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ANALYSIS OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE PHENOMENA FROM THE DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - CAUSES, EFFECTS, SOLUTIONS

Romeo CRETU

Abstract

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to the environment, the social and economic framework. In this paper we analyzed the phenomenon of climate change in the Danube Delta, Romania. In the first part of the study, we analyzed the causes and effects of climate change in this area and finally proposed some solutions to limit the effects of this phenomenon. As a research methodology we used the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the statistical data included in the Romanian Statistical Yearbooks and the European Climate Assessment and Dataset from 1961-2017. The phenomenon of global climate change has a direct impact on the Danube Delta, so the frequency of the drought periods alternating with the heavy rainfall has led to unprecedented variations in the Danube flows. The Danube Delta region has been exposed to an intense heating process in the last 56 years, detected both in annual and seasonal average temperatures and in extreme temperatures. For annual and spring and summer seasons, trends are statistically significant with slopes generally ranging from 0.30 to 0.53 В°C/decade, respectively 0.25 В°C/decade and 0.35 В°C/decade for annual thermal averages, which is a relatively high growth rate compared to other regions of the country and the European continent. As far as rainfall is concerned, the region is the most arid in the country, with multiannual average quantities that are close to the limit of desertification. Some solutions to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon would be to promote the development of a low-carbon economy by taking action to adapt and reduce GHG emissions, develop climate change partnerships and funding instruments. We believe that this study is important for both professionals working in the economic field and for those who are concerned about environmental protection.

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