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The Black Sea coastal nowcasting and forecasting system was built within the framework of EU FP6 ECOOP project for five regions: the south-western basin along the coasts of Bulgaria and Turkey, the North-Western shelf along the Romanian and Ukrainian coasts, coastal zone around of the Crimea peninsula, the north-eastern Russian coastal zone and the coastal zone of Georgia. The system operates in the real-time mode during the ECOOP project and afterwards. The forecasts include temperature, salinity and current velocity fields. Ecosystem model operates in the off-line mode near the Crimea coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Maritime & Marine Sciences is the property of Ordu University, Fatsa Faculty of Marine Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union represents an important moment in the extension of Western European democracy to the Black Sea region - a meeting point of the European, Euro-Asian and Islamic security areas. The aim of this paper is to present an analytical evolution of the EU policies towards the post soviet countries from the Black Sea region. The objectives of this paper are: to describe the Eastern Dimension of the European Union's Policy, in order to understand the role of the EU in the region; to analyze the policy of the Russian Federation and its influence in the post-Soviet space; and to present the role that Turkey plays in the region. The Eastern Partnership has sent a positive signal with the aim of changing the climate and supporting the rapprochement of eastern countries to the European Union. From the perspective of this research, geopolitics is used to analyze the policy of the EU towards the post soviet countries from the Black Sea region. This article analyses the background on which the EU has developed its eastern oriented policies, their evolution, the current situation and future perspective, also taking into consideration the situation between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, but also the positioning of Turkey. The main conclusion of this article is that the Black Sea region has gained a great importance not only for the EU but also for other non-EU countries from this region, but especially for the Russian Federation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bells are recorded in many published excavation reports from Roman sites, but there has been no previous study of the British material. This paper explores the significance of bells in the Roman world from both a ritual and a functional perspective. We create a first typology of Romano-British bells, provide an understanding of their chronology and examine any spatial and social differences in their use. Special attention is paid to bells from funerary or ritual contexts in order to explore the symbolic significance of these small objects. Bells from other parts of the Roman world are considered to provide comparisons with those from Roman Britain. The paper demonstrates that small bells were used as protective charms and may have been preferentially placed into the graves of children and young women. The paper identifies a new, probably Roman type of bell that has no parallels within the Empire, although similar pieces occur in first- and second-century graves in the Black Sea region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, extended geography encircling the Black Sea has begun to evolve into a multi-polar chaotic regional system and since then, this region has never been free of disputes over land frontiers. Besides border clashes, contestations over the control of energy resources and routes has been escalating since the 1990s and emerged as yet another dimension to explain the region’s diplomatic unpredictability. Under the shadow of these conflicts, regional players have been experiencing difficulties in formulating nonaligned and sustainable foreign policy strategies. They have been mostly unable to bring their common interests to the forefront and fallen behind in their regional integration objectives. Numerous cooperation attempts have remained inadequate in regards to standards such as scope, sphere of influence and permanency. Weak structure of regional integration and reluctance for its deepening create doubts about the region’s future stability. This paper first reviews the policy context of the Black Sea geography. It focuses on the Black Sea cities’ engagement into this context and mainly asks what kind of role, if any, cities play for facilitating diplomatic ties and alleviating systemic-level controversies. Building on the literature on city diplomacy, the paper elaborates on motivations behind and limits over such alternative levels of interactions and comments on their future geopolitical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper looks at how Russian policies towards the Black Sea countries have affected its relations with the European Union (EU), departing from Russian foreign policy and how its goals are projected in this area. The analysis seeks to shed light on how Russian political dealings conflate or clash with EU policies developed towards this space. Is the Black Sea area a space for convergence or instead is it promoting dissension in this bilateral relationship? Does Russia understand the EU as a ‘game changer’ in the area? To what extent does the involvement of other external players, such as the USA, with their different policy goals, affect political relations in this complex geography that is the Black Sea area? The paper argues that Russia has promoted a policy towards the Black Sea in line with its main foreign policy goals, and that regarding the EU, it has been following and (re)acting to EU policies and actions in diverse ways, though the Russian rhetoric towards the EU has been harsher than its political moves, due to an understanding of the EU as being a limited player in the area. Therefore, Russia does not perceive the EU as a potential ‘game changer’. