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Volume XIV |
Hydrology

Flood exposure and settlement vulnerability in the Moldavian Plateau, Eastern Romania

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Abstract: This paper quantifies settlement-level exposure to centennial flood across the Moldavian Plateau (NE Romania) using a reproducible GIS workflow. Official flood-hazard bands were intersected with built-up limits and building footprints; rural housing was completed by manual digitization, while urban fabric relied on OpenStreetMap layer. Exposed population was estimated from household counts using the national average of 2.6 persons/household, with additional rules for apartment blocks. Results are reported at multiple scales—by river basins (Siret, Jijia including Buhai–Miletin–Bahlui–Bahlueț, Bârlad and Prut/Chineja) and urban case studies (Iași, Bacău, Vaslui). The Siret basin concentrates the highest systemic exposure, Prut highlights transport-corridor vulnerability (DN/DJ roads and railway segments), while Bârlad exhibits dense, localized hot-spots. City-level estimates indicate approximately 68,750 exposed inhabitants in Iași, 36,756 in Bacău, and 2,550 in Vaslui under centennial flood scenario, together with clusters of socio-economic assets and critical infrastructure near the hazard band. Key limitations include potential under or over counts in recent developments, block-stairwell granularity, and reliance on census-based household averages. The findings support differentiated risk-reduction priorities: structural measures across Siret sub-basins, transport protection and redundancy along Prut, and targeted local actions in Bârlad. Periodic updates of hazard mapping using LiDAR and hydraulic modeling are recommended to refine exposure estimates and planning decisions.

Keywords: , , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2025.3746.dDates:
Received: 12-09-2025 Accepted: 30-11-2025 Printed: 30-12-2025 Online: 30-12-2025
Affiliations:
  • 1 Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Faculty of History, Geography and Social Sciences, Geography Department, Universității Street, no. 13, Suceava, 720229, Romania
Corresponding author:
  • domenic.becica2@student.usv.ro
Author contributions: Conceptualization, D.R.B. and M.M.; methodology, D.R.B. and M.M.; formal analysis, D.R.B. and M.M.; investigation, D.R.B. and M.B.; writing—original draft preparation, D.R.B.; writing—review and editing, D.R.B. and M.B.. All authors have read and agreed to the published.Declaration of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Funding: This research received no external funding.Acknowledgements: The authors sincerely thank the anonymous reviewers for their detailed evaluations and highly constructive feedback, which substantially improved the quality and clarity of this paper. The authors are also deeply grateful to the editors of Forum Geografic for their continuous support, professionalism, and valuable coordination during the peer-review process.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume XIV |
Environment

Analysis of nitrogen dioxide levels in the atmosphere of cities in the Moldova Region, Romania

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Abstract: The novelty of this study consists in the spatio-temporal analysis of the annual, seasonal, daily and hourly concentration values of the chemical pollutant NO2 , in the 8 counties of the Moldova – Romania Region (24 stations), over a period of 14 years (2009 – 2022), in close connection with its emission sources and with the geographical factors that can amplify or diminish it. The study is representative through the temporal consistency of the data series, through their number, and by the fact that it integrates three different sub-intervals that influenced the levels of NO2: two without restrictions, in which human activity was carried out normally (2009 – 2020 and 2021 – 2022) and one pandemic (centered on 2020) in which the population’s activity was restricted. The average annual concentrations of the pollutant NO2 exceeded the limit values only at the IS-1 station (41.5 μg/m3), due to the intense road traffic on the Red Bridge, the railway traffic and the high degree of urbanization of the indicated perimeter. The effective monthly, daily and hourly average values of NO2 emissions fell within the specific quality indices of excellent, very good and good throughout the studied interval. The maximum values of the concentration of this gas (127 μg/m3 – IS-1 / 17.02.2017) were recorded in winter, due to the intensification of road traffic and the production of thermal energy for heating houses. The specific meteorological conditions (thermal inversions, fog, calm atmosphere) and the local configuration of the relief (the Bahlui valley with a depressional corridor appearance), favored the accumulation and stagnation of the pollutant, without it exceeding the limit values according to Law no. 104/15 June 2011 and without endangering the health of the population. The study provides both an overview and a detailed picture of the atmospheric distribution of NO2 in the eight counties of Moldova and can represent a reporting support for other studies to be carried out in the field of air chemistry at the base of the atmosphere.

