Voiculescu Mircea

West University of Timisoara · Department of Geography

Mountain hiking trails are vital components of tourist infrastructure and provide recreational opportunities for a large number of tourists. Exposed roots along the tourist trails in the forested mountains are impacted by tourist trampling and various natural processes, thus becoming even more exposed and eroded. The aim of our study was to estimat...

Mountain hiking and biking trails are important components of the tourism infrastructure, represent opportunities for recreation, and form a network that prevents uncontrolled tourist dispersion. The erosion processes accelerate under tourist impact in the forested mountains, revealing exposed roots. The aim of our study was to estimate the mean er...

Human–bear conflicts are increasing in number due to deforestation, urban expansion, tourism, and habitat invasion by humans. Our study was conducted in Brașov, a picturesque city in central Romania. Brașov is surrounded by forests and has significant tourist traffic, but also much uncollected garbage and many garbage containers, which attract brow...

The present study was conducted in a traditional mining area in Romania-the Rovinari Carboniferous Basin-from which in 1976 the communist authorities relocated about 800 people, two churches, and a cemetery to a new location in the village of Iași, Gorj County, in order to expand coal mining operations. Using the triangulation method, we gathered d...

Thermal power plants currently contribute significantly to global energy production. However, they cause a series of environmental conflicts through pollution and environmental degradation processes. In this context, people, as well as a number of environmental organisations, NGOs, and mainly the media play an important role in managing these confl...

Atmospherically deposited hoarfrost is probably the least important quantitative component of the hydrosphere, yet in places acts as an important source of water. Although countless studies have investigated the stable isotope composition of virtually all other components of the global hydrosphere, little is known on its stable isotope composition....

Over the last decades, animal activity has been explored and reported as a potential source of natural hazards, such as the destruction of a beaver dam potentially triggering a flash flood downriver. However, the sediment source or sediment budget related to animal activity has received very little attention from geoscientists to date. The main goa...

The proposed research addresses the problem of permafrost occurrence for the first time in the highest mountains of the Balkan Peninsula. The likely/unlikely presence of ice-rich permafrost in 13 rock glaciers in the Rila and Pirin Mountains was investigated using thermal measurements (e.g., ground surface temperature monitoring, measurements of th...

The potential zoogeomorphological impacts of burrowing animals, via soil excavation and spatial redistribution, creation of landforms, and bioturbation are now well established. Here, we present the first zoogeomorphological study conducted in the Făgăraș massif, Southern Carpathians (Romanian Carpathians), and consider the impact of Chionomys niva...

Snow avalanches represent an undeniable reality in the Romanian Carpathians both as a geomorphic process and as a type of hazard, and cause damage to transportation routes or tourism infrastructure and losses of human lives. In this context, the past snow avalanche activity is poorly evaluated, even if these mountains are known for the high occurre...

In mountain environments, geomorphic slope processes such as rockfall, debris-flows and snow avalanches are common and widespread, their natural occurrence being controlled by topographic, geological and climatic parameters. Instead, in regions where human activities are present, the slope equilibrium and the natural dynamics of geomorphic processe...

Mapping of snow avalanche tracks based on topographic maps, airophotos and field data to achieve inventories for the whole mountainous areas in Romania is an important step in snow avalanche risk assessment and other related geomorphic processes. This requires experience and it is a time consuming process. In the absence of field data, the process...

Snow avalanches are a common geomorphic process and natural hazard in the Southern Carpathians (Romanian Carpathians). The spatial distribution of avalanches is controlled by topographical factors, meteorological variables and human factors. This study examines the occurrence of avalanches in two glacial areas in the Făgăraş massif, Bâlea (on the n...

Snow avalanches are a major hazard in the Southern Carpathians (Romanian Carpathians) and cause damage to transportation routes or infrastructure and losses of human lives. In these mountains, the scientific understanding of avalanches is still poor. The main objectives of this study were to reconstruct spatio-temporal patterns of avalanche events,...

This paper assesses the interrelationship between tourism and natural hazards, on geological and geomorphological hazards in Bâlea glacial area (glacial cirque and valley), located in the Făgăraş massif - Southern Carpathians (Romanian Carpathians). With the adhesion of Romania to the European Union (EU) in 2007, tourism development of the Romanian...

Snow avalanches represent an undeniable reality in the Southern Carpathians, both as a geomorphological process and as a type of natural hazard with the highest number of fatalities and injuries, and also substantial impact upon forests, highways, and people. This study focuses on the Făgăraş massif and on the Bucegi Mountains, representative mount...

Every year a large number of avalanches are triggered by anthropogenic activities. This study examines the occurrence of snow avalanches from 1940 to 2011 in the Făgăraș massif and Bâlea glacial area in the eastern region of the Southern Carpathian Mountains, Romania. We focused our attention on the relationship between anthropogenically triggered...

In view of the damage and hazard they pose to human life and property, snow avalanches are a major natural hazard in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains. Despite the loss of life in recent years, geomorphological understanding of snow avalanches in Romania remains limited. The Sinaia ski area, located in the Bucegi Mountains, is the most important sk...