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this paper is to explain the flux in the European Union (EU) policies towards the Black Sea region with a particular comparative focus on the impact of the EU's operations in the South Caucasus and the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Moldova. This paper adopts the prospect and process of EU enlargement towards Central and Eastern Europe as a breakthrough in the EU's deeper rapprochement with the Black Sea region. By assuming that the EU has a variety of instruments at its disposal for crisis management, this paper suggests that the EU is relatively more powerful with its framework initiatives in dealing with the problems of the region at the grass-roots level, more so than as a security actor assuming direct roles including the operative side of the Common Security and Defence Policy in the resolution of the regional conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria. More specifically, this paper argues to what extent the three-and-a-half operations in the Black Sea are successful in presenting effective solutions to the region's conflictual situations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper looks at the European Union (EU) democratization efforts in the Black Sea region. It shows that there is a clear correlation between the state of democracy of the countries of the region and the degree of their rapprochement with the EU. When it comes to the European Neighbourhood Policy or, more precisely, the Eastern Partnership, the EU's impact has been rather low due to disabling factors inside the partner countries. The paper points to the fact that the democracy-promotion agenda in the Black Sea region is rather driven and dominated by the EU, whereas multilateral cooperation in the region focuses on issues of a more functional nature. The countries of the region do not have a democratization agenda without the EU playing a proactive role. The paper argues that the EU should aim at making democracy an issue of multilateral cooperation in the region to top up its own bilateral efforts with individual countries. One of the ways would be to enhance synergies between the civil societies of the countries. As a first step, it would make sense to include representatives of Turkish and Russian civil society organizations (CSOs) in the work of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. Additionally, the EU could promote a democracy-related agenda among the existing multilateral institutions of the region. Finally, it would make sense to enhance the democracy-exporting role of the countries of the region that are showing better progress. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact that oil and gas sector has on the global competitiveness of the economies of the countries of the Black Sea Region, measured by the Global Competitiveness Index, with the use of unbalanced panel data techniques for the period from 2006 to 2015. Factors concerning oil and gas sector as fuel exports, oil and gas prices, oil rents, and governance are used as independent variables. Both fixed and random effects models are estimated, and the validity of these models is assessed with the use of Hausman test. Our results are discussed and compared to relevant literature concerning other oil and gas producing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrated assessment of the ecological status of marine waters is considered the ultimate goal under Marine Strategy Framework Directive in order to provide an overview of the current ecological state of the marine environment. The aim of this paper is to provide the first integrative evaluation of the ecological status of Romanian Black Sea waters. The Nested Environmental Status Assessment Tool (NEAT) uses an ecosystem-based approach, excluding the "one-out, all-out" (OOAO) very restrictive principle. For the Romanian Black Sea waters case study, NEAT version 1.4 was tested. The current evaluation was performed based on more than 50 indicators, aggregated into the evaluation in a comparable and systematic way. The evaluation was performed under 7 out of the total 11 descriptors according to MSFD: D1 (Biodiversity), D2 (Non-indigenous species/current evaluation performed only for non-native zooplankton species), D3 (commercial fish, both pelagic and demersal), D5 (Eutrophication), D6 (seafloor integrity), D8 (Contaminants) and D9 (Contaminants in biota). The assessment period was 2012 - 2017. The study area was divided into four Spatial Assessment Units (SAUs): variable salinity, coastal, shelf and offshore waters. NEAT classifies each SAU from ecological point of view relying on the considered ecosystem component and habitat type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ichthyoplankton and zooplankton were studied from samples collected from the Romanian Black Sea area, in 2019. The aim of the paper is to show the interrelation between ichthyoplankton, microzooplankton, mesozooplankton and gelatinous zooplankton and to analyse the spatio-temporal distribution of these components. The communities were analysed both from qualitative and quantitative point of view, giving an insight over the component dynamics. Prey-predator relation is strongly related to marine organism's development stage, environmental conditions, trophic interactions. The reproduction of the fish species and the development of the larvae is closely related to the environmental conditions, the breeder's stock state, the trophic base, but also to the relation between prey-predator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the chlorophyll (a, b) and carotenoids pigments content of the macroalgae species with the highest frequency and abundance in the Romanian Black Sea coast, namely green alga Ulva rigida C. Agardh. (1823). At the same time, it was considered to evaluate