Black Sea Web = Environmental programmes in the Black Sea

Environmental programmes in the Black Sea

Existing Environmental Programmes in the Black Sea.
1. The Cooperative Marine Science Program for the Black Sea (CoMSBlack)
2. GEF Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP)
3. European River-Ocean System Project (EROS 2000)
4. "Ecosystem Modeling as a Management Tool for the Black Sea" (TU-BLACK SEA)
5. "Wave Climatology of the Turkish Coast: Measurements-Analysis Modeling" (TU-WAVES)
6. Black Sea GOOS : a Step Towards Observation and Prediction System (STOPS) (IOC Pilot Project II)
7. Assessment of the sediment flux in Black Sea, mechanisms of formation, transformation and dispersion and Ecological significance (IOC Pilot Project II)
8. Danube River Basin Programme
9. Danube Delta Project
10. Azov Sea Project
New Environmental Programmes in the Black Sea.

The Cooperative Marine Science Programme for the Black Sea (CoMSBlack)

Program/Project Name The Cooperative Marine Science Programme for the Black Sea (CoMSBlack)

Black Sea Region Total Black Sea Region

Start Date April 1991

Ending Date On Going

Financed by/Implementation Agency Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

Objectives:

to provide an assessment of the natural and anthropogenically-induced environmental changes using historical data;
to determine past and present fluxes of water, sediment, carbon, nutrients, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other selected materials from rivers, atmosphere, straits, and bottom sediments;
to determine the fluxes of carbon, nutrients, organisms, and selected pollutants across the coastal and shelf seas, the shelf break and within the Basin;
to understand the fundamental physical and biogeochemical processes governing the transport, transformation and fates of carbon, nutrients, suspended sediments and selected substances;
to provide a quantitative understanding of the physical and biogeochemical processes and nutrient fluxes affecting primary productivity;
to provide an assessment of man-made and natural influences on the ecosystem structure and function in the water column (phytoplankton and zooplankton) and benthos (selected benthic organisms);
to develop multiple and interactive scale models including general circulation, ecosystem, and regional processes that will be applicable to the studies concerned with the ecology and biogeochemistry of the Black sea; and
to assess space and time scales of general circulation and mesoscale features and their energetics, and processes leading to the formation, spreading and transformation of CIL.

Activities:

International scientific workshops
General Survey
Process Studies
Coastal Seas Circulation Dynamics and fluxes
Modelling

Achievements to date:

Conducted one of the first large International Workshops on the problems of the Black Sea, in Varna, Bulgaria, in September 1991.
Responsible for more than 100 scientific publications in various journals in the US, Western Europe, and the Black Sea countries.
Five multi-ship scientific cruises to the Black Sea, with shared data by all participants.
Conduct of multiple training workshops, cruises, and intercalibration exercises.
Fund-raising for various purposes, including cruises, scientific exchange, scientific programs, etc.
Played a major role in initiating the TU-Black Sea Program for ongoing modelling efforts in the Black Sea.
Participation in international programs to bring the Black Sea to the forefront of scientific concern
Briefing of policy makers and managers to initiate concern over the Black Sea, and to address ways to analyse the problems
Provided scientific exchange for large numbers of scientists between the Black Sea region and external academic institutions.

Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP)

Program/Project Name Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP)

Black Sea Region Total Black Sea Region
Activity Centers:

Emergency Response Varna, Bulgaria
Routine Pollution Monitoring Istanbul, Turkey
Special Monitoring Programmes, Biological and Human Health Effects, And Environmental Quality Standards Odessa, Ukraine
Protection of Biodiversity Batumi, Georgia
Development of Common Methodologies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management Krasnodar, Russian Federation
Fisheries Constantza, Romania

Start Date September 1993

Ending Date 1996

Financed by/Implementation Agency Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Activities:

Emergency Response
Routine Pollution Monitoring -- i.e. the assessment of land-based sources, bathing water quality, etc.
Special Monitoring Programmes, Biological and Human Health Effects and Environmental Quality Standards.
Protection of Biodiversity
Development of Common Methodologies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Fisheries
Data Management and GIS;
Harmonisation of Environmental Quality Criteria, Standards, Legislation and Enforcement;
Environmental Economics

Achievements to date:

Development of Institutional Network
Institution strengthening
Analytic and office equipment provided to countries
National Reports for each activity
Regional Assessments for each activity
Trans-boundary Diagnostic Analysis
Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea adopted in October 1996
Development of Black Sea Information System and GIS

European River-Ocean System Project (EROS 2000)

Program/Project Name European River-Ocean System Project (EROS 2000)

Black Sea Region River Danube - North Western Black Sea

Start Date End 1994

Ending Date 1998

Financed by/Implementation Agency European Union (EU)

Objectives:

to develop an integrated approach to the eutrophication, contaminant problem, particle transfer, sedimentation and biogas production of the north-western Black Sea through the establishment of fine resolution coupled hydrodynamical-biogeochemical models of the river and marine systems in order to describe and predict the response of the coastal ecosystem to natural variability and anthropogenic factors such as changes in land use and hydraulic management

Activities:

Analysis of existing data and their banking
Field work (survey data and process studies)
Numerical experimentation
Training

Achievements to date:

Nutrient changes and structure and functioning of the NW Black Sea ecosystem since 1960: analysis of existing data
Ecosystem dynamics in summer 1995

Ecosystem Modeling as a Management Tool for the Black Sea (TU-BLACK SEA)

Program/Project Name Ecosystem Modeling as a Management Tool for the Black Sea (TU-BLACK SEA)

Black Sea Region Total Black Sea Region

Start Date 1996

Ending Date 1998

Financed by/Implementation Agency North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Science for Peace Programme (NATO - SfP) Coordinated by the Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Turkey

Objectives:

To establish a data base management system in all the Black Sea countries for environmental and oceanographic data pertinent to the goals of this program;
To provide cross-training and unifying scientific equipment and to carry out intensive and extensive joint in-situ observations, as well as monitoring through satellite imagery so as to assist in the development of appropriate infrastructure and capabilities for future research and monitoring activities; and
To develop interdisciplinary community models for the dynamics of the lower trophic levels of the biological community affected by anthropogenic changes and physical processes.

Activities:

Development of DBMS
Training in methodology and in high quality measurements (i.e., intercalibration, inter-comparison and modelling workshops, exercises and seminars);
Provision of unified, high tech scientific equipment;
Currying out of intensive - extensive observations (Multi-ship / basin-wide surveys)
Developing satellite image receiving and processing capabilities;
Support of collaborative analysis and synthesis of past and recent data leading to joint publications;
Development of a communication network.
Development of satellite image receiving and processing system

Achievements to date:

First version of DBMS
The best available ecosystems models have been adopted for the Black Sea applications;
Encouraging results in harmony with observations have been obtained;
Collaboration of prominent scientists in Ecosystem Modelling has been accomplished; and
The efforts are well balanced among the NATO countries and the Co-operation Partners.
A satellite image receiving and processing system established in Erdemli

Wave Climatology of the Turkish Coast: Measurement-Analysis-Modeling (TU-WAVES)

Program/Project Name Wave Climatology of the Turkish Coast: Measurement-Analysis-Modeling (TU-WAVES)

Black Sea Region Total Black Sea Region, as well as along the Turkish coasts on the other seas

Start Date 1993

Ending Date 1998

Financed by/Implementation Agency North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Science for Peace Program (NATO - SfP) Coordinated by the Coastal and Harbor Engineering Research Center, Civil Engineering Department of the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

Objectives:

To improve knowledge on wind/waves over the entire Black Sea and along the Turkish coasts on the other seas and to generate a reliable data bank by operating a network of wave measurements and a system of wave analysis in real time;

To achieve and advanced and reliable wave model which is verified for the Black Sea and the other Turkish coasts, and to make it operational for routine wave forecasts; and

To prepare a wave atlas for the Black Sea and the other Turkish coasts, which will also contain detailed statistical information on wind and wave climate.

