures to reduce and, as far as possible, eliminate these risks. Data were collected from public institutions, from the official National Institute of Statistics, NIS, website Tempo-Online. The aim of crop management in Romania, as in any other country, is to ensure efficient, sustainable and profitable agricultural production. By adopting these recommendations and proactively addressing risks and challenges, agriculture in Romania can become more resilient and sustainable, further ensuring the supply of high-quality food and contributing to the country's economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania's biodiversity is a natural treasure, offering a vast array of species and ecosystems, but faces increasing threats from human activities and climate change. Education, awareness and conservation of biodiversity are key to protecting this priceless biological diversity. In this article, through statistical methods of analysis, we aim to explore the role of education and awareness in the conservation of Romania's biodiversity, highlighting initiatives and efforts to promote public understanding and commitment to protecting the environment and unique species. This analysis allowed us to identify relevant patterns, trends and conclusions related to biodiversity education, awareness and conservation in Romania. Protecting Romania's biodiversity is therefore not only a necessity for the environment, but also for society, the economy and human well-being. Biodiversity conservation is essential for our well-being and the health of the planet, and it is our responsibility to act on it. We will explore the importance of education in schools and universities, the role of NGOs and government actions, and their impact on biodiversity conservation in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit sector in Romania and, particularly, the apple production sector, is considered to have been in decline in recent decades. Changes in the behavior and consumption habits of the population, together with climate change and the increase in fruit imports, have caused shortages in this sector. Apples are regarded as a national fruit in Romania, but recently, there have been significant transformations in apple production and consumption. In order to practically observe the recorded information published in a database for this sector, we developed a questionnaire, which was completed by people in Romania. The aim of this paper was to identify the types of apple consumer profiles in Romania. The reason for choosing this specific fruit was linked to the investigated objective of the projects to which this article is related. Regarding the approached methodology, the paper focused on analyzing descriptive statistics, frequencies and clustering, by which means we designed a pattern of the apple consumer profiles in Romania. Furthermore, the profiles of respondents from two regions of Romania (South-Muntenia and South-East Regions) were explored in more detail. The findings of this research indicate a young, educated consumer profile and a distinct pattern revealed by the three clusters from the specific regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water bodies can offer local microclimates that have the potential to attenuate the effects of urban heat islands by reducing local temperature. This capability is shaded when the river is channelized. In such cases, the river temperature rises during hot periods, leading to negative impacts on the water quality. The main aim of this paper is to develop a local simple model to predict the temperature of the Dâmbovița River at its exit from Bucharest City, the capital of Romania. The location is chosen based on the historical critical impacts, in terms of extreme heatwaves that took place during hot summers, as well as future possible risks due to climate change. The water temperature prediction model is based on an artificial neural network that uses the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm, due to its stability and rapid convergence capabilities. The model forecasts, with an accuracy of ±1 °C, the water temperature in an ungauged, downstream location, as a function of measured air and upstream water temperatures. The proposed model represents a first attempt to provide water managers in Bucharest City with a useful tool that will allow them to take timely measures to counteract the unwanted effects that can be generated by high water temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of our rapidly evolving word, where pressing issues like anthropogenic climate change and accelerating urbanization demand innovative solutions, a critical evaluation of the potential and impact of digital technologies is necessary. Climate-neutral governance entails the implementation of governmental instruments and tools designed and used to harmonize short-term policy actions with a long-term vision of achieving a climate-neutral state. This fact aims to facilitate evidence-based decision-making, foster inter-sectoral coordination, enhance transparency, and cultivate public legitimacy for climate mitigation and adaptation measures. This paper presents a focused analysis of SmartCities projects and their implementation across diverse urban centers and nations. Our objective is to provide a comprehensive overview, highlighting recent advancements in the realm of smart and climate-neutral city governance. Furthermore, we conduct a comprehensive inquiry into Romania's legislative framework, encompassing the regulations and strategies pertaining to