Keywords: , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2025.3742.dDates:
Received: 06-11-2025 Accepted: 15-12-2025 Printed: 30-12-2025 Online: 30-12-2025
Affiliations:
  • 1 Doctoral School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Doctoral Field of Geography, 13 Universității Street, 720 229 Suceava, Romania & Applied Geography Research Center (GeA), 13 Universității Street, 720 229 Suceava, Romania and Gymnasium School "Ion Creangă " Suceava, 1 December 1918 Boulevard, 720262 Suceava, Romania
  • 2 Applied Geography Research Center (GeA), 13 Universității Street, 720 229 Suceava, Romania and Gymnasium School No 4 Suceava, 10 Zorilor Street, 720237 Suceava, Romania
  • 3 Doctoral School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Doctoral Field of Geography, 13 Universității Street, 720 229 Suceava, Romania and Applied Geography Research Center (GeA), 13 Universității Street, 720 229 Suceava, Romania and Faculty of History, Geography and Social Sciences, Department of Geography, „Stefan cel Mare“ University of Suceava, 13 Universității Street, 720 229 Suceava, Romania
  • 4 Applied Geography Research Center (GeA), 13 Universității Street, 720 229 Suceava, Romania and Faculty of History, Geography and Social Sciences, Department of Geography, „Stefan cel Mare“ University of Suceava, 13 Universității Street, 720 229 Suceava, Romania
Corresponding author:
  • nistorbobo@yahoo.com
Author contributions: All authors contributed to the conceptualization, methodology, design, and writing of this paper. Data collection was performed by NA and NB, analysis was performed by NA, NB, and MD, and graphical representations were prepared by NA, NB, MD, and BPI. The first draft of the manuscript was drafted by MD and written by NA and NB, and all authors discussed and provided input. All authors reviewed the manuscript and ultimately agreed on the version submitted for review and publication.Declaration of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Funding: This work was supported by a NetZeroCities grant - https://netzerocities.eu/the-netzerocities-project/. NetZeroCities is part of the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, in support of the European Green Deal. At the same time, two of the authors (Nistor Alina and Mihăilă Dumitru) participated in activities within the mobility project no. PN-IV-P2-2.2-MC-2024-0927 (Program 5.2 - Human Resources, Subprogram 5.2.2 - Mobilities Mobility projects for researchers, Competition 2024), by participating in the Czech University of Life Science, Prague, Czech Republic, entitled "Assessment of air quality in the Moldova - Romania Region, based on the principles and monitoring technologies used by the Hydrometeorological Institute in Prague, Czech Republic" (November 16 - December 1, 2024)Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to the environmental specialists from the County Environmental Protection Agencies in the Moldova – Romania (Suceava, Botoșani, Iași, Neamț, Bacău, Vaslui, Galați, Vrancea) for providing hourly data for the pollutant NO2 from the 24 APM stations used in this analysis. We express our sincere gratitude to the editor and reviewers for their support in reviewing and publishing this article.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume XIV |
Geomorphology, Tourism

Geomorphosites and ongoing anthropogenic changes: concepts and implications regarding the heritage value of geotourism sites in the Bran–Rucăr–Dragoslavele Corridor (Romania)