the possibilities of further exploitation of the mentioned algal species in order to capitalize the determined pigments for the biotechnological purpose on the future. The algae were harvested from 9 stations distributed along the Romanian Black Sea coast during May, 2019. The spectral analysis of the algal extracts confirmed the presence of the chlorophyll pigments, and the values of the analyzed pigment concentrations (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids) indicate a possible recovery in the biomedical and pharmaceutical field. The natural pigments are usually useful for food supplement to optimize body metabolic system, immunity, detoxification, minimize inflammation and hormonal system balanced. The Black Sea algae continue to pay particular attention to isolation, purification, chemical characterization in order to obtain biologically active substances and new bio-nanopharmaceutical formulas for innovative therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a review of the up to date knowledge about the coastal environmental transformations around the Greek settlements along the present-day Romanian shoreline. The aim is to define a general pattern of the morphological configuration the Greeks were looking for when establishing their colonies. Existing quantitative and qualitative database on shoreline evolution both along the low lying deltaic sector (N) and along the soft rock cliffs along the southern sector of the present-day Romanian coast together with the present day morphological configuration analysis at each study site were used to assess large spatial (~180 km alongshore) and temporal scales (ca. 2500 yrs) of coastal behavior. The coastal dynamics during the late Holocene was controlled by the deltaic lobes development along the northern part of the present day Romanian coast which led to important shoreline progradation and subsequent isolation from the shoreline of Histria and Orgame Greek cities. The continuous sediment input depletion, sea level rise, storms set-up, longshore transport system and local tectonic activity drove the cliff line retreat along the southern sector, with important parts of the Tomis and Kallatis settlements being lost to the sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union's (EU) environmental concerns vis-à-vis the Black Sea stem from various factors such as: the quest of the EU to reaffirm itself as a global actor; the development of the legal–institutional framework that regulates the relations between the EU and its near abroad; and the enlargement process, which provided the EU with direct access to the Black Sea shores. Following an institutionalist approach, this paper analyses how the EU's concerns, strategies and institutional/policy responses to tackle environmental problems in the region have evolved over time. Drawing on the concept of ‘actorness’, it discusses to what extent the adoption of an effective EU-led approach to environmental issues may strengthen the role of the EU in the region and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The influence of human uses, especially the urbanization and economic activities in the coastal zone have transformed the coastal erosion from a natural phenomenon into a growing problem. The paper aims to analyze and present several important aspects of the influence of the anthropic factors on the coastal erosion along the Romanian Black Sea coast, attempting to answer the following question: what is the framework of development that the coastal zone of the Black Sea could access in order to diminish as far as possible the coastal erosion? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper examines a set of funerary data from ancient Gorgippia on the Black Sea and seeks to explore how burial material, with its exceptional potential for displaying identities, was used as a stage for expressions of culturally-complex identity communication. The paper investigates the applicability of code-switching theory in this particular context - what potentially can be gained in terms of new insight into this culturally-diverse archaeological complex and where do the limitations lie? Firstly, the paper discusses some thoughts on burials as suitable archaeological sources for identity expressions. Secondly, it touches briefly on various aspects of code-switching, identities and identity construction, before moving on to examine the main case study, Burial II, 1975, from Gorgippia, modern Anapa. Finally, some conclusive thoughts on how the mechanisms of visual code-switching can translate into the study of burial complexes are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Anatolian Environmental & Animal Science is the property of Bulent Verep and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper analyses the main aims of the EU policy of combating climate change in relation to the climate change effects and action to combat them in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. Having in view the requirements of the EU climateenergy package, the paper puts forward some recommendations for decision-makers meant to help adapt the Black Sea region countries to climate change through adaptation measures and align them to the EU standards in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses some features in Freesia refracta pigment system and possible use of this option as a plant diagnostic characteristic on the resistance in limiting environments. The study included freesia cultivars and hybrid forms selected in the Russian Research Institute of Horticulture and Subtropical Crops, which had different flowering terms. A detailed analysis was provided on any changes in the photosynthetic pigments content during the growing process. There are parameters of slow chlorophyll fluorescence induction (vitality index, ratio of photosynthetic activity and estimated coefficient of photosynthetic activity) in the leaves