energy, climate change, and urban development. This analysis is complemented by an exploration of the evolving perspectives and legislative proposals that are likely to shape the future course of action in these domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose in carrying out this paper is to convey the way in which tourism is influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors in relation to climatic elements. Behind this paper is a careful documentation on each element presented, concrete information and close to the truth in order to create a precise picture of the relationship between climate and tourism in Sinaia. Climatic data provided by National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology and also the statistical data provided by National Institute of Statistics were used. Following the processing of statistical data, it was found that the favorable climatic factors, characteristics for each season and the specific tourist infrastructure are elements that ensure tourist flows throughout the year. The qualitative aspects in this research were studied based on current scientific literature, official documents and observation method, and the quantitative research was carried out using statistical analysis of the processed data, graphic and cartographic method, the method of observation and interpretation. The results were presented in tables, graphs and then interpreted and analyzed. Data used in this study are part of the textbook on the desk. Being one of the most spectacular mountain areas in Romania, recognized internationally by the satisfaction of tourists who arrive in these lands, this paper aims to highlight the favorable climate conditions in relation to tourism in Sinaia considered the "pearl" of the mountain resorts in the Prahova Valley. This paper presents the capitalization of tourism potential, which highlights the number of tourists arriving in the two resorts, in the period 2009-2019. Also, the private accommodation infrastructure and the number of main accommodation units, hotels and pensions are presented in detail, the typology of hotels according to the degree of comfort and the presentation of tourism in the hot and cold period of the year. Finally, we find the conclusions that highlight the main ideas that emerged from the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, global warming are phenomena that have changed the face of the world and that have a direct impact on agricultural production and food security, given that the world's population is growing from one year to the next, without the possibility of growth and natural resources. Another worrying phenomenon is the production of greenhouse gases and their destructive effect on the planet. That's why the technology that is being perfected every day tries to find solutions that simplify both the efforts made to obtain food, but also the possibility of increasing the efficiency of production processes. In this way, in the agricultural field, the idea of developing dual systems appeared, which would protect both agricultural crops, with the aim of increasing productivity, but which would also contribute to obtaining solar energy, necessary not only for own consumption, but also to be included in consumer networks, the proposed concept being that of the AgriVoltaic system. The idea that appeared in 1981 began to be developed, currently reaching the development of a technology that is starting to be adopted in many countries of the world, including Romania. In the current paper, we propose to analyze the opportunity of using AgriVoltaic technology, its advantages and disadvantages, but also the way in which it could contribute to increasing the profitability of agricultural farms. At the same time, increasing the degree of awareness regarding the advantages of introducing agricultural systems and the method of implementing the systems is another objective of the current work. Starting from the analysis of the specialized literature, we outlined the term Agrivoltaic technology and continued the study with an analysis of the possibilities of implementing this technology in Romania, due to the solar energy potential that it benefits from. The research methodology assumed on the one hand the bibliographic analysis, and on the other hand the analysis of the development potential of the system, taking into account the existing agricultural areas and crops suitable for this system. As a result of the research carried out, it turned out that although there are confirmed advantages of using AgriVoltaic technology, it does not yet benefit from sufficient visibility or high accessibility among farmers. Also, the existing legislation at the level of Romania does not yet make possible the development of the dual system. Among the disadvantages of using agrivoltaic systems are the still high costs, but the measures to protect the rural landscape, which occupies an important place in sustainable development, even if the energy produced is renewable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving the ambitious climate goals established on the international agenda for boosting sustainable development involves significant financial resources. Therefore, the funds allocated by the financial system for green investments should increase globally. Against this backdrop our paper investigates the role of multilateral development banks in promoting green finance, with focus on Romania. The research results underline their engagement to combat climate change and to support sustainable