Note: This data set was first published on the 1998 CAPS CD.
The text for this document was taken unchanged from that CD.
See also Description of Data Files.
ROMANIA
GEOCRYOLOGICAL DATABASE FOR ROMANIAN CARPATHIANS
Geocryological Database for Romanian Carpathians is based on both BTS measurements (bottom temperature of winter snow cover) and on summer temperatures of springs situated at the base of rock glaciers. The former were made using digital thermometers in February and March, the latter using digital and mercury thermometers in August and September at the end of the period of estival melting.
The measurements have been made in the Detunata Mountains (D) from Apuseni Mountains and in Retezat Mountains from Southern Carpathians
(R) (Fig. 1).
The Retezat Mountains are situated in the Southern Carpathians (Transylvanian Alps), where many peaks are higher than 2500 m. Moldoveanu Peak in Fagaras Mountains is 2544 m, the maximum for the Romanian Carpathians. In Retezat Mountains, with 10% of the surface area above 2000 m, the highest point is Peleaga Peak, with 2509 m a.s.l.
Glacial cirques and valleys are fundamental geomorphic elements in the landscape of the highest area of Retezat Mountains, having originated from Pleistocene glaciers, which reached altitudes of 1050 -1100 m a.s.l. during their maximum extension. The interaction of paraglacial processes and periglacial phenomena produced a variety of periglacial forms: rocck glaciers, block fields, rock streams, talus cones and scree slopes, cryoplanation terraces and solifluction forms.
The climatic conditions specific for the high zone are cold; mean annual temperatures are below 0 deg.C above 2000 m (- 0.5 deg. C at Tarcu, 2180 m, - 2.6 deg.C at Omu, 2505 m), with an absolute minimum of -38 deg. C. The number of days with frost is 200-254, and the number of freezing-thawing cycles is more than 125, with frost being possible during the whole year. The mean annual precipitation is 1178 mm at Tarcu and 1278 mm at Omu. The thickness of the snow layer can be between 50 and 370 cm and is in function of wind; the upper limit of the forest is between 1750 and 1800 m.
Please cite these data as follows:
Urdea, P. 1998. Permafrost monitoring and prediction in Southern Carpathians, Romania. In: International Permafrost Association, Data and Information Working Group, comp. Circumpolar Active-Layer Permafrost System (CAPS), version 1.0. CD-ROM available from National Snow and Ice Data Center, nsidc@kryos.colorado.edu. Boulder, Colorado: NSIDC, University of Colorado at Boulder.
RETEZAT MOUNTAINS
Permafrost occurence in the area Pietrele -Galesu (Retezat Mountains) on the basis of BTS measurements and estival temperatures of the springs situated at the base of rock glaciers front: 1- permafrost present, 2 - permafrost possible, 3 - peak, 4 - ridge, 5 - rock glaciers., 6 - rivers and lakes, 7 - BTS mesurements, 8 - spring measurement.