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Abstract: This study contributes to the inventory and understanding of the heritage value of four geomorphosites (two caves, a pit and a partially karstified plateau with anthropic relief of a military tactical device) located in the central part of the Bran – Dragoslavele Corridor, an important tourist axis in the Romanian Carpathians. The main purpose of the research is to propose to the Scientific Council of the Piatra Craiului National Park and the National Agency for Protected Natural Areas the declaration of the four geomorphosites as nature reserves, as they are at risk of being affected by negative anthropogenic actions. The inclusion of these geomorphosites in the PNPC/ROSCI 0194 Piatra Craiului Management Plan could lead to their subsequent declaration as protected natural areas. At the same time, the underground cavities could be declared habitats of national/community interest in the category “Caves closed to public access”. A secondary objective of this study is to promote the concept of geotourism within the geographical area subject to geomorphological analysis. For this reason, it could also be useful to local legal and administrative authorities in the villages of Rucăr, Podu Dâmboviței, Dâmbovicioara and Fundata. Their decisions, in conjunction with those at national level, could lead to the implementation of the concept and the development of geotourism in the region, through the creation of geotourism circuits promoted appropriately, precisely because of the high potential offered by the numerous geological and geomorphological tourist resources existing in the administrative territories of the aforementioned localities. The geomorphosite files inventoried in the central area of this transcarpathian corridor could serve as a basis for information for the promotion and establishment of a large protected natural area that would include (conserve, protect and/or sustainably exploit) the geotourism objectives in the region (other than those included in the “The Gorges of Dâmbovița – Dâmbovicioara – Brusturet Karst Area” Geological and Geomorphological Reserve) and which would bear the proposed name: “Moieciu – Fundata – Dâmbovicioara – Rucăr Geological and Geomorphological Complex” Nature Reserve.

Keywords: , , , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2025.3738.dDates:
Received: 17-11-2025 Accepted: 30-12-2025 Printed: 30-12-2025 Online: 30-12-2025
Affiliations:
  • 1 Faculty of Geography, "Babeș Bolyai" University, 5-7 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania and "Nicolae Titulescu" College, 125 "13 Decembrie" Street, 500164 Brașov, Romania
  • 2 "Silex" Brașov Speleology Club, Romania
  • 3 Faculty of History and Geography, Department of Geography, University of Suceava, Universităţii 13, 720229 Suceava, Romania and Geoconcept Association of Applied Geography, Suceava, Romania
Corresponding author:
  • septimius.trif@ubbcluj.ro
Author contributions: Conceptualization, S.T. and M.M.; methodology, S.T. and A.P.; formal analysis, M.M. and A.P.; investigation, S.T. and A.P.; writing—original draft preparation, S.T.; writing—review and editing, S.T., M.M. and A.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Declaration of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Funding: This research received no external funding.Acknowledgements: Exploration and topgraphy of Pleașa Cave and Pereți Pit was carried out with the support of members of the "Silex" Brașov Speleology Club: Dumitru I. (topographer), Olteanu D. and Pologea A. (topographer). The exploration of Posada Cave was carried out with the support of explorers: Cioban D., Cheran R., and Tănase P.E. (geologist).
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume XIV |
Human and economic geography

Land-use and land-cover patterns of the Himalayan landscape: Goriganga watershed as a case study (Central Himalaya, India)

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Abstract: Mapping and monitoring land use and land cover (LULC) in the Himalayan region are essential for sustainable development planning, ecological assessment and resource management. This study analyses the current (2023) LULC patterns of the Goriganga watershed in the Central Himalayas using field surveys, Google Earth imagery, ALOS PALSAR (12.5 m) elevation data and GIS-based manual classification. The watershed covers 2244 km² and exhibits substantial altitudinal variability (559–7383 m), resulting in distinct ecological and land cover zones. Ten major LULC categories were identified: snow and glacier, barren rocky land, alpine meadows (Bugyals), grassland, forest (dense, moderately dense and scattered), agriculture, built-up land and water bodies. Forests constitute the largest class (34.78%), followed by alpine meadows (27.01%) and snow and glaciers (17.94%). Built-up areas cover only 0.43% of the basin indicating limited human settlement at high elevations. Altitudinal zonation strongly influences spatial distribution, with snow and glacier cover dominating above 4500 m, alpine meadows between 3000–4500 m and agricultural land concentrated below 3000 m. The findings indicate the ecological significance of high-altitude Bugyals and the pronounced vertical stratification of land cover in the Central Himalaya. The updated LULC dataset provides a baseline for future land-use change assessments, environmental monitoring, and sustainable development planning in this climatically sensitive region.