development. The European Investment Bank, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation have major contributions in financing green projects in Romania in areas such as energy efficiency, green building, clean transportation, sustainable agriculture. To this end they established some partnerships with Romanian financial institutions, granted financing facilities, invested in the green bonds issued by local banks, provided technical assistance. However, our main finding shows that green finance in Romania is still limited, requiring increased commitments in this area, including from multilateral development banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of hops, a traditional activity in the area of Transylvania, where the plants also meet good conditions for development, experienced a pronounced decline after 1990. The lack of funds for the establishment of crops and maintenance in the first years of vegetation, the special plant support system, the old varieties, the effects of climate change and the lack of an irrigation infrastructure have negatively influenced the development of hop farms. Despite the fact that processors have increased the demand for this crop, as a result of its multiple uses, in 2022 in Romania 165 ha were cultivated and a production of 191 tons was obtained, in only three counties in the heart of Transylvania, Alba, Mureș and Sibiu. Mureș County owned 75% of the areas cultivated with hops and 44% of the harvest obtained. At the same time, in the context of the decrease in local beer production, the quantitative and value imports of Romanian hop products also decreased. In order to revitalize this sector, the Common Agricultural Policy, through Strategic Plan 2023-2027 for Romania, has introduced a special Field of Intervention for hops and table grape growers (DR-17) which joins other interventions necessary for processing, for the establishment of producer groups, farmer training and consulting. Added to this is the support granted by Pillar I of the Common Agricultural Policy: Coupled income support (PD - 15), Eco-schemes (PD - 06) and Transitional National Aid (ANT - 5), which will represent an important support for farmers and will contribute to the increase of the surfaces and the production obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cinq Continents is the property of University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The agriculture is facing different pressures linked to diffuse pollution from nutrients and chemicals, water abstraction and hydromorphological changes. According to information reported under the Water Framework Directive, around one third of surface water bodies fail to achieve good status because of one or several of these pressures. Using sustainable management practices based on agroecological principles, organic farming, and nature-based solutions, with multiple sustainability benefits, can contribute to reducing the magnitudes of pressures on water, enhancing the long-term resilience of agriculture to climate changes and benefit biodiversity. Investing in treatment plants, pipes, and conveyance schemes, is often the most trusted solution, but conventional engineered methods represent end-of-pipe solutions that do not address pollution at the source. The paper is presenting opportunities for green infrastructure and nature-based solutions application in Romania to aid in addressing some of the situations mentioned above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of pesticides is a growing problem for the environment given the negative impact it has on the quality of soil, groundwater and surface water, biodiversity and ecosystems, but also on human health. To these are added the emergence of new diseases and pests that must be combated, precisely as a result of changes in the environment and climate change. However, their use is necessary, given the growing need for food, as a result of the exponential growth of the world's population and the reduction of areas for agriculture. The use of the latest generation pesticides, their correct application leads not only to the increase of their productions and to their profitability, but also to the protection of the environment and the preservation of biodiversity. In this paper, we aim to analyze the evolution of pesticide consumption in the E.U. and at the level of Romania in the period 2011-2019. The research methodology involved the bibliographic study, the consultation of domestic and international databases, the analysis of statistical data, their interpretation and the formulation of conclusions on the current situation compared to the base year, so that we can estimate what future developments will be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper completes the empirical literature on the European Union (EU) climate and energy policy design and evaluation, namely the implementation part related to the development, assessment and approval of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of the Member States (MS) for the period 2021-2030. These strategic documents are foreseen by the Governance Regulation no. EU 2018/1999 as the main tools used to implement the climate and energy policies and targets by 2030. This paper is organized as follows: the abstract gives an overview of the paper and its main conclusions. Section 1 depict the introduction and background about the whole process around NECPs and the main provisions related under the Governance Regulation. Section 2 reviews literature from the perspective of the EU negotiations