Sf. Gheorghe Research Station
Sfantu Gheorghe Marine and Fluvial Research Station – University of Bucharest is based in Danube Delta, Romania. It is the home of the Coastal Research Group of the Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, which is a small but enthusiastic group of researchers, dealing with a wide range of coastal topics: coastal landscape evolution (deltaic lobes, barrier spits and islands), coastal geomorphology (beach morphodynamics, foredune development, nearshore sandbars behaviour), coastal climate (storm evolution and impact, climate variability), nearshore hydrodynamics, river mouth behaviour.
Contact Details
Adress: Main Street, nr. 137, Sfantu Gheorghe, Tulcea region
Tel/fax: +40723.264.913
History
Sfântu Gheorghe Marine and Fluvial Research Station (SCMF) is the home of the Coastal Research Group of the Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest. It has operated since 2002 at Sf. Gheorghe village, Tulcea County, providing local support for developing research and educational activities in marine and coastal sciences. SCMF is a national leading actor in monitoring, analyzing, understanding, and predicting the behavior of coastal, marine, and fluvial systems in support of optimal management of coastal resources and activities.
Research direction
Complex studies to investigate deltaic and coastal environments – e.g. analysis of the influence of storms, floods and sea level rise on deltaic and coastal ecosystems;
– Monitoring and evaluation of water and sediment dynamics within wetlands and coastal areas;
– Monitoring and evaluating detailed changes in submerged and immersed topography, as well as other parameters (land use measurements and vegetation dynamics) that influence species adaptability;
– High precision mapping (millimeter accuracy) of water surfaces (lakes, Danube, Black Sea coastal area);
– High precision mapping (millimeter accuracy) of deltaic and coastal emersed surfaces;
– Itinerant monitoring of the vertical distribution of river and nearshore marine currents;
– Continuous monitoring of vertical distribution of marine currents;[…]
- Continuous monitoring of marine conditions (wave height and direction, speed and direction of coastal currents, water level, turbidity);
- Analysis of land use, vegetation dynamics, phenophase change, wetland distribution, beach humidity under different conditions;
- Analysis of the spectral response of different environmental elements (vegetation, water, sand, etc.) in different bands of the visible and infrared spectrum, in order to calibrate satellite images;
- Complex studies to investigate the evolution of deltaic and coastal environments;
- Monitoring and evaluation of water and sediment physical and chemical properties;
- Analysis of past climate conditions and paleoclimatic reconstructions;
- Analysis of aquifer dynamics, water quality (for example, the source of polluted waters; eutrophication) and water resources.
Fieldwork and laboratory equipment
1. MObile module for monitoring (biodiversity, geodiversity)
This section encompasses nine distinct submodules, each contributing essential characteristics to advance hydrographical understanding and environmental insights. Delve into precise underwater landscape mapping, water flow dynamics, and comprehensive seabed analysis across various specialized systems. Explore the integration of data from these submodules, unraveling 3D current profiles, wave dynamics, and real-time environmental parameters. Elevate scientific exploration with continuous offshore monitoring, delivering crucial insights into waves, currents, and meteorological conditions.[…]
2. Module for sample analysis (geodiversity)
The sample analysis module of the laboratory consists of complex research equipment covering a wide range of applications designed for inter-correlated analysis of water, soil, sediment, and rock samples. It integrates analysers of the physico-chemical and optical properties of aquatic systems in the Danube River-Danube Delta-Black Sea area with specific equipment for granulometric and physico-chemical analyses of sediments and with equipment necessary for the imaging, compositional, and structural analysis of environmental samples[…]
