The Black Sea is situated in the Northern Hemisphere, in the temperate zone, by its geographical coordinates (40˚55' and 46º32' north latitude, 27º42' and 41º42' east longitude). Because of its limited connection with the Planetary Ocean, and lying within the European continent, we can consider it a continental sea. Its main morphometric elements are – area of the sea waters of 421,638 km² (without of 38,000 km² of the Azov Sea), maximum depth 2,245 m, average depth 1,288 m, water volume 529,955 km³, shore length 4,869 km, hydrographic basin 2402,119 km² and it covers 21 states. Concerning the genesis and evolution of the sea depression, there have been issued more hypotheses about the age of the Black Sea, among which more interesting one say that the sea was formed in the Precambrian, in the medium-upper Mesozoic and in medium Neozoic and finally, assuming it was formed in the Quaternary era. The morpho-bathymetric configuration allows the identification of the main morphostructural units that characterize most of the tectonic sea basins’ type – shelf (continental platform), marginal depression (the continental base) and abyssal zone (the abyssal field). The climate conditions, hydric balance with the variation of the water oxygen level, hydrogen sulphide and eutrotrophication are also presented. Policies for the management of the Black Sea environment were developed through many projects.

In an era marked by rapid urbanization and environmental transformation, the application of Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing technologies plays a pivotal role in understanding and mitigating the impacts on natural ecosystems. This study aimed to use remote sensing and GIS to detect changes in surface water and wetlands in the Kumasi Metropolis over a period of 20 years (2002-2022). Landsat images were processed using the QGIS software, and the Maximum Likelihood Algorithm was used to perform supervised classification of land use land cover, while raster calculator aided in detecting wetlands by calculation for NDWI, MNDWI, and AWEI. The results showed that the majority of the landscape in the Kumasi metropolis was made up of built-up areas (79.4%), followed by agricultural lands (13.3%) and wetlands (7.3%). Over the 20-year period, built-up areas had gained 20.7% of the total landscape, while agricultural lands and wetlands had lost 16.7% and 4.0%, respectively. All water index methods recorded an increase in non-water cover and a loss of water cover over the period, with surface water decreasing by 5% and non-water land cover increasing by 5%. The study concludes that there have been changes in wetlands and surface water land use and land cover within the Kumasi Metropolis over the past 20 years, and recommends the enforcement of legislation on surface water protection in the area to protect wetlands

Street flooding has become a common feature of most coastal towns in Nigeria especially during the rainy season. Calabar has had its fair share of urban flooding since the late 60's when it assumed the status of a capital city. Indeed, the influx of population into Calabar from the rural hinterland of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States resulting in the expansion of residential areas and the multiplication of paved surfaces including roads and sidewalks, have aggravated this menace. A lot of marginal lands and swamps have been reclaimed in the process, leading to about 50 percent loss of wetlands. Looking at it from this perspective, one may be forced to conclude that human factors have been largely responsible for the Calabar flood problem. Yet without the physical element of heavy rainfall, topography and poor drainage the town would not experience a single square meter of flooded surface. This paper examines the topographical features of this estuarine town sandwiched in between two rivers, the Great Qua and Calabar Rivers and concludes that flooding in the city emanates from its topography and a geosyncline which dissects the town. Indeed, the streets are flooded by flood water outlets from this great depression. Hence, any solution to the Calabar street flooding problem must revolve around the stabilization of this great geosyncline or depression and an understanding of its tributaries. With regards to waste management, the situation in Calabar is fairer than other Nigerian towns. Yet much needs to be done in the area of funding, staff attitude to work, waste disposal habit of individuals, vehicles and equipment etc.

Assessing the resilience of the Chikwawa district in Malawi against hydrometeorological hazards using the UNDRR disaster resilience scorecard method. Climate change's impacts, especially Hydrometeorological hazards, are intensifying globally. In Malawi, extreme weather events like tropical cyclones, torrential rain, and flash floods have become annual occurrences over the past decade. These events have affected millions, resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths, with economic losses exceeding $800 million in the last decade. A lack of comprehensive assessment of hazards and community resilience has left the study area vulnerable and unprepared. This study addresses this gap by evaluating community resilience, considering both vulnerability and capacity to manage climate-induced risk. This study uses the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Scorecard which is structured around the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, to assess Chikwawa District's resilience to Hydrometeorological hazards. The study area faces various hydrological hazards: flash floods, riverine floods (both inevitable) and mud fall flows (very likely). It also faces meteorological hazards: tropical cyclones (inevitable), wind, and storm surges (both extremely likely). With an overall score of 38 out of 141 (27% compliance with the Sendai Framework) and a resilience score of 151 out of 590 (25%). This study identified that the study area is acutely lagging behind with regard to the putting in practice of the Sendai Framework recommendations. Thus, the area is highly vulnerable to Hydrometeorological hazards and urgent actions need to be taken.

Understanding the environmental impact of air transport is an important objective in establishing sustainable transportation, as well as in shaping the future of aviation. In this study, we attempted to determine the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the activities of the Romanian airline TAROM in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic placed the aviation sector in a critical situation worldwide, and the post-crisis period has also presented numerous challenges for airlines. Improving competitiveness, achieving profitable operations, and, not least, ensuring the most environmentally friendly operation possible pose significant challenges for airlines. A key question is to what extent air transport can become sustainable and what decisions and developments are necessary to achieve this goal. To answer this, it is essential to first map out aviation emissions at both the national and airline levels. The case of TAROM illustrates well that the specific emissions (emissions per passenger) can show considerable variability from year to year, depending on factors such as the types of aircraft used, the routes operated, the average load factor of flights, and the emission reduction measures implemented at the corporate level.