on 2030&2050 energy and climate targets, legal aspects of climate and energy governance and the process of NECPs development and approval. It also includes a short presentation of the data used for the analysis, including their sources. Section 3 gives an insight about the approval of Romania's NECPs by the European Commission. At the same time, this section briefly comments on proposals made by the national authorities and the recommendations using as starting point Romania's position in 2014 during the 2030 climate and energy negotiations while taking into account the dynamic of the geopolitical situation to date. Section 4 concludes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Dobrogea the culture of the peach tree has had great perspectives even from the beginning due to the extremely favorable climate. The peach species loves warm weather and has always found good growing and harvesting conditions in the south-eastern part of Romania. In this period, 7 Romanian and foreign peach tree cultivars were studied at Research Station for Fruit Growing (RSFG) Constanta: 'Mimi', 'Catherine sel.1', 'Springcrest', 'Raluca', 'Cardinal' 'Filip' and 'Cora'. This paper presents the manner in which certain peach tree cultivars reacted to frost in the springtime of 2020, 2021 and 2022, as well as the effect of the hail on Jun 14th, 2022 on the peach production. The greatest losses caused by the frost were registered in the spring-time of 2020 as far as the fructiferous buds are concerned: 90% at 'Springcrest', 80% at 'Cardinal', 60% at 'Raluca' and 'Filip', 40% at 'Mimi', 'Cora' and 'Catherine sel.1', 20%. The losses caused by the hail on July 14th, 2022 affected the production of the 'Springcrest' cultivar by 80% and of the 'Cardinal' and 'Cora' by 70%. The climatic changes that have been registered throughout the past 10 years have negatively influenced the culture of the peach tree and the effects have been classified according to the cultivar and its biology, as well as to the topographic placement of the allotments. The studies that have been carried out, together with the obtained results demonstrate the importance of choosing the cultivar assortment taking into account the favorability of the area, as well as the importance of installing anti-hail nets when setting up fruit-growing plantations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agri-environment and climate payments represent a key element necessary for the integration of environmental protection issues into the Common Agricultural Policy. In Romania, this measure aims to encourage farmers (users of agricultural land) to adopt, on a voluntary basis, agricultural practices that ensure the maintenance of the environmental value of rural areas, the maintenance of specific habitats of agricultural land important for priority wild species, the sustainable use of natural resources and the preservation of traditional landscapes. This paper presents the situation of accessing the agri-environment and climate compensatory payment measure for adaptation to the effects of climate change on agricultural land, in Romania, between 2015 and 2019, where a total of 212,413 beneficiaries were registered, with a total eligible area of 1,799,820 hectares and the eligible value of compensatory payments was 231,563,125.73 euros. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU's energy and climate change concerns have materialized in the last years in launching 2020-2030 strategic initiatives. The Plan Up project seeks to monitor this area. Each EU member must implement its own plan (NECP) structured on 5 main dimensions: energy security, decarbonization, energy efficiency, internal energy market, research-innovation-competitiveness. Romania is committed to reducing CO2 emissions by over 43%, to increasing energy efficiency by over 37% and to promote renewable energy to reach approx. 28% of the portfolio (97% for the rail transport sector). The impact of COVID-19 must be immediately included in the NECP and seen as an opportunity and the NECP, adapted accordingly. The paper presents this Project and the potential Romanian contribution in the Transport Sector, a sector currently in a massive reorientation (electric cars, encouraging public transport, anti-Diesel offensive, etc.) and the most severely affected by COVID-19. The vast Romanian experience in the use of dimethyl-ether (DME) as an ecological substitute for diesel is presented, which would dramatically reduce the need for investments in the conversion of the current fleet of diesel vehicles. DME is also as a C3-C4 fraction substitute (CFC), in sprays, refrigerant agent in refrigerators, etc. Examples of applications of the proposed solution are given (USA, Scandinavia). The advantages of DME would be that it can be synthesized from renewable sources (municipal, agricultural waste), thus adding value to waste and improving the energy resources balance of Romania and the EU. The paper also seeks an objective critique of the (not so-)miracle solution of electromobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of the autumn wheat crop requires the application of some general technologies, but improved with innovative and specific technological sequences, depending on the evolution of the vegetation cycle and the expected production components. The researches were performed during the 2020-2022, in the experimental field of NARDI Fundulea and aimed to study the influence of agrotechnical practices on the yields and quality of wheat. The paper presents the results obtained in experiences