Site no: RRG 1
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 52' 29'' E
Latitude: 45o 22' 50'' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1: 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m):2005 - 2050
(feet):
Aspect (slope orientation):
North X
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 5 - 18
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) : rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained
Well drained X
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine X (with sporadic medium shrubs of Pinus mugo)
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface
Vegetation cover (%): 12
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks: BTS Results (Rock glaciers Pietrele)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
------
Site no: RRG 2
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 52' 52'' N
Latitude: 45o 22' 02'' E
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1: 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 2250 - 2260
(feet):
Aspect (slope orientation):
North X
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 7 - 20
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) : rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained X
Rapidly drained
Well drained
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface X
Vegetation cover (%): 0
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
BTS Results (Rock glaciers Curmatura Bucurei)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
-------
Site no: RS 1
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 52" 30'' E
Latitude: 45o 22'50'' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1 : 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 2005
(feet):
Aspect (slope orientation):
North X
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 5
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) : rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained X
Well drained
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine (with sporadic shrubs of Pinus mugo)
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface
Vegetation cover (%): 12
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
-------
Site no: RS 2
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 52' 31'' E
Latitude: 45o 22' 29'' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1 : 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic DEPARTMENT
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 2025
(feet):
Aspect (slopeorientation):
North X
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 5
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify): rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained X
Well drained
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine X (with sporadic medium shrub of Pinus mugo)
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface
Vegetation cover (%): 8
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
Site no: RS 3
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 53' 39'' E
Latitude: 45o 23' 04'' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1: 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 1960
(feet):
Aspect (slopeorientation):
North
Northeast X
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 6
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) : rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained
Well drained X
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine (with medium shrub of Pinus mugo)
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface
Vegetation cover (%): 18
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
Site no: RS 4
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 54' 19'' E
Latitude: 45o 22' 24'' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1 : 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 2205
(feet):
Aspect (slopeorientation):
North X
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 11
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained X
Well drained
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface X
Vegetation cover (%): 0
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
Site no: RS 5
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 54' 21'' E
Latitude: 45o 22' 25'' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1 : 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 2203
(feet):
Aspect (slopeorientation):
North
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest X
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 7
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) : rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained X
Well drained
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface X
Vegetation cover (%): 0
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
Site no: RS 6
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 54' 25'' E
Latitude: 45o 22' 27'' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1 : 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 2210
(feet):
Aspect (slopeorientation):
North X
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 21
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify): rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained X
Rapidly drained
Well drained
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface X
Vegetation cover (%): 0
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
Site no: RS 7
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 22o 54' 54'' E
Latitude: 45o 22' 48'' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1 :25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 2130
(feet):
Aspect (slopeorientation):
North X
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 14
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) : rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained X
Well drained
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine (with sporadic medium shrub of Pinus mugo)
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface
Vegetation cover (%): 9
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
DETUNATA MOUNTAIN (APUSENI MOUNTAINS)
Fig. 3. Detunata Goala - morphological sketch map and BTS measurements: 1 - cliffs, 2 - debris, 3- rock glaciers front, 4 - peak, 5 - BTS measurements, 6 - cemented ice, 7 -dendrochronological date, 8- spring, 9. forest limit .
Site no: D 1
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timioara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 23o 12' 46'' E
Latitude: 46o 16' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1 : 25 000, ed. 1978, Military Topographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 1100 - 1125
(feet):
Aspect (slopeorientation):
North
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest X
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 5 -27
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) : rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained
Well drained X
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest X
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface
Vegetation cover (%): 47
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
Site no: D 2
Source of data:
Name of investigator: dr. Petru Urdea
Name of institute: West University of Timisoara,
Dept. of Geography
Data type:
Temperature log X
Borehole log
Site visit description
Other:
Location:
Longitude: 23o 12'45'' E
Latitude: 46o 16' N
UTM:
Geodetic datum: topographic map 1: 25 000, ed. 1978, Military To[pographic Department
Elevation a.s.l.:
(m): 990
(feet):
Aspect (slopeorientation):
North
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest X
Complex (undulating)
Level
Slope angle (degree): 18
Landform:
Blanket
Fan
Hummock
Inclined
Level
Rolling
Ridged
Steep
Terraced
Undulating
Veneer
Other (specify) : rock glaciers
Material:
Anthropogenic
Colluvial X
Eolian
Fluvial
Lacustrine
Alluvial
Residual
Morainal (till)
Volcanic
Marine
Organic
Bedrock
Ice
Other (specify)
Texture of material:
Clay
Silt
Loam
Coarse, gravelly X
Diamicton
Drainage:
Very rapidly drained
Rapidly drained
Well drained X
Moderately well drained
Imperfectly drained
Poorly drained
Very poorly drained
Vegetation type:
Closed coniferous forest
Open coniferous forest X
Deciduous forest
Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest
Grassland
Wetland (including peatland)
Tundra, alpine
Tundra, high shrub
Tundra, medium shrub
Tundra, low shrub
Tundra, broken herb
Unvegetated surface
Vegetation cover (%): 78
Anthropogenically disturbed site:
Yes
No X
Fire history: there were no fires
Remarks:
Fig. 2
Fig 1 and 3
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