Keywords: , , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2025.3734.dDates:
Received: 30-05-2025 Accepted: 10-11-2025 Printed: 30-12-2025 Online: 30-12-2025
Affiliations:
  • 1 Department of Geography, DSB Cam.pus, Kumaun University, Nainital, 263001, Uttarakhand, India
  • 2 1 & Centre for Space Science and Allied Subjects, University of Ladakh, Leh – 194101, Ladakh, India
Corresponding author:
  • hreza896@gmail.com
Author contributions: Conceptualization: K.S.K., M.R., and R.C.J.; Methodology: K.S.K. and M.R.; Formal analysis: R.C.J.; Investigation: K.S.K., M.R., and R.C.J.; Writing—original draft: K.S.K. and M.R.; Writing—review and editing: K.S.K., M.R., and R.C.J. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscriptDeclaration of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Funding: This research received no external funding.Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to the Department of Geography, Kumaun University, Nainital, for providing laboratory facilities and infrastructure to conduct this research. We also thank the U.S. Geological Survey and the Alaska Satellite Facility for providing ALOS PALSAR DEM data. The authors acknowledge Google Earth Pro for access to high-resolution imagery used in this study.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume XIV |
Various

Mapping the fear-scape of the University of Benin: spatial and social dimensions of perceived safety and their implications for campus life

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Abstract: Fear significantly shapes mobility, learning, and social interaction on university campuses, yet it is rarely analysed as a spatial phenomenon within Nigerian higher-education environments. This study examines the fear-scape of the University of Benin’s Ugbowo Campus, focusing on how environmental design, residential context, and temporal conditions interact to structure students’ perceptions of insecurity. A mixed-method embedded research design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through structured surveys and analysed using Student’s t-tests, MANOVA, correlation and regression analyses, and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) in ArcGIS to model the spatial distribution of fear. Qualitative narratives were used to contextualise and explain observed spatial and statistical patterns. Results reveal temporal and spatial variation in fear perception. Mean fear levels are significantly higher at night (p < .001), with KDE mapping identifying persistent night-time hotspots around hostels (Halls 1–5), the ICT, Life Sciences corridor, and the Faculty of Agriculture areas which are characterised by weak lighting, limited natural surveillance, and ambiguous territorial cues. Correlation analysis shows a strong inverse relationship between fear and perceived security (night-time r = −.401), while regression results indicate that environmental and locational factors explain fear more effectively than demographic characteristics, accounting for approximately 13% of variance. Although women, married respondents, and off-campus residents report higher fear levels, residential context and spatial conditions emerge as the most consistent predictors. Qualitative findings corroborate these results, revealing avoidance of evening lectures, restricted mobility, and reduced social participation in high-fear zones. The study demonstrates that fear on campus is spatially produced and environmentally reinforced, rather than solely individual or demographic in origin. Practically, the findings supported targeted lighting upgrades, surveillance placement, and spatial reconfiguration within identified fear hotspots as concrete planning responses. This established a transferable, spatially grounded model for campus safety intervention rather than generalised security enhancement.

Keywords: , , , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2025.3730.dDates:
Received: 30-10-2025 Accepted: 30-11-2025 Printed: 30-12-2025 Online: 30-12-2025
Affiliations:
  • 1 Department of Geography and Disaster Risk Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Corresponding author:
  • jolly.egharevba@uniben.edu
Author contributions: Conceptualization, J.O.E.; methodology, J.O.E.; formal analysis, J.O.E.; investigation, J.O.E.; writing – original draft, J.O.E.; Proof Reading, P.V.O. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Declaration of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Funding: This research received no external funding.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
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