with sowing dates and plant density, under non-irrigation condition, in the south of the country. Recording a stable and high production of autumn wheat is possible if a good sowing quality is ensured and the optimal sowing interval and plant density per m2 are observed. The variability of individual productivity of wheat plants can increase with the delay of the sowing date by up to 10-20% for the number of grains/plant and between 10-25% for the weight of grains/plant, and these lead to a decrease for production per hectare with 1000-3000 kg/ha. The variation of climatic conditions influenced negatively wheat yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct payments granted in agriculture play an extremely important role for the incomes of Romanian farmers. This type of payments are funds from the European Union budget, more precisely from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF), and in Romania these payments are granted through various schemes such as: Single area payment scheme, Redistributive payment, Young farmers payment, payment for agricultural practices beneficial for climate and environment, but also Coupled support. In relation to the amounts granted per hectare, on the one hand, the most targeted by farmers, is coupled support, which is granted to sectors considered economically, socially and environmentally important and which are affected by certain difficulties. The aim of this paper is to identify the progress made in certain cultures that have been encouraged through this form of support. The analyzed data comes from the Agency for Payments and Intervention for Agriculture. The conclusion is that this support plays an important role for agricultural practices related to climate change and the environment protection, having the role of crop diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The periods of warming and cooling of the weather on Earth followed one another with great irregularity and caused significant variations in air temperature but allowed the existence of life and especially of the human species. In this paper we have analysed the variation of air temperature in Oltenia in the period 1961-2021. A number of our other works have analysed the variability of the climate in this part of Romania. After the warm period of 1945-1955, a gradual cooling of the weather followed in summers and during the period 1966-1984 (for 20 years). In summers, no thermal maximum of ≥40°C was registered. The period 2000-2021 (22 years) was the warmest of all the meteorological observations in Oltenia and many annual, monthly and daily climate records were surpassed. At the same time, during the analysed interval, the melting rate of the ice in the polar areas intensified a lot and exceptional thermal maxima were registered. The heat waves during the summers were more and more intense, more frequent and longer in duration. The paper is useful to all those interested in climate variability in Oltenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global phenomenon of biological invasion is a prevailing and important subject of research, with major negative social and economic consequences, representing a real threat for the native biodiversity of invaded countries. The main elements that favour the entering and spreading of invasive insect pest species into new territories are the intensive trade of goods between different regions, tourism and the on-going climate changes which are predicted to become more severe. Early detection and monitoring of the invasive organisms are essential steps of the foundation of an appropriate and efficient management. The problem of alien invasive species, especially those of agricultural importance, has been an on-going concern for the community of researchers at the Research and Development Institute for Plant Protection in Bucharest, Romania, who have made it the subject of numerous studies and research papers published and incorporated in national and international journals and projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bean germplasm collection of Vegetable Research and Development Station Buzău, Romania, contain over 450 accessions. The maintenance of this collection must accomplish the following requirements: maintaining the variability of this species (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), creating new varieties and adaptability to the climate changes in what it concerns these accessions. In 2020, this collection was cultivated in green - house covered with polyethylene. This paper presents the comparative study of 10 climbing bean seeds accessions. The seeds of each accession were evaluated in what it concerns quantitative (100 seed weight, length, thickness and width) and qualitative characteristics (seed colour, brilliance, veining and shape). The seeds weight varied between 57.57 g (V5) and 28.88 g (V3). More than half of the seeds variants taken into study, presented white colour, except: V1 and V3 - different beige and V5 presents 2 colours (half white, half dark red). The highest values regarding seeds length and width were registered at V10 (17.03 and 9.11 mm). All accessions presented are stabile and it presented stability during the last growing seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of global warming and climate change appear as increasing or decreasing trends in hydrometeorological records in different locations. Identifying trends in long-term (more than 30 year) data is possible through a variety of methodologies as well as classical Mann–Kendall (MK), Regression (R), Spearman's Rho (SR) methods in addition to the innovative trend analysis (ITA) approaches. The most used method in the literature is the MK trend determination test, but it has limited assumptions, and the trend slope is calculated according to Sen's median procedure. However, Sen's approach is an empirical methodology that considers a single median slope from all possible consecutive lag slopes. This paper provides the theoretical probability distribution function (PDF) that matches Sen's slopes, and an innovative probabilistic trend slope methodology is proposed with a set of slope risk levels, rather than statistical slope calculation. The application of the proposed methodology is presented for long-term Danube River annual discharge data in Romania and precipitation records at Antalya resort center in the south along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. A set of trend lines, objectively different risk levels, are obtained. It has been determined that there are decreasing and increasing monotonic trends in each historical time series record. Therefore, for extreme events, it is possible to consider a particular risk level trend characteristic, i.e., floods and droughts, rather than the classical mean or median level trend definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continued population growth together with current climate change will threaten global food security in the near future. Wheat is a staple cereal crop for many countries, including Romania. Therefore, to obtain high yields, it is necessary to choose wheat cultivars with drought tolerance. Research has been done out during two growing seasons: 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 in the experimental field of ARDS Simnic, the purpose of this study being the evaluation of the drought tolerance of ten wheat varieties. The obtained results confirmed the strong positive relationships between the grain yields obtained both in drought (Ys) and non-stress conditions (Ys) and STI, MPI, GMP and YI indices, these selection indices expressing a high power of discrimination between varieties at a moderate level of drought stress (SI =0.53). Based on the rank sum (RS) of all selection indices, three drought tolerant varieties were identified, namely Miranda, Simnic 60 and Glosa. These varieties can be considered as the most suitable for cultivation in the study area and other areas with similar agroclimatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oltenia, Studii si Comunicari Seria Stiintele Naturii is the property of Museum of Oltenia Craiova and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Climate change is one of the most frequent topics in climatic literature over the last three decades. One of the significant concerns with a potential change in climate is that extreme events will occur with a higher frequency. This paper focuses on spatial distribution and changes that occurred in extreme precipitation indices in Romania over a 53-yr period: 1961–2013. Gridded daily precipitation data have been used at a spatial resolution of 0.1° × 0.1° (about 11 km × 11 km). A set of 14 indices established by the Expert Team for Sector-Specific Indices for agriculture and water resources sectors has been calculated. They are both frequency and intensity indices: four are fixed threshold indices (R10, R20, CDD, and CWD), four are station-related thresholds (R95p, R99p, R95pTOT, R99pTOT), and six indices were detected without using a threshold (Rx1day, Rx3days, PRECPTOT, SDII, SPI, SPEI). The study's main finding is that most of the indices registered increasing trends but not statistically significant at the country level. The only exceptions are the drought-related indices (CDD, SPI, and SPEI), for which we found a dominant decreasing trend. In the northern half of the country, increasing trends were prevailing, and in the southern one, those decreasing registered a broader spatial coverage. SPI and SPEI recorded mainly significant changes: SPI trends are almost equally divided between increasing and decreasing. For SPEI, more than 70% of the country was characterized by a significant decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy poverty has an indirect impact on several policy areas, including health, environment and productivity. Tackling fuel poverty has numerous potential benefits, including lower health expenditure for governments, reduced air pollution and CO2 emissions, greater comfort and well-being, more stable family budgets and increased economic activity. This paper aims to highlight the level of energy poverty in Romania and the need of its decrease, compared to another European Union member states, according to the electricity prices and energy potential, all in the context of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serbia disposes with strong tradition in crop production, followed by significant natural resources and favorable climate conditions. Despite the good results in grain production, farms are in general economically so weak to possess and use the storing facilities, while they sell the products immediately after the harvest. After reconsidering the lack of storing facilities and consequences it affects, strategic strivings in strengthening of farm competitiveness initiate in previous period public support turned to building of storage capacities and purchase of necessary equipment. In paper was presented the assessment (by the use of dynamic and static methods) of economic effectiveness of investment in storing capacities, i.e. silos, showing