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LAND - SEA INTERACTION. SOUTHERN DOBROGEA COASTAL POTABLE WATER SOURCES AND UPPER QUATERNARY BLACK SEA LEVEL CHANGES

Glicherie Caraivan, Dan Vasiliu, Jenica Bujini, Bogdan-Adrian Ispas

Abstract

The coastal area is the field of continuous interaction of marine hydrodynamic factors with those that act on the land. Since the prehistory, human communities have settled in this area, having access to both marine and land resources, drinking water being the most important. The Black Sea level is the drainage base level to which the surface waters of its hydrographic basin flow, but it also influences the groundwater dynamics. Southern Dobrogea is a typical geologic platform unit, divided in several tectonic blocks by a regional WNW – ESE and NNE – SSW fault system. Four drinking water sources have been identified: surface water, phreatic water, medium depth Sarmatian aquifer, and deep Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous aquifer. Surface water sources are represented by several springs emerged from the base of the loess cliff, and a few small rivers, barred by coastal beaches. The cyclic Upper Quaternary climate changes induced drastic remodeling of the Black Sea level and the corresponding shorelines. During the Last Glacial Maximum (MIS 2), the shoreline retreats eastwards, reaching the 100-120 m isobaths. In these conditions, the surface drainage base level was very low. The Holocene Transgression (MIS 1) determined a sea level rise up to the modern one. During the Greek colonization, the rising sea level caused the salinization of the previous drinking water phreatic sources. In these conditions, in the Roman Age, a new hydraulic infrastructure had to be developed, using aqueducts for available inland water delivery.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2021/1.1/s01.010

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