Activities:

Standardisation and Software
Wind and Wave Climate
Wind and Wave Modelling

Achievements to date:

A reliable wind and wave-data bank for the Black Sea and the other Turkish coasts;

Black Sea GOOS: a Step Towards Observation and Prediction System (STOPS)

Program/Project Name Black Sea GOOS: a Step Towards Observation and Prediction System (STOPS)

Black Sea Region Total Black Sea Region

Start Date 1996

Ending Date 1998

Financed by/Implementation Agency Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

Objectives:

to implement basic elements of operational network for observation, oceanographic data exchange, assimilation, forecasting, and issue of products for marine ecological applications;
to develop science plan for the Black Sea GOOS programme further development

Assessment of the Sediment Flux in Black Sea Mechanisms of Formation, Transformation and Dispersion and Ecological Significance

Program/Project Name Assessment of the Sediment Flux in Black Sea Mechanisms of Formation, Transformation and Dispersion and Ecological Significance

Black Sea Region Total Black Sea Region

Start Date 1996

Ending Date 2000

Financed by/Implementation Agency Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

Objectives:

Multidisciplinary investigation of the sediment flux, its time-space variability and identification of the key processes of transformation and sedimentation for assessment of the influence for the ecological status of the Black Sea ecosystem;
Reconstruction of recent geological history as a basis for forecasting.

Assessment of the sediment flux in black sea mechanisms of formation, transformation and dispersion and ecological significance

Black Sea Regional Committee Pilot Project 2
DURATION: initial phase 1 year, overall project 4 years
MAIN GOALS:

Multidisciplinary investigation of the sediment flux, its time-space variability and identification of the key processes of transformation and sedimentation for assessment of the influence for the ecological status of the Black Sea ecosystem;

Reconstruction of recent geological history as a basis for forecasting.

OBJECTIVES:

The unique peculiarities of the Black Sea basin makes the general sedimentation models elaborated for other basins of the World Ocean inapplicable. Most of the data available, despite the large number, are restricted mainly to qualitative and quantitative aspects of investigation of the sediment matter, while the information about the nature of the processes and mechanisms are rather scarce. At the same time anthropogenic eutrophication and the related enhanced primary production have been identified as the key ecological problems of the Black Sea ecosystem. All these make the process-oriented studies of the sediment flux crucial to understanding the functioning of the Black Sea ecosystem. Besides, the investigations of paleo-productivity, origin of organic matter and sedimentation and pollution history are important issues for ecological forecasting.

OUTPUTS:
Elaboration of a general model of the recent sedimentation pattern in Black Sea and assessment of the relative importance of the anthropogenic input.
Assessment of the organic load at the sea bottom and identification of the key factors for the hypoxia - benthic mortality mechanism in the shelf zone.
Assessment of the key pathways of pollutants dispersion in the Black Sea.
Reconstruction of the recent geological evolution of the sediments in the Black Sea basin.

Danube River Basin Programme

Program/Project Name Danube River Basin Programme

Black Sea Region Danube River Basin

Start Date 1994

Ending Date 1998

Financed by/Implementation Agency Global Environment Facility (GEF) European Union - PHARE Programme EU-PHARE

Objectives:

Collecting data and establishing national and regional databases and information systems
Providing technical assistance to participating Countries in identifying key problems and developing overviews of the existing situation
Establishing networks for information exchange and providing training and institutional strengthening
Developing a Strategic Action Plan for addressing environmental management problems in the Danube.
Preparing a series of pre-investment studies for high priority investments for local and international funding

Activities:

Accident Emergency Warning System
Applied Research
Data Management
Diagnostic Pre-investment Missions / Studies
Institutional Development
Integrated Regional Environment Studies and Inventories
Monitoring, Laboratory and Information Management
National Reviews
Strategic Action Plan

Achievements to date:

Strategic Action Plan adopted in December 1994
National Action plans developed by each Danube country
Institution strengthening
Development of Danube Accidental and Emergency Warning System
Development of Danube Information System

Danube Delta Project

Program/Project Name Danube Delta Project

Black Sea Region Danube Delta, Romanian and Ukrainian part of Danube Delta

Start Date 1994

Ending Date 1998

Financed by/Implementation Agency Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coordinated by Danube Delta Institute (DDI)

Objectives:
Ukraine:

Protection and enhancement of the Ukrainian part of Danube delta, contributing to conservation of biodiversity within the delta
Strengthening the capacity of Dunayskii Plavni Reserve
To expand and manage the protected areas effectively Romania:
Protection and enhancement of the Romanian part of Danube delta, contributing to conservation of biodiversity within the delta
Strengthening the capacity of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and Danube Delta Institute
To expand and manage the protected areas effectively

