Hydropower development in the Republic of Georgia and implications for freshwater biodiversity conservation

The Caucasus region is a meeting point for culture and nature, lying at the nexus of Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa, and identified as one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots. The Republic of Georgia, the center of the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot, encompasses a geographically diverse landscape inhabited by a remarkable,...

Remembering traditional craftsmanship: conserving a heritage of woodworking in Rize, Turkey

The rural vernacular architecture in the highlands of the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey has survived over 200 years, yet the local traditions of craftsmanship in wood are disappearing. As these craft skills are no longer being handed down, the value of the intangible heritage that lies behind the vernacular architecture is no longer being...

Pontiella desulfatans gen. Nov., sp. nov., and pontiella sulfatireligans sp. nov., two marine anaerobes of the pontiellaceae fam. nov. producing sulfated glycosaminoglycan-like exopolymers

Recently, we isolated two marine strains, F1^T and F21^T, which together with Kiritimatiella glycovorans L21-Fru-AB^T are the only pure cultures of the class Kiritimatiellae within the phylum Verrucomicrobiota. Here, we present an in-depth genome-guided characterization of both isolates with emphasis on their...

Comparative Performance Analysis of Different Wind Fields in the Southern and North-western Coastal Areas of the Black Sea

This study determines the qualities of atmospheric wind field data in comparison with wind measurements at five locations along the Black Sea coast. For this purpose, four different wind fields were obtained from three different weather centers (NCEP, NASA, and ECMWF). Three of these are reanalyzed winds (Climate Forecast System Reanalysis...

Spectral partitioning and swells in the black sea

The swell climate of the Black Sea has been determined using a long-term 31-year wave hindcast with the thirdgeneration spectral wave model SWAN in combination with spectral partitioning. This technique enables decomposing wave spectra into individual wave systems representing wind seas or swells and computing integral wave parameters of each...

Determination of wave energy potential of black sea

This study aims to assess wave energy potential and its long-term spatial and temporal characteristics in the Black Sea within the TUBITAK research project (Akpınar et al., 2015). With this purpose, a wave model (SWAN model version 41.01 driven by the CFSR winds) over the entire Black Sea was constructed. The model was calibrated using buoy data...

Study on integrated coastal zone management

Concepts and principles of integrated coastal zone management for the countries around the Black Sea. Legal framework and the current state of the coastal zone (Natural condition, anthropogenic pressures, protected areas, interaction, marine transport). Institutional and political frameworks. Analysis of problems and opportunities for...

Feasibility study on the use of a floating breakwater to protect a new artificial beach in Balchik, Bulgaria

The coast of Bulgaria is subject to erosion. Because of this fact, around the town of Balchik, which is situated on the Black Sea coast, almost no sandy beaches are present. Last years there have been vast tourist developments in and around Balchik. Because of these developments, the province demands solutions to adapt coastal protection...

Azov Sea DSS: Evaluation and application

Black Sea Information System: Final report

Integrated water resources management Azov Sea: Main report

Black Sea Information System: Progress report

Anaerobic Oxidation of Ammonium Is a Biologically Mediated Process