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Climate Detectives Projects 2023-2024

Project title: Urban wet areas

Colegiul National de Informatica Matei Basarab   Ramnicu Valcea   Romania

Research question

Cum influențează o apă curgătoare activitățile umane recreative?

Summary of the project

Our field activities were carried out on days when climatic conditions were favorable for travellig and for collection of data of interest. Olănești River valley from the town of Rm. VĂąlcea is spectacular in the diversity of fauna and vegetation, but also in terms of the appearance of biotope. In large size ,that is a proof of the flooding produced in a certain year. Upstream we discovered portions on which rocks and boulders on the shore were large. Abundant precipitations have increased water flow and the rocks have origins from the source area of ​​the Căpățănii mountains towards the discharge.. Downstream, the authorities have built dams that limit the effects of possible floods and the riverbed has been arranged in places with waterfalls that enhance its charm. From the spill area into the river Olt was formed a small delta, with a specific vegetation where the reed prevails and which offers favorable conditions for nesting certain species of birds. It is also remarked the wild duck, which is normally a migratory bird, but whose specimens often jernate in this area! We also met cormorants. Fish fauna is represented by te caras (Carasus aratus gibeio), ciean Leuciscus cephalus), rosioara (Scardinices erythrophthalmus) and so on.

Main results and Conclusions

Cum influențează o apă curgătoare activitățile umane recreative?

In November 2023, our school held “The Green Week”(an environment-related event), during which a group of pupils surveyed 450 people about humans’ interaction on the environment. The answers were surprising, and with them in mind, we embarked on a journey of researching the Olănești River. We walked along its valley in order to study and observe it ( You can see the rough area we studied here: https://imgur.com/a/KaQR5JP ). We determined the temperature, pressure and wind speed in the river’s area using the proper instruments (such as the barometer, thermometer and anemometer) and we also found some information via the media and EO Browser. During our study, we noticed that in the delta formed at the spot where the river spills into the great Olt river, the authorities have cut the reed in some places where amateur fishermen fish as a recreational activity because the fish are too small to be eaten; after the fish are caught, they are thrown back into the river. In places where reed hasn’t been cut, it serves as a hiding spot for birds such as ducks to nest and lay eggs. The river’s debit changes every year and we believe it’s related to the climate change caused by the global warming. In some years, the river’s debit is higher due to heavier precipitations, while in other years, it’s much lower due to less precipitations. For example, in July 2014 and May 2017, the water’s level rose a ton. Fortunately, the city wasn’t flooded because the river is dammed in our area. (You can see a picture of the 2014 flood here: https://imgur.com/a/vFU34sP ). Also because of climate change, the wind breaks some of the trees’ branches or pulls them out of their roots.
We wish to continue our study because we believe such problems can be prevented if we have enough information.

What’s Next? Actions to make a difference and help lessen the problem

If you look to history, you’ll notice that human agglomerations always beneficiate from having a water body nearby. RĂąmnicu VĂąlcea is situated in a depression through which two important waters flow through: Olănești River and the great Olt River. Its a city where vegetation is rich, whether it’s about natural ecosystems such as the forest on the Capela Hill or man-made parks. In collaboration with the Olt Water Basin Administration, we want clean up the area close to where the river spills into the great Olt. ( https://imgur.com/a/NGWeIvO ). The specialists from the Administrations will briefly present the river’s ecology to us. We will also tell them all about our observations. We will continue to study the ethology of the animals specific to Olănești River’s Ecosystem because during our study we noticed a pack of dogs which were trying to feed on the birds there. We will help the authorities to clean the zone further so that the fishermen and everyone who passes by the river can enjoy an unaltered and beautiful environment. We wish to expand the zone which we study all the way to Olănești. The vegetation attracts us to keep going on with our study since the scenery is beautiful. We will also make a presentation later this month about our project in our school and try to get as many pupils as possible to join us in our activities. We also want to analyze the quality of the river’s water together with the specialists from the Olt Water Basin Administration to find out more about it.
Although we put in great effort, our study is small in the big scheme of things, but, if all of us would do small things like this, our planet would be far more beautiful.

Project presentation

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