of different cultivars and hybrid forms. In order to determine the dependences between photosynthetic pigments content and parameters of slow chlorophyll fluorescence induction in freesia cultivars and hybrid forms pair correlation coefficient; it was calculated between these features among all hybrids and cultivars in general. The relationship recorded between optical indicators, and structural features of the pigment system will allow us to develop a method of rapid diagnosis of photosynthetic activity in freesia on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the morphological characteristics and length-weight relationships of Sciaena umbra (Linnaeus, 1758) belonging to the Sciaenidae family, which is represented by five species in the Mediterranean basin and two species in the Black Sea, were investigated. Sampling was carried out in the Black Sea Region (Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon) between March 2019 and February 2020. A total 54 of individuals were sampled and 15 different metric measurements were performed in each sample to determine their morphological characteristics. The mean total length and weight were estimated as 357.8 mm (117-580) and 845.3 g (16.4-2485.1), respectively. Total length was compared with morphometric characters and the lowest ratio was found with eye diameter (4.3%) and the highest ratio was with anal distance (59.9%). In the relation between the total length and morphological characters of the highest and the lowest correlation were observed in dorsal distance with r2 =0.993 and the anal height with r2 =0.938. A strong correlation (r2 = 0.993) was found between the total length and weight relationship and the growth was positive allometric b> 3. This paper reports the first documented of morphometric characteristics of the species. It is considered to contribute to fisheries biology and international scientific literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the end of the Cold War, the Black Sea countries have undergone significant changes in their domestic, regional and global contexts. These shifts entailed important consequences for the political and economic re-structuring of the region, with an increasingly important role played by the European Union (EU) and NATO in anchoring these countries to Euro-Atlantic institutions. However, conflict resolution has remained one area where EU countries have been reluctant to play a more visible role, neglecting to systematically address the fact that the permanence of the conflicts undermines all efforts of regional stability and development. Considering this mismatch, this paper addresses the EU's conflict-related policies in its Eastern neighbourhood and argues that although the EU perceives itself as a force for regional peace, its neighbourhood policy has also brought short-term dynamics of destabilization, namely, by unsettling Russia's leading security role, and as a result of the EU's unclear political prospects towards the Black Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An introduction is presented to the issue of the journal that discusses topics such as European Union policies towards the Black Sea region, instability following the Cold War, and international cooperation.

For the present paper 35 specimens of sea mullet (Mugil cephalus) from different age groups were investigated. The material was collected between May 2010 - September 2011 along the coast, the main points are two: Varna Bay and the mouth of the river Veleka. The main objective of the study was to establish the food spectrum of mullet, and thus a connection could be made between food components. The methods which were used and defined to study the food spectrum and the relationship between different food components are as follows: frequency of occurrence and dominance index of the nutritional components; the filling index and stomach emptiness index, as well as selectivity coefficient of a meal.Results showed that detritus, zoobenthos (Rissoa sp. and Trochammina inflate - 71.43%) and macrophytes (Cladophoraceae family - 63.64%) dominated in stomachs. Several potential toxic species were also found: Amphora coffeaeformis, Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima, Pseudo-nitzschia seriata, Prorocentrum cordatum, E. pyriformis, P. minimum, Protoperidinium crassipes. The results for the frequency of occurrence (pF) showed that the most common in the stomach of a mullet of the macrophytes are the species of family Ulvaceae - 45.5% ; family Cladophoraceae - 45.5% ; of phytoplankton - Navicula spp (109,09%).; of zoobenthos: Nematoda g.sp. - 42.9% and Trochammina inflate - 28.6 %. The low emptiness index (0.0857) defines the grey mullet as an often eating fish. The small fish reaching up to 3-4 cm eat phytoplankton and zooplankton. Until now, research on the food spectrum of sea mullet by the Bulgarian sector of the Black Sea have not been conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that fir, being a shade-tolerant tree species, form selection forests which have naturally self-specific increment and growth laws. Because of that they are managed as even-aged forests or in the direction of allowable cut formulas which are not suitable to its natural structure, their optimum structures and ecosystems of these forests being spoiled. With the applied management form contrary to the concept of today's sustainable forestry, these fir forests are managed at a level of very small increment. Whereas, if they are managed as selection forest, both its ecosystem improvement and sustainability will be provided and a contribution will be made to the economy of the country, running them with an increment potential equal to or more than 13 m3/ha. In this paper, the information about increment and growth laws which provide posibilities to manage the Black Sea Region fir forests as selection forests will be given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of