Activities:
Ukraine:

Institutional Strengthening
Strengthening of warden's section
Monitoring and database management
Pilot wetland restoration
Public Awareness
Developing and implementing a programme for protected area expansion Romania:
Strengthening of warden's department
Monitoring and database management, including GIS
Restoration of abandoned fish and agriculture polders
Protection of a lake from direct inflow of Danube waters
Public Awareness
Co-ordination with Ukrainian project

Azov Sea Project - The Netherlands contribution

Program/Project Name Azov Sea Project - The Netherlands contribution

Black Sea Region Azov Sea

Start Date 1993

Ending Date 1995

Financed by/Implementation Agency Netherlands Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Watermanagement Coordinated by Delft Hydraulics

Objectives:

the construction and support of a network of research and administrative organisations in the region;
the analysis of available databases, the identification of data gaps and the collection of additional information on the status of the Azov Sea;
the development of models and expert systems which assist environmental policy analysis;
the analysis of a selection of policy options;
the implementation of the methods and instruments which have been developed.

Activities:

Development of Azov Sea Decision Support System

Achievements to date:

Azov Sea Decision Support System transferred to Russia and Ukraine in the end of 1995

Black Sea Environmental Programme Phase II

Program/Project Name Black Sea Environmental Programme Phase II

Black Sea Region Total Black Sea Region

Start Date 1997

Ending Date 1998

Financed by/Implementation Agency Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Objectives:

Consolidation of the Policy Strategy to implement the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan
Preparing the Technical implementation of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan
Public involvement in the implementation of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan
Developing the financing of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan

Activities:

Development and implementation of National Action Plans for the Black Sea
Facilitating a Black Sea Basin Approach
Pollution control and assessment in the Black Sea
Co-ordination of the institutional network and its transfer to the Istanbul Commission
Information and data exchange mechanism
Raising public awareness of the Black Sea environmental issues
Strengthening of the Black Sea NGO's
Involving Local Authorities and other Stakeholders in Designing and Implementing NBS-SAP
Social assessment of the human communities particularly affected by the degradation of the Black Sea ecosystem
Portfolio of Black Sea Environmental Investments
Creation of a Black Sea Environmental Fund
Creation of the Black Sea Environmental Internet Node www.bsein.mhi.iuf.net

Danube River Basin Phase II

Program/Project Name Danube River Basin Phase II

Black Sea Region Danube River

Start Date 1997

Ending Date 1999

Financed by/Implementation Agency Global Environment Facility (GEF)

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The overall long-term objective of this new project is to foster sustainable programmatic, institutional and financial arrangements for effective environmental management and control of a River Basin, in accordance with the International Waters Strategy of GEF Operational Programme. All activities will built upon existing work such as the Danube Strategic Action Plan, National Action Plans, and the Danube Strategic Action Plan Implementation Programme. This project is composed of four objectives to be carried out over 16 months:

Completion of the technical phase for priority identification
Priorities identification
Public awareness and participatory activities to facilitate priority identification
Developing the financing of the Danube Strategic Action Plan

Dnipro River Programme

Program/Project Name Dnipro River Programme

Black Sea Region Dnipro River

Start Date 1997

Ending Date 2000

Financed by/Implementation Agency Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Objectives:

To prepare a Trans-boundary Diagnostic Analysis along the same line as the two in the Black Sea and the Danube, and
To prepare a project proposal for the development of a Dnipro Strategic Action Programme.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (IOC) - UNESCO BLACK SEA REGIONAL PROGRAMME IN MARINE SCIENCES AND SERVICES.

The Programme was established in accordance with the Resolution XVIII-17 of IOC in 1996 for an initial period of four years. The Programme is placed under the co-ordination of the IOC Black Sea Regional Committee. The Programme consists, at its present state, of two Pilot Projects, shortly described bellow:
1. Pilot Project 1 "Black Sea GOOS - A Step Towards Observation and Prediction System (STOPS)".
2. Pilot Project 2 "Assessment of the sediment flux in Black Sea, mechanisms of formation, transformation and dispersion and ecological significance (Black Sea sediment fluxes)"
The Pilot Project 1 "STOPS"
Region : Black Sea
Participants : Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine
Duration : 2 years (initial period)
Overall project goal :
to improve and develop regional capabilities in operational oceanography including observational, predictive and services aspects of multidisciplinary applications.
Specific project objectives :

