Elements of Climate Evolution in yhe Area Between Prut and Dniester Rivers. Landscape and Pedogenetic Implications
Component part of the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic space, the interfluve area between Prut and Dniester is subject to the regional process of climate evolution and change. In what regards the concept of human-influenced pedogenesis, the role of the biological factor is significantly reduced. As a consequence the direction and intensity of the elementary landscape and pedogenetic processes are determined by the relations between climate and the geomorphological factor. In the conditions of a relative stability of the geomorphological factor, the determining role is held by climate. To this is added soil vulnerability to the implications of climate changes, determined by the degree of soil physical degradation but also by a series of intrinsic and external (drainage) factors. This implies the idea of the control and management of the landscape and pedogenetic implications of climate changes by improving soil physical characteristics. Introduction In diverse forms and with different intensity, climate changes are felt by all world countries. Their impact represents combinations of slow changes (temperature or ecosystem changes) and sudden manifestations (extreme rainfall quantities, floods). In the socio-economical area, climate changes are manifested in the intensification of the stress states, cataclysms and the considerable increase of expenses to cover material losses and repairing infrastructure. In the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic area climate changes imply: changes in the temperature regime (extreme temperatures in the warm period); changes in the State University of Moldova 2 Prof. PhD. “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi, Romania Gheorghe Jigău, Liviu Apostol, Ana Barsan, Elena Tofan 112 precipitation regime (increases of the extreme quantities); an increase in the frequency and intensity of drought periods; intensification of desertification effect. In what follows we present a first evaluation of the implications of climate changes on the direction and intensity of elementary landscape and pedogenetic processes.