The Bucegi Mountains and the Prahova Valley represent the most important destinations for winter tourism activities, of great heritage value in the Southern Carpathians - Romanian Carpathians. A number of resorts have developed here over time, currently enjoying great popularity among those keen on such activities. This article aims at presenting,...

This paper inquires into the questions related to endangered habitats and species, as well as that of factors threatening biodiversity, in Romania, by analysing existing opinions of biodiversity institutional stakeholders. The research applies a combination of qualitative social science (participatory) approaches and quantitative tools as a means f...

In March of 2005, a series of snow avalanches of varying magnitudes were produced in the Făgăraş massif (Southern Carpathians - Romanian Carpathians), affecting especially forestlands and roads. In this study, the snow avalanches which we will focus upon were produced in the Doamnei glacial valley. These snow avalanche were part of a series produce...

The geomorphological mapping is a difficult and time-consuming task, but the geomorphological maps are necessary tools in many practical activities. The conversion of the already done analogue geomorphological maps into digital form could be a useful alternative. The result of this conversion process presents some errors which are observed during t...

Based on a case study, this paper aims to be the first attempt, in the Romanian geography, to analyze the snow avalanche potential in one of the most representative glacial areas from the Fagaras Massif (Southern Carpathians - Romanian Carpathians), respectively Balea glacial area, located on the northern slope of the Fagaras massif, in the central...

The Romanian Banat is endowed with an important mountain area composed of the Banatului Mountains and the north-western part of the Retezeat-Godeanu Range, i.e. Ţarcu – Muntele Mic. The purpose of our paper is to make an account of the features of the two important ski areas within this mountain area: Ţarcu - Muntele Mic and Semenic. Their structur...

Snow avalanches represent an undeniable reality in the Southern Carpathians both as a geomorphologic process and as a type of natural risk with the highest number of fatalities and injuries and also substantial impact upon forests, highways and people. This study focuses on the Făgăraş massif and Bucegi Mountains, representative mountain units in t...

The geomorphological mapping is a difficult and time-consuming task, but the geomorphological maps are necessary tools in many practical activities. The conversion of the already done analogue geomorphological maps into digital form could be a useful alternative. The result of this conversion process presents some errors which are observed during t...

Snow avalanches represent an undeniable reality in the Southern Carpathians both as a geomorphologic process and as a type of natural risk with the highest number of fatalities and injuries and also substantial impact upon forests, highways and people. This study focuses on the Făgăraş massif and Bucegi Mountains, representative mountain units in t...

Snow avalanches represent an undeniable reality in the Southern Carpathians both as a geomorphologic process and as a type of natural risk with the highest number of fatalities and injuries and also substantial impact upon forests, highways and people. This study focuses on the FǎgǎraŚ massif and Bucegi Mountains, representative mountain units in t...

This paper deals with some human geomorphological aspects concerning the impact in the alpine area of the Southern Carpathians (Transylvanian Alps). After field investigations and taking into account the major effects of road building, military and mining activities, pasture and tourism activities in the geomorphological landscape we have the possi...

Snow avalanches represent an undeniable reality in the Southern Carpathians both as a geomorphic process and as a type of hazard. Before the 1990s, few researchers focused on avalanches in Romania. However, after 1990, avalanches became an increasingly important topic of Romanian research including research on their management implications. This st...

The present study analyses the physical - geographical as well as the anthropical factors responsible for the extension of the alpine level in the Făgăraş Mountains. We carried out a comparison of the present situation with the theoretical area of extension of the alpine domain. The lower limit of the alpine level corresponds to the upper timberlin...

The present study analyses the physical - geographical as well as the anthropical factors responsible for the extension of the alpine level in the Făgăraş Mountains. We carried out a comparison of the present situation with the theoretical area of extension of the alpine domain. The lower limit of the alpine level corresponds to the upper timberlin...

Cuvinte cheie: Masivul Chic-Chocs (Canada), Masivul Făgăraş (Carpaţii Meridionali), avalanşe de zăpadă Rezumat: avalanşele de zăpadă reprezintă o realitate incontestabilă atât în Masivul Chic-Chocs (Canada) cât şi în Masivul Făgăraş (Carpaţii Merid ionali), atât din punct de vedere geomorfologic cât şi din punct de vedere al riscului. Studiul de fa...

Relief shapes in the alpin level, revealed in the local toponimy of the Făgăraş Massif. This study makes an analysis of the toponims that reveal shapes and micro shapes of relief in the alpine level of the Făgăraş Massif. An inventory of the toponyms was done consulting literature, topographic and touristical maps. 4 types of toponims were therefor...

The study was done in the Southern Carpathians which are also called the Transylvanian Alps, the most representative mountain unit of the Romanian Carpathians. Southern Carpathians have a central position in Romania with a general east-west orientation and a total surface of 14 040 km 2 . Southern Carpathians have a high massivity and maximum altit...