To implement basic elements of operational network for observation, oceanographic data exchange, assimilation, forecasting, and issue of products for marine and ecological applications;

To develop science plan for the Black Sea GOOS programme further development

Background :
At present the Black Sea countries face severe ecological problems. Ecological state of the sea is getting worse. One of the most important consequences of that is the eutrophication of the seawaters. Risk of major ecological disasters is rapidly increasing because of fast development of oil and gas exploration and production in the region. Several acute problems are caused by sea level rise, which is most likely related to climate change. Sustainable development of the region requires adequate decision making on national and international levels and this is to be based upon adequate scientific support in all maritime activities. This is why development of GOOS in the region has no alternative. Good capabilities exist in the region due to continuing operational work of the WMO World Weather Watch programme and the activities carried out on national levels by the research institutions on specific marine science domains. The further development of regional activities can be e nvisaged in the framework of the GCOS (Global Climate Observing System). Because of present economical situation within the region an external international co-operation is necessary. Nevertheless, there are some obstacles for the development of operational oceanography, which are connected to the following :

the lack of open sea observation, long time series of basic elements, unified methodology and standardised equipment for oceanographic observation;

the insufficient and in-efficient data exchange between national observational networks. As at present the Black Sea requires not only scientific but much more practical support, the eventual goal of initiating the GOOS activities in the region is to achieve concrete practically useful results in minimal possible time. This should be accomplished by enhancement and strengthening of the relevant existing national capabilities and their better use through international co-ordination and capacity building.

Pilot project activities :

Inventory development of existing national observational networks, data processing and predictive tools, models, and review of their scope and capabilities;

Restoration of at least minimal required open-sea real-time or near real-time observational system (not less than one vessel for each participating country reporting in the SHIP code), study of obtaining reduced tariffs for marine observation reporting from ships and coastal stations;

Restoration of BATHY/TESAC observations in the Black Sea;

Time series measurements in defined polygons;

Modernisation according too the existing standards of at least one coastal station in each participating country;

Initiation of Black Sea seal level monitoring programme in association with GLOSS with emphasise on coastal regions subject to flooding and sea level rise impact;

Improvement of regional data exchange and data management including oceanographic data rescue activities with emphasise on biological data;

Use of offshore platforms for marine observations ("GOOS and offshore platforms" initiative).

The Pilot Project 1 strategy is in compliance with regional strategy for GOOS development. It takes into consideration the experience of EuroGOOS, NEARGOOS and other existing oceanographic and environmental programmes.
The Pilot Project 2 "Black Sea sediment fluxes"
Region : Black Sea
Participants : Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine
Duration : 4 years
Main goals :

Multidisciplinary investigation of the sediment flux, its time-space variability and identification of the key processes of transformation and sedimentation for assessment of the influence for the ecological status of the Black Sea ecosystem;

Reconstruction of recent geological history as a basis for ecological forecasting.

Objectives :
The unique peculiarities of the Black Sea basin makes the general sedimentation models elaborated for other basins of the World Ocean inapplicable. Most of the data available, despite the large numbers, are restricted mainly to qualitative aspects of investigation of the sediment matter, while the information about the nature of the processes and mechanisms are rather scarce. At the same time anthropogenic eutrophication and the related enhanced primary production have been identified as the key ecological problems of the Black Sea ecosystem. All these make the process-oriented studies of the sediment flux crucial to understanding the functioning of the Black Sea ecosystem. Besides, investigations of paleoproductivity, origin of organic matter and sedimentation and pollution history are important issues for ecological forecasting.
Main aspects :

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of the different sources of sediment flux formation:

Investigation of the river input in the delta areas of the different geographic locations. Identification and quantitative assessment of abiotic and biotic components and the importance of the anthropogenic input;

Assessment of the atmospheric (aerosol) input in the sediment flux (minerals, trace elements, anthropogenic pollutants, nutrients etc.);

Assessment of the autochthonous components of the sediment flux (particulate organic matter). Mechanism of initiation and dynamics of the plankton blooms in relation to the interaction of the physical, chemical and biological factors;

Investigation of the nature and rates of the processes of sediment flux transformation:

In the biologically active layer;

At the interface zones - river/sea; atmosphere/sea; the vertical gradients (picno- halo-, thermo-clines);

At the water-sediment interface: utilisation, accumulation and up flux; effect on the benthic ecosystem deterioration; transition from the "fluffy layer" to the sediments.

