322
L. Zaharia et al.
and 2010. After 1990, an increase in the frequency of floods with high magnitude was
detected, as well as an increase in the frequency and magnitude of floods occurred in
March–June and September–October [142]. In the Lower Buz˘ au River basin (located
in plain area, in the eastern part of Romania), between 1960–2009, a general downward trend in average (annual and monthly) flow series was detected, except for the
autumn, when upward trends were found, in accordance with increasing precipitation
during this season (especially in October) [143].
In watersheds from eastern Romania, during 1950–2006, a rise of the mean
monthly discharges of rivers was found, correlated with the precipitation increase,
except for winter when declines of the streamflow were identified [149]. In southwestern Romania (in Oltenia region), between 1961 and 2009, the runoff decline was
noticed, as an effect of the increase in climatic water deficit. Statistically significant
negative trends in streamflow were identified especially in spring [150].
10.4.2 Projected Hydrological Changes
Among the first studies in Romania on the hydrological impact of climate changes can
be named the ones in the 1990s [151, 152]. The number of such studies increased after
2000, but especially after 2010 [144, 153–166]. This issue has been also addressed
in several European research projects, with the participation of Romanian institutions (e.g. National Meteorological Administration, National Institute of Hydrology
and Water Management, Institute of Geography of the Romanian Academy etc.).
In this regard we mention the project CLAVIER (Climate Change and Variability: Impact on Central and Eastern Europe) in which ongoing and future climate
changes were investigated (based on observational data and on climate projections)
and regional impacts were assessed [167]. The project CECILIA (Central and Eastern Europe Climate Change Impact and Vulnerability Assessment) aimed to provide climate change impacts and vulnerability assessment in targeted areas of Central and Eastern Europe (including Romania [168]). We also mention the projects
SEERISK (Changing Risks in Changing Climate), focused on changes in floods
and droughts under future climate in the Danube macro-region, including Romania
[169] and the project CLIMHYDEX (Changes in Climate Extremes and Associated
Impact in Hydrological Events in Romania) [170]. In the Carpathian region (including the whole European Carpathian chain with the adjacent areas of the Carpathian
Basin, where Romania is located), researches on the climate changes and impacts on
water resources were performed within some projects such as CarpathCC (Climate
Change in the Carpathian Region) and CARPIVIA (Climate Change Vulnerability
and Ecosystem-based Adaptation Measures in the Carpathian region) [171].
The studies in Romania on the hydrological impact of climate change have been
carried out, generally, at regional or river basin scale, with various areas. The first
papers on this topic were focused on estimating the possible alterations in river
flow regime as a consequence of changes in air temperature and precipitation—data
simulated by the Canadian Climate Center Model (CCCM), supposing that the CO 2
concentration doubles by 2075. The results showed that in the Arges , River basin
L. Zaharia et al.
and 2010. After 1990, an increase in the frequency of floods with high magnitude was
detected, as well as an increase in the frequency and magnitude of floods occurred in
March–June and September–October [142]. In the Lower Buz˘ au River basin (located
in plain area, in the eastern part of Romania), between 1960–2009, a general downward trend in average (annual and monthly) flow series was detected, except for the
autumn, when upward trends were found, in accordance with increasing precipitation
during this season (especially in October) [143].
In watersheds from eastern Romania, during 1950–2006, a rise of the mean
monthly discharges of rivers was found, correlated with the precipitation increase,
except for winter when declines of the streamflow were identified [149]. In southwestern Romania (in Oltenia region), between 1961 and 2009, the runoff decline was
noticed, as an effect of the increase in climatic water deficit. Statistically significant
negative trends in streamflow were identified especially in spring [150].
10.4.2 Projected Hydrological Changes
Among the first studies in Romania on the hydrological impact of climate changes can
be named the ones in the 1990s [151, 152]. The number of such studies increased after
2000, but especially after 2010 [144, 153–166]. This issue has been also addressed
in several European research projects, with the participation of Romanian institutions (e.g. National Meteorological Administration, National Institute of Hydrology
and Water Management, Institute of Geography of the Romanian Academy etc.).
In this regard we mention the project CLAVIER (Climate Change and Variability: Impact on Central and Eastern Europe) in which ongoing and future climate
changes were investigated (based on observational data and on climate projections)
and regional impacts were assessed [167]. The project CECILIA (Central and Eastern Europe Climate Change Impact and Vulnerability Assessment) aimed to provide climate change impacts and vulnerability assessment in targeted areas of Central and Eastern Europe (including Romania [168]). We also mention the projects
SEERISK (Changing Risks in Changing Climate), focused on changes in floods
and droughts under future climate in the Danube macro-region, including Romania
[169] and the project CLIMHYDEX (Changes in Climate Extremes and Associated
Impact in Hydrological Events in Romania) [170]. In the Carpathian region (including the whole European Carpathian chain with the adjacent areas of the Carpathian
Basin, where Romania is located), researches on the climate changes and impacts on
water resources were performed within some projects such as CarpathCC (Climate
Change in the Carpathian Region) and CARPIVIA (Climate Change Vulnerability
and Ecosystem-based Adaptation Measures in the Carpathian region) [171].
The studies in Romania on the hydrological impact of climate change have been
carried out, generally, at regional or river basin scale, with various areas. The first
papers on this topic were focused on estimating the possible alterations in river
flow regime as a consequence of changes in air temperature and precipitation—data
simulated by the Canadian Climate Center Model (CCCM), supposing that the CO 2
concentration doubles by 2075. The results showed that in the Arges , River basin