Engineering Geology & the Environment is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, tourism has become the most dynamic item of Black Sea countries' economy that provides new workplaces as well as constant income. This paper aims to analyze the dynamics of accommodation units of the six Black Sea countries in recent years, to compare the development of the material base in each country and make some proposals to improve tourism activity on the Romanian coast of the Black Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Black Sea area forms a vital bridge between the East and West, mostly in terms of transport and energy supplies. It is in fact a region of enormous geo-political sensitivity and latest round of enlargement of the European Union brings the EU right up to the shores of the Black Sea. The Black Sea Region (BSR) is understood by the European institutions to reach well beyond the sea's actual shores. It includes three EU Member States, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and one candidate state, Turkey. It also includes Russia, Europe's major strategic partner to the East and a number of countries identified as Europe's neighbourhood: Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. This paper is focused on showing regional concerns on marine environment protection and pollution prevention along with safety and security considerations in order to get a clear road of European integration with a clean and secured Black Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to establish a causal relationship between the threat of 'frozen conflicts' in the former Soviet space and the evolution of regional cooperation by analyzing the bilateral and multilateral policies designed by the European Union in order to address security and democratic governance in the Eastern neighborhood. At first, we discuss the prospects for the development of multilateral cooperation between the EU and six Eastern countries by means of the Eastern Partnership policy. Then, we analyze how regional cooperation in the Black Sea Region has evolved under different cooperation frameworks, focusing on the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, the GUAM Organisation and the Black Sea Synergy. This section aims at establishing the main factors which advance or impede the progress of regional cooperation in the Black Sea Region. In the end, we discuss the proposal regarding a potential 'EU Black Sea Strategy' as a more coherent and more effective contribution by the EU to the build-up of regional integration and enhanced security in the post-Soviet space and the extended Black Sea Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tide gauge (TG) data along the northern Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts are compared to the sea-surface height (SSH) anomaly obtained from ocean altimetry (TOPEX/Poseidon and ERS-1/2) for a period of nine years (1993–2001). The TG measures the SSH relative to the ground whereas the altimetry does so with respect to the geocentric reference frame; therefore their difference would be in principle a vertical ground motion of the TG sites, though there are different error sources for this estimate as is discussed in the paper. In this study we estimate such vertical ground motion, for each TG site, from the slope of the SSH time series of the (non-seasonal) difference between the TG record and the altimetry measurement at a point closest to the TG. Where possible, these estimates are further compared with those derived from nearby continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) data series. These results on vertical ground motion along the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts provide useful source data for studying, contrasting, and constraining tectonic models of the region. For example, in the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea and in the western coast of Greece, a general subsidence is observed which may be related to the Adriatic lithosphere subducting beneath the Eurasian plate along the Dinarides fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood is one of the oldest traditional construction materials used for religious and civil architecture in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. Samsun, located in the central Black Sea Region, has qualified examples of wooden mosques in rural areas. In the scope of this paper, two wooden mosques (Dere and Karlı), located in rural areas of Kavak district (Samsun), were studied in detail with an interdisciplinary study. We aimed to emphasize the historical value of both mosques by determining their building dates, defining their conservation problems and offering proper conservation approach principles. While the Dere Mosque was registered as immovable cultural heritage by Samsun Regional Council of Conservation, Karlı Mosque has not yet been registered. However, both mosques have similar conservation problems, caused particularly by improper management such as unqualified interventions, abandonment, neglect and fire risk. For the sustainability of wooden religious heritage, it is important to reveal the historical value of the mosques and to develop detailed conservation proposals. We believe that this research will guide the quality refurbishment of wooden structures with similar conservation problems in the region and stimulate the protection of wooden heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on history of Soviet Union's Black Sea vineyards and wineries. It states that the northern Black Sea littoral was deemed a promising climate for wine grape, and mentions that Russian Empire's Black Sea vineyards never became a bona fide rival to the West European wine economies. It mentions that the Soviet Union produced little self-conscious reflection on the way fine wine was supposed to taste, or what distinguished good wine was supposed to taste.