Transport and mechanisms of sedimentation: hydrodynamic, lateral, vertical (aggregation - "sea snow", flocculation, biofiltration - pellets), gravitities, etc.;

Study of the late Pleistocene to Holocene sediments for determining sedimentation rate, paleoproductivity, climate changes, origin of organic matter and pollution history.

The approach:

Field surveys: international cruises (five); "events" surveys to study extreme events - plankton blooms, upwellings, storms etc.; Monitoring at selected polygons.

Remote sensing.

Activities

Sampling to study the suspended and dissolved components of the sediment flux (CTD - rosette system, plankton nets, sediment traps, optic, acoustic, radioisotope and other relevant methods);

Sampling of the sediments (grabs, gravity corer, box corer, sonar scanner, high frequency seismic-acoustic methods etc.) and study of their composition and geochronology;

In-situ and lab experiments to study the processes and the mechanisms of transformation and sedimentation of the inorganic and organic components of the sediment flux and their interactions.

The Pilot Project 2 is in compliance with regional strategy for JGOFS, LOICZ and GOOS Programmes.
Outputs

Elaboration of a general model of the recent sedimentation pattern in the Black Sea and assessment of the relative importance of the anthropogenic input.

Assessment of the organic load at the sea bottom and identification of the key factors for the hypoxia - benthic mortality mechanism in the shelf zone.

Assessment of the key pathways of the pollutants dispersion in the Black Sea.

Reconstruction of the recent geological evolution of the sediments in the Black Sea basin.

The first international cruise in the framework of the Pilot Project 2 was organised in 1998 (September 21 - October 5) on board of the Bulgarian H/V "Admiral Branimir Ormanov". The study area was the Bulgarian section of the western continental margin of the Black Sea. The main tasks of the expedition were:

Hydrophysical, hydrochemical and biological parameters of the main sea water masses;

Grab sampling for sediments and benthos studying;

Seismoacoustic profiling for diagnoses of ancient coastal lines and of the rates of sedimentation;

Deep-water surveys of the bottom and bottom sediment sampling by using the underwater submersible vehicle PC-8.

International Atomic Energy Agency "MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BLACK SEA REGION" TC Project RER/2/003

The Project RER/2/003 is placed under the co-ordination of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is funding the activities in the framework of the project. The project assists the Black Sea riparian states to develop monitoring and emergency response programmes for radionuclides in the marine environment and to assess key processes controlling the fate of contaminants in the Black Sea by using nuclear techniques.
Objectives :
To develop the capacity to assess marine pollution reliability in the Black Sea countries using nuclear techniques and to operate regionally co-ordinated monitoring and emergency response programmes for radionuclides in the marine environment.
Background :
The Black Sea drains a vast land area inhibited by 1600 million people and collects water-borne waste from 17 countries. The 1992 Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution classified radionuclides among "hazardous substances and matter" owing to their toxicity, persistence in the environment and bioaccumulation characteristics. The countries in the Black Sea region ranked radionuclides as a priority issue amongst marine pollutants on the basis of public concern related to the Chernobyl accident, the risk associated with some of nuclear facilities in the Black Sea basin, and possible waste related problems. However, despite their potentially harmful effects on environmental and human health, radionuclides can provide unique information required for assessing the fate of pollutants.
Project Plan and Main Activities:
The project is structured in three phases:
During the first phase (1995-1996), the project succeeded in identifying the training, expertise and equipment needs in the Black Sea laboratories, in defining a comprehensive programme addressing these needs and in initiating its implementation.
The second phase (1997-1998) focused on capacity building, testing proficiency and application of the acquired capabilities for regional co-ordinated marine pollution monitoring and assessment. In 1997 a very intense training and capacity building activities were carried out. The UN adopted 1998 as the International Year of the Ocean and the Project marked this event by organising an International scientific cruise RADEUX (September 1998) involving 30 scientists from all Black Sea countries. The IAEA organised the International Symposium on Marine Pollution in Monaco in October 1998. Coincidentally with this Symposium, a Meeting of the Ministers of Environment from the Black Sea Region was held under the TC project RER/2/003. A common Declaration of Member States defining a strategic plan for the protection and rehabilitation of the Black Sea environment was signed.
The third phase (1999-2000) will strengthen the functional capacities created, complete the environmental assessment started in 1998 and issue recommendations and guidelines for future activities. Methodological harmonisation will be enhanced through commonly adopted procedure guidelines. QC-QA will be continued through intercomparison exercises and technical missions to participating laboratories. A computerised project database and reporting system will be developed. Dispersion and radiological assessment computer models will be implemented. A second scientific cruise will be organised to the eastern Black Sea to continue the assessment programme initiated by the 1998 RADEUX cruise.
Activities within the Project will be co-ordinated with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission - UNESCO and the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea.
Project impact:
Participating laboratories in the Black Sea area will be capable of analysing marine samples for all significant radionuclides and of applying radiotracer techniques to study the fate of non-radioactive pollutants. This capability is necessary for carrying out ongoing national and international programmes. Harmonised methodologies, co-ordinated monitoring and good quality data will create a reliable basis for Black Sea environmental management decisions at regional level. The project will make a significant contribution to the UN Global Programme of Action for Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Activities.

