ARIDITY, CLIMATIC PHENOMEN OF DANUBE DELTA

Lungu Marius, Plesoianu Daniela, Panaitescu Liliana, Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania

Abstract

Aridity is a major risk for a permanent climate Danube Delta. Water resources and quality are declining, and this is a severely limiting factor for both Danube Delta and internationally, particularly with increasing aridity due to global warming predicted by some climate scenarios. Knowledge of aridity is necessary to explain the characteristics and geographical landscape of the rational use of water resources. Definition and characterization of intense aridity that was done by several methods and indicators, from Lang's rain factor (1920), continuing with the index of aridity is Martonne (1926), Thornthwaite aridity index (1948), moisture deficit and UNESCO aridity index ending with 1979. The aridity index Martonne (1926) was recently amended by Murai and Hund (1991) to match the classification of vegetation in the world, but its use in the international literature has not yet so far. Danube Delta aridity is evident by all climatic aridity indices presented above, can be addressed and additional indicators. Increasing aridity due to global warming is a real hazard, with the threat of desertification.

Keywords: aridity, climatic risk, desertification, Danube Delta