The manifestation of erosion processes on the relief and the geographical environment presents a series of particularities imposed by the flat plain space, located near or even in contact with the Danube valley. An important influence on the development of the processes is given by the activity of the anthropogenic factor, manifested especially by the agricultural cultivation of field surfaces, used as agricultural land. The anthropogenic intervention is done through the complex of agricultural works, starting from ploughing, cultivating, weeding, applying agrochemical amendments and reaching the arrangement of irrigation systems and bringing water from the Danube, by pumping upstream on the canal network. Carrying out a study in such a direction requires the identification of representative areas for Bărăgan, establishing the degree of anthropogenic impact in the development of erosion processes manifested especially on the soil. Against the background of the quantification of field research and by applying a calculation formula, a series of specific indices are obtained that are analysed in establishing the characteristics of the erosion processes. The results obtained are not so impressive in their spectacularity, because the relief of this space is not varied, but they aim to highlight the lesser-known aspects of the morphological dynamics that a flat plain space can have.

Presently, immense attention is on sustainable developments because of the energy crisis, which has inundated the world at an alarming level. As a result, sustainability has become a major consideration that must be given priority while planning and developing modern urban areas. This study examined thermal signatures from selected colours of housing envelopes (roofing materials) used for construction in most rural and urban areas in Nigeria. Data for the study comprised thermal readings from 5 different colours of these materials collected over morning, afternoon and evening periods. Analysis of Variance, ANOVA, was used to test whether the variation across various colours and temporal periods was significant. Findings show that green roofing material has an average reading of 39.80C, while black roofing material has an average of 55.60C. Besides, orange-coloured material has an average of 34.10C, while beige colour has an average of 34.70C. Silver colour has an average of 32.10C. From the result of the analysis, it was discovered that there exists a significant variation in the thermal absorptive characteristics of the roofing materials considered. Temporally, high temperature >400C was observed to have been emitted from black and green colours all through afternoon and evening periods suggesting that these colours have high thermal absorptivity. It was therefore recommended that urban development authorities, architects and homeowners should always adopt the right and efficient colours of roofing materials to reduce high incidences of heat absorption and transfer from these materials and also conserve energy that would have been used for cooling or warming. Colours with high reflectivity should be used if a maximum cooling effect is desired. Black and green colours should be avoided in tropical regions due to low solar reflectivity, high thermal absorptivity and heat flux. Building owners should avoid substandard and untreated building materials (non-cool roofs) during roofing construction for good ambience.

This review explores the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing risk management for road and rail transport systems, with a particular focus on the Eastern European context. In an era marked by increasing exposure to natural hazards and aging infrastructure, artificial intelligence technologies offer innovative tools for predictive maintenance, object detection, and real-time hazard monitoring. Drawing on five international case studies, the analysis synthesizes key developments and identifies potential applications relevant to the Eastern European region, demonstrating how technological advancements can serve as models and inspiration. Emphasis is placed on integrating artificial intelligence with Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing, highlighting how these technologies can support early warning systems and spatial decision-making. The paper discusses current limitations in the region, including gaps in funding, data infrastructure, and institutional readiness, and proposes directions for future research and regional policy strategies. The analysis underscores the necessity of adopting intelligent systems to enhance the resilience and sustainability of transport in hazard-prone areas.

The upper course of the Olt River traverses two major intramontane depressions in the Carpathians: the Ciuc Depression and the Brașov Depression, separated by the Tușnad Gorge. The differentiated origin of the surrounding mountainous areas is reflected in the characteristics of the relief and the substratum, which directly influence the vertical dynamics of the river channel. The analysis focuses on cross-sections at four hydrometric stations: Tomești, Sâncrăieni, Micfalău, and Feldioara. Based on the difference between water level elevation and maximum depth, the thickness of the rock layer (hp) was calculated relative to the zero datum of the hydrometric gauge. The monthly variation of this value expresses channel aggradation in the respective sections. Differences are identified with respect to the range of vertical dynamics, characteristic periods, and linear and polynomial trends.

Any tourist experience is shaped by a series of factors that leave their mark on the destination, including elements of accessibility and visibility. If a destination benefits from additional recognition by being included on specific official cultural routes, tourist signage becomes mandatory. This article aimed to investigate the impact of tourist signage on traditional villages, focusing on Poiana Negrii, in the context of their inclusion on thematic cultural routes such as the Via Transilvanica. The survey conducted in November 2025 in the selected case-study area revealed 26 tourist signage elements, a density indicating the presence of the Via Transilvanica route in the territory, as well as references to tourist attractions that support various forms of tourism (spa tourism, ecotourism). On the other hand, the analysis of reviews on the Google Maps platform (n=3339) associated with locations within Poiana Negrii shows tourists’ interest in Țara Dornelor and, implicitly, in Poiana Negrii, which they associate with specific architectural landmarks, etc. Tourists perceive Poiana Negrii as an emblematic place of Bucovina’s ethnographic identity, where natural, architectural, gastronomic, and social heritage blend harmoniously. Nevertheless, the evaluation of tourist signage in Poiana Negrii reveals significant discrepancies in quality and positioning, highlighting a lack of visibility and maintenance, which points to the need for a clear strategy to improve tourist information and overall visitor experience.