BLASON (Black Sea Over the Neoeuxinian) French-Romanian co-operation with international participation

The Blason project is the result of a letter of intention drafted at the annual Symposium organised by GeoEcoMar in Romania - October 1996 - by an international group (Romania, France, Germany, USA, Russia). The project was established in the framework of French-Romanian co-operation and consisted mainly in organising a research cruise aboard of the French oceanographic research vessel "Le Sur�it" (April22-May22 1998) for geophysical and geological survey of the Black Sea.
Region : North-western Black Sea.
Participants : IFREMER (France), GeoEcoMar (Romania), UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG (Germany) and LAMONT DOHERTY OBSERVATORY (USA).
Duration : 5 years.
Overall project goal:
to decipher the sedimentary records of sea level changes in relation with regional climate change during Late Quaternary. Objectives: the main objectives of BLASON cruise were to investigate sedimentary records and processes across the NW margin of the Black Sea during Late Quaternary, in relation with climatic and sea level changes, as well as the neotectonic processes.
Background :
This area is of particular interest because it corresponds to the main depocenter related to large rivers, especially the Danube. The project address questions to the effects and records of relative sea level changes (global glacio-eustatic sea level changes, complicated by fresh water input variability, by the sill effect of Bosphorous and by neotectonism), sediment record of climatic variability in Central and Eastern Europe, in relation with Eurasian, Alpine and Siberian ice sheet evolution during Quaternary. The origin of organic carbon, in relation with changes in the physical regime of the Black Sea and in sediment and water supply is also an important issue for studying.
Measurements :
during the cruise were accomplished 4,500 km of multi-channel seismic reflection profiling, 500 km of multibeam swath bathymetric mapping and acoustic backscatter imaging (in depths <1 km) that was accompanied by extremely high-resolution digitally-recorded profiling with both sparker, mono-frequency and swept-frequency (CHIRP) sound sources, and 38 sediment cores targeted to sample the erosional and depositional landscapes and bedforms developed in glacial and post-glacial time. Present-day stage: after the cruise, the international team is processing the huge amount of geophysical and sampling data.

Program/Project Name	Black Sea GOOS: a Step Towards Observation and Prediction System (STOPS)
Black Sea Region	Total Black Sea Region
Start Date	1996
Ending Date	1998
Financed by/Implementation Agency	Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
Objectives:
to implement basic elements of operational network for observation, oceanographic data exchange, assimilation, forecasting, and issue of products for marine ecological applications; to develop science plan for the Black Sea GOOS programme further development

Program/Project Name	Dnipro River Programme
Black Sea Region	Dnipro River
Start Date	1997
Ending Date	2000
Financed by/Implementation Agency	Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Objectives:
To prepare a Trans-boundary Diagnostic Analysis along the same line as the two in the Black Sea and the Danube, and To prepare a project proposal for the development of a Dnipro Strategic Action Programme.