The paper presents results of a detailed subdivision of Holocene sediments in the region of the Kuban River delta into climate-stratigraphic units and reconstructions of the vegetation, climate and depositional environment changes on the Taman Peninsula (NE Black Sea region) during the last 7400 years. The reconstructions are based on data from geological-geomorphological and lithological-facies analysis, palynological studies and radiocarbon dating of six sections penetrated by boreholes in various parts of the Kuban River delta. The studied lithological sequences present an assortment of liman , fluvial, lacustrine and marsh sediments, as well as subaerial deposits that accumulated in the course of the delta development. The factual materials thus obtained provided the basis for reconstructing changes in zonal vegetation types and transformations of zonal and intra-zonal formations in the Holocene landscapes of the Taman Peninsula, induced by changes in edaphic conditions and regional climate. Seventeen phases (stages) have been recognized in the evolution of vegetation and climate through the Middle and Late Holocene, and a detailed description is given to every phase. A detailed pollen-climate-chronostratigraphic scheme of the Black Sea level fluctuations over the last 7400 years is proposed. Steppe and forest-steppe landscapes were dominant on the Taman Peninsula over the greater part of the studied period of the Holocene. The warmest and most arid conditions were typical of the phases dominated by steppes with grass, herb and grass, and pigweed-wormwood (Chenopodiaceae- Artemisia ) plant communities. Such phases were dated to intervals ∼4660–4400, 3780–3430, 2910–2280, 1540–1230 and 900–830/730 cal yr BP. The most humid intervals within the studied period are dated at ∼5160–4900, 4400–3780, 2280–1540 cal yr BP. They were distinct because of the dominance of broadleaf (mostly beech-oak-hornbeam) forests. Those humid intervals most likely correspond to the maxima of the Kalamitian, Dzemetinian, and Nimphaean Black Sea transgressions. The climatic indexes and zonal attribution of the dominant plant communities can be matched with six transgressive and seven regressive sea level fluctuations of various ranks over the last 7400 years. Of the six transgressive stages, one stage was marked by a relatively cool and humid climate, whereas five others occurred under warm and wet conditions. The regressive stages include four phases of relatively warm and dry climate and three periods of dry and relatively cold (or cool) climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tide gauge records comprise of relative sea level change and vertical land motion, while satellite altimetry provides absolute sea level change in the Earth’s center fixed frame. Accordingly, the difference of both observations can be used to estimate geocentric vertical land motion along the coasts. In this paper, the vertical land motion rates are investigated at 13 tide gauge sites along the Black Sea coast by analyzing differences between Tide Gauge (TG) and Satellite Altimetry (SA) observations. Furthermore, the estimated vertical motion rates are compared with those from nearby the Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. The results show general consistence with the present geodynamics in the Black Sea coastal region. For example, our estimates support the general subsidence at Bourgas and Varna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the serious leisure perceptions of people with different characteristics who participate in street basketball. The study group consists of a total of 278 participants taking a part in street basketball activities in the outdoor basketball courts on the coastline of Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize and Artvin provinces situated in the Black Sea region of Turkey. A survey form, prepared by using a personal information form and a serious leisure scale-short form, was used to obtain the research data. Designed by Gould et al. (2011), the Serious Leisure Scale was adapted into Turkish by Isik et al. (2020). The SPSS 26.0 statistical package program was used in all statistical calculations and the findings were considered significant at the p<0.05 level. As a result of the analyses, some significant differences were found between the sub-dimensions of the serious leisure scale and the participants' age, job status, levels of participation, sports spans, and leisure intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, the potential regional impacts of the European Union full memberships on the Turkey's dairy sector were analysed using a Spatial Equilibrium Model with 12 NUTS 1 regions as well as the European Union as being another region. According to the results, Turkey starts importing butter mainly to the Istanbul region and powder milk to the Black Sea regions, while exporting white cheese from Istanbul and plain yoghurt from the Central Anatolia and the North-eastern Anatolian regions. In the process of the European Union full membership, agricultural policies must focus on the enhancement of milk productivity to decrease the cost and to improve hygiene to meet the European Union standards for a smooth accession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although maritime transport is the cheapest transportation mode, the management of ships is very costly. Ship management companies try to get the minimum cost and highest profit using ships effectively and efficiently. Therefore, they need to carry out shipment planning at the optimum level. The purpose of this research is to perform the optimum shipment planning of six ships in different sizes and capacities in a Ro-Ro fleet belonging to a ship management company operating in the Black Sea Region. On the basis of data obtained from the company that had problems in operating ships in its fleet effectively and efficiently, a model in A Mathematical Programming Language has been created, and this model has been solved with the GNU Linear Programming Kit, a mixed-integer program solver. Shipment planning has been conducted within the framework of six ships and a 1-year planning horizon, and profit maximization has been determined as the objective function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Erzincan University Journal of Science & Technology is the property of Erzincan Binali Yildirim Universitesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the energy integration in the Black Sea region with the new pipelines connecting Europe and the Caspian and the bypass of Russia to Ukraine through Turkey. Topics discussed include the development of pipelines to ship gas, the changing gas balance in the region, and the gas distribution in the region.