that this investment (supported by public incentives) could represent the economically justified business decision for certain farms turned to crop, specifically grains production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic changes and increasing needs of resources, in many cases incapable to satisfy the demand, have led to rethink the way of achieving economic growth, the concept of sustainable associated with the development trying to capture the concern that the present economic development does not bring any harm to the development opportunities of future generations. Romania, a member state of the European Union, recognizes the need for such an approach, ensuring a sustainable development and the transition to a green economy or circular economy being more and more frequently circulated or even being the object of assumed strategies. The current paper, based on data provided by the National Institute of Statistics, tries to capture Employment in two economic sectors the evolution of which should be in opposition if we consider the 'Green' criterion: Mining and quarrying - where operating, processing and utilization technologies are carbon-intensive, which is why there is a restriction of the dimensions of this sector; Water supply: sewerage, waste management and remediation activities are considered green activity, providing green jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the analysis of 15 cultivated maize hybrids for further selection of the hybrids that present a high yield potential and favourable agronomical traits, in the context of actual climate change. The analysis and interpretation of the obtained results was performed with the help of the IBM Spss statistical software. Descriptive characteristics were calculated: average, median, standard deviation, minimum values and maximum values. In order to analyse the significant differences, the ANOVA and Duncan statistical test was applied, respectively Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney. For the study of the links between the variables, the Pearson correlation coefficients and the regression lines were determined. The results are indicating the existence of significant differences between the analysed parameters Also, the results are corelated to the meteorological data, registered during the corresponding development phase of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate change impact appears as a decreasing or increasing monotonic trend in hydro-meteorology time series records due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions causing to global warming and climate change impacts. On the other hand, there may be abrupt changes in the form of jumps in these series due to natural and engineering activities. Although trend identification methods are rather common in the literature, jump determination conventional methodologies are rather rare and their applications present some restrictive asumptions like the serial independence and normal (Gaussian) probability distribution function (PDF). The methodology presented in this paper is away from each of such assumptions and it depicts the minimum number of upcrossing along horizontal truncation levels within the time series variation domain. The applications of the methodology are given for annual Danube River discharge records, Romania; New Jersey rainfall and temperature records, USA; monthly rainfall records and Van Lake level fluctuations, Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a literature review of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and the knowledge accumulated by Romanian foresters and researchers, covering species propagation, stand management, and vulnerability issues. As highlighted by numerous authors, black locust manifests dual features, both as an exogenous species and one that is already naturalized. The main drivers for this species' expansion in Romania is its ecological adaptability on degraded lands, fast growth, and high biomass yields, in addition to other economic benefits. Black locust plantations and coppices also offer an important range of ecosystem services such as CO2 sequestration, landscape reclamation, fuel wood, or maintaining traditional crafts in regions with little to no forest cover. Highlighted disadvantages include short lifespan, invasiveness when introduced on fertile sites, and dieback in drought/frost prone areas. The results of extensive research and studies are captured in technical norms, although aspects such as species genetics, invasive potential, and adaptation to climate change dynamics call for more research and optimizing in species management. As Romania rallies its efforts with those of the international community in order to address climate change and desertification, black locust stands out as a proven solution for reclaiming degraded lands when native species are not an alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The paper analyses climatic variability in south-western Romania in the spring of 2018. After the warm winter, from the late winter phenomena with snow layer, recorded in March in the intervals 1-8.III and 19-27.III, it followed the warmest month of April, by temperature averages, throughout the history of climate observations, and the warm weather has continued throughout May. In March there was an absolute climatic record of the minimum temperature at Tg. Logrești of -24.8°C (1.III.2018). In April the weather was warm on most of the Northern Hemisphere except the North American continent. The temperature