Russia's second invasion of Ukraine initiated in February 2022 serves as a definitive break in the security of the wider Black Sea region. This article first explains the problem the region is currently facing and calls for a new concept to ensure the collective West's more active presence in this geographic area. The strategy should also involve measures to contain a more aggressive Russia. It will be argued that Russia is unlikely to abstain from further destabilizing the Black Sea region and will use more coercive methods to preserve its dominant position. The article begins with elaborating the idea of the Black Sea not as a space of competition, but as a space of economic cooperation. The Black Sea has not always been a region of economic and military divisions, but quite often served an interconnector of several intersecting regions with different cultures and economic models. The article then, drawing upon this short historical analysis, pays special attention to Turkey's changing position and presents a set of political moves the West can pursue to improve its rather weakened position in the wider Black Sea region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Planlama is the property of TMMOB Sehir Plancilari Odasi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Romanian Journal of Forensic Science is the property of Romanian Forensic Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the 1980s, the Bulgarian Centre for Underwater Archaeology, led by Dr Kalin Porozhanov, undertook limited work on a post medieval wreck lost off Cape Urdovize, near the town of Kitten. In 2000, the Institute of Nautical Archaeology and the Centre for Underwater Archaeology returned to excavate and record the shipwreck in detail. The largest and arguably most important artefact was the hull itself, as it is the first complete excavation of a Black Sea merchantman, dated to the late 18th or very early 19th century. This paper offers a complete and corrected description of the structure of the vessel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Genetika (0534-0012) is the property of Serbian Genetics Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Aquatica Turcica is the property of Isparta Uygulamali Bilimler Universitesi, Egirdir Su Uruleri Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The genetic and synoptic classifications of the Novorossiysk Bora are created using the data of daily observations at the Novorossiysk meteorological station and other available synoptic information. Obtained are the quantitative criteria of these classifications, and on this base worked out are the basic scenarios of the generation and evolution of this dangerous phenomenon on the Black Sea coast of Russia. According to the genetic classification, the Bora was divided into four types: frontal, air-mass, monsoon, and gravity. Quantitative criteria worked out for each type can be used for the more accurate forecast of this destructive phenomenon near Novorossiysk. According to the synoptic classification, four classes were distinguished: Azores, North Atlantic, Siberian, and Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europe is almost completely dependent for her energy on outside suppliers. In recent years the European Union (EU) has not succeeded in reducing the energy dependencies by diversification, a keyword in European strategic papers (see, COM 2008 781 final). This makes the European Union as a geopolitical player in the world arena rather vulnerable. Especially the countries in Central and Eastern Europe are almost completely dependent for their gas supplies on Russia. Some countries in the Central and European space are trying to modify this state of affairs. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Romania have agreed upon in April of this year to transport gas from the Caspian Sea via the Black Sea to Europe bypassing Russia. Later this year Hungary also has joined this so-called AGRI consortium. As a result, EU-member states will be less dependent on the gas pipelines that are carrying Russian gas through states that are under Russian control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased interest in water quality in coastal and marine areas stemming from the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive has led to important questions in relation to policies that address nutrient loadings. This paper presents the results from a choice experiment study to assess the recreational damage associated with algal blooms caused by nutrients flows into Varna Bay, Bulgaria. Varna Bay is an important beach destination on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Algal bloom events have been experienced frequently in the area. A choice experiment questionnaire was developed and applied in the Varna Bay area to assess the extent to which the quantity of algal blooms and the duration of the bloom affect recreational activities. The amount of bloom was found to be important, as respondents were on average willing to pay a one off tax of 18.97 Leva (€9.73) for a program that provides beaches free from algal blooms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]