averages registered in April 2018 have become absolute climatic records not only in Oltenia but even in the whole country and an extended area on the European continent. In Oltenia, April was excessively droughty, but heavy rainfall in March provided the groundwater reserve throughout the month, although some cereal crops have been affected. April was warm in all Oltenia with a general average deviation of 2.5°C, and the rainfalls returned, but the drought continued in the Romanați Plain. Climatic variability was particularly high, the climate evolving from an extreme to the other, but nevertheless the statistical analysis of the climatic data shows that the climate warming continued. The paper is part of an extensive series of studies on climate variability in Oltenia and climatic risk phenomena (Bogdan, Marinica, Andreea Floriana Marinică 2010, 2017; Marinică, Andreea Floriana Marinică 2016) being useful to all interested in climate problems in the south-west Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to assess the pollution level of Romania's agriculture, with emphasis on emissions of carbon gases, by analyzing the structure, trends and estimates of indicators projected in medium and long terms, according to the actual policies and targets for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050. Romanian agriculture has not proved to be very intensive in terms of greenhouse gases pollution compared to the energy sector, however, being the second pollutant sector of economy, is one factor that contributes significantly to overall emissions mainly due to emissions of the livestock sector and of synthetic fertilizers use. Analysis shows potentials in 'greening' the economy in Romania, given the trends of massive reduces of emissions of greenhouse gases over the last two decades. It also underlines the crucial importance to reduce the statistics on polluting effects of agriculture provided by the potential expressed and growing of the Romanian forestry sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent climate change scenarios show significant increases in temperature and extreme drought events in Southern and Eastern Europe by the end of the 21st century, which will have a serious impact on forest growth and adaptation, and important consequences for forest management. The system of provenance regions, according to the OECD Scheme and EU Directive, was thought to encourage the use of the local seed sources, under the concept 'local is the best'. However, climate is changing faster than some species or populations can adapt or migrate, which raises some uncertainties with respect to the future performance of local populations. In Romania, as in other countries, the delimitation of provenance regions is based on geographical, ecological and vegetation criteria. The aim of this study is to evaluate: (1) the climate change that has occurred at the level of the provenance regions; (2) which regions will be most vulnerable to climate change; (3) which forest types will be the most vulnerable in a certain region; and (4) changes in the climatic envelope of forest species. Several climatic parameters and an ecoclimatic indices have been calculated and analyzed at the level of provenance regions, subregions and ecological sectors (forest types) in Romania, during the period 1951–2020. The results highlight a general shift towards warmer and drier conditions in the last 30 years, the mean annual temperature increasing with 0.3–1.1 °C across the provenance subregions. The De Martonne aridity index for the vegetation season shows that 86% of the ecological sectors fell into the arid and semiarid categories, which indicates a very high degree of vulnerability for forest species. On the Lang rainfall index, forest steppe climatic conditions occurred in all pure or mixed pedunculate oak forests, thermophile oak species, meadow forests, poplar and willow, Turkey oak and Hungarian oak forests. The Ellenberg coefficient highlights that the warming process is more evident along the altitude and the degree of vulnerability increase at lower altitude or at the edge of species distribution. The climate envelopes of many forest species have already shifted to another ecosystem's climate. This paper presents the importance of re-delineation the provenance regions for the production and deployment of forest reproductive materials according to the climate change occurred in the last decades, as a fundamental tool for an adaptive forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper analyzes the trends (such as technological changes, geopolitical changes, institutional changes, climate changes, demographical changes) that occurred after the 2008 crisis and which challenged globalization and the post-World War 2 multilateralism. The proposed hypothesis is that these changes would have changed anyway the world order and international economic relations, but the Covid-19 crisis accelerated, modified, and combined these trends in an unexpected ways. As the world economy and the participating actors need to adapt to the new circumstances, the paper proposes some requirements for the design of a new multilateralism which may lead to a more sustainable and less conflictual world. The conclusion is that challenges and changes, both related and non-related to Covid-19 crisis should be accepted and regarded as opportunities. The final part also presents some specific considerations about the challenges and opportunities for Romania in the post crisis period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]