Laura andru

INTRODUCTION

Through Consideration regarding environmental problem and risk of

geomorphological nature in Straja and Brodina locality, Suceava county work, I
propose to realize an analysis from physical-geographical point of view in Straja and
Brodina areas and to present considerations regarding environmental aspect correlated
with geomorphological conditions.

The perimeter of are studied is delimitated in North by state border with

Ucraina, in South by a line oriented West-East which passes through Suceita locality, in
West by Brodinioara river, and in East by a line oriented Noorth-South which passes
through Vicov-Margine localities.

After presenting the generale environmental conditions in research are I have

presented the land from and geomorphological processes, typical to region discussed.

The environmental problem and geomorphoogical risks which it is confronting

zone Putna-Straja-Brodina : mass moves ( especially land slide), floods that implies
geomorphological processes, such as : corrosion, transport, sedimentation), the impact
environmental and forest exploatations ( deforestation, transport, forest roads) and
tree falls-represents the base of this work.

The aspects presented are agremanted with statistic date from forest districts in
studied area : Forest District Brodina, Forest District Putna and Forest District Falcau,
and for floods study in 2008 I used hidrological date from Waster Management Service
Suceava and photos.

1
 Laura andru

Chapter 1

GENERAL CONDITIONS OF ENVIRONMENT

I.1. Generalities

The area wich is the objective of the study localized in Suceava basin, being
delimitated in North by stat border, in East by a line oriented North-South wich passes
on the Suceava and Putna confluence, in South-East and south Sucevita river, in West
the line of river Brodinioara (fig.1).
Administrative district studied in Putna, Straja and Brodina village.
Fizico-geographical- at West by Vicov Msrginea line, are founded subunities
parts North-East of Obcinele Bucovinei, precisely Nordic parts of Obcinele Mari, and at
East line reminded, it is Nordic parts of Piemont Plateau, subunit of Moldovian Plateau.
From geological point of view the research region is part of Tarcau unit (Tarcau
nappe, average marginal unit), the most large unit of external flysch area.
This area belongs to sedimentation domain of external flysch (Mutitac and
Ionesi, 1973)
To the East is carried over Vrancei unit wich in different sector it is covered and
tireley and comes directly with pericarpatic unit (pericarpatic Miocene).
Vrancea unit is situated at the exterior of external flysch, at contact with molasse
zone ( Vrancea nappe, external or marginal unit).
From climatical point of view, the North part of large Obcine Fits in a
predominant background central-europen with boreal influence, with variation of
climatic elementes in altitudinal way and from East to West ( Barbu, 1976).
Thermal, Carpthean sector discussed fits between isotherms of 6C wich follows
the contact piedmont plateau and of 2C wich marks the highest heights (Magura Vacii
-1150.3 m meadow Sihastria, Tiganului hill 1057 m, Bulaiului meadow 1063 m) 6C
isotherm penetrates to West in large Obcine an the main rivers : Suceava, Putna. In
July at contact with Radautilor depression register an average of 17C, and the above
1000 m the middle temperature goes to 12C. In January thermal averages area -4C
at Eastern limit and goes to west at -7C.
The middle amplitude is 20C which characterizes a moderate temperate climat
to excessive. The number of the days with equal temperatures or under 0C varies
between 150 in East ans 180 on heights from West. Also must be remarked the
production of some thermal inversions in depression basin that accompany the courses
of same rivers and the fact that the slopes with eastern and south-eastern orientation
are warmest than western and north-westerns one.

2
 Laura andru

Regarding atmospheric dynamic is remarked predominant circulation north-

western (with a frequency over 40%) and subordinate of the south-eastern (with a
frequency approximately 14%).
On Suceava Valley the dominant circulation is from west (with a frequency over
30%) and only 9,4% in East. In case of standard atmospheric circulation, western, it is
formed in the evening and morning the mountain breeze. The wind speed is about 2-4
m/s, but are formed wind that exceeded 20 m/s.
The precipitions regime is clasely related with thermal characteristic and the
particularities of atmospheric circulations. The middle quantity of precipitations is about
850 m, with a gradient of 35-40 mm/100m (Apavaloaie M and Barbu N, 1974). Those
varies from 700 mm to contact with plateau, at 900-100 mm, once with displacement to
West and increasing altitude. The maximum of precipitations is produced on an interval
that starts in May and extends up to August. The number of days with precipitation
increases on direction East-West, in altitude from 120 days in eastern area and
depressions one Straja, Putna, Sucevita, at 140 days in western part and highest areas.
Tge type of precipitations are Plivial-nival, with a procent of only 20-40% as snow. The
average thickness of snow cover is 20-30 cm with a persistence over 100 days/year.
Evapotranspiration is approximately 500-550 mm, resulting a surplus water
balance about 300-400 mm, what determines a humid maderate climat, with a water
regime of soils, dominant percolation.
Soils are differentiated in to areas mountain and plateau. In piedmont plateau
predominate clay-alluvial evaluate ( albic luvisoils, brown luvic) on piedmont heals and
molisoils, young alluvial oils and hydromorphic, in depression.
In Larga Obcine the soils cover is characterized by the presence of combisoils
and podzolised soil, whit intrazonal soils rendzina and psendaredzina alluvial regosoils,
lithosoils and protooils.
The vegetation is characterized by the presence of the forest in ist, spruce beech
in West and of meadows. Fama, by its contribution to maintaining biological balance
of the ecosystems, fama plays an important role in social-economical domain of this
area. We have to mention that because of hunting and abusive fishing in past, same
species with econocal and sciatifical value that was populating the land and waters of
this regions had disappeared, some of them are going to disappear.
Rational keeping and using sow production vegetal fond and foma fond is a base
between in maintenance the balance between all of environmental components and
superior valarification of the region.

3
 Laura andru

I.2. Relief. General characterization

In studied area, situated at ist of Straja-Marginea-Solca line is place

geomorfological subunit Large Obcine expauded on senonian-palaeogene deposits of
external flysh (Vrancea and Tarcau nappe=panza). Large Obcina is made by system of
parallel peak oriented NV-SE with character of asymmetric hogbacks ( marbles of
organic; Barbu 1976) this charged to ist according to sens o charpation chain
structogenesis.
Here are maintained geomorphological aspect presented by Barbu (1976) in
Bucovinei Obcina. Lake general aspects are presented:
- peaks and valleys parallelism on direction NV-SE, according to directional
development of principal structural;
- reduced altitude ( 1145-1192 m in Sandru strigoaia Peack and 921-1152 m in
principal peack of Large Obcina) and on energy of relief about 350-700 m;
- lape inclination with values of 5-45, with values smaller on prequarternary
field and with higher values on fields with quarternry evolution, when velley goes
deeper with approximately 200 m;
- geomorphological contact Obcine-plateau alange which Large Obcina dominate
Radautilor depression from North, West and South aboute 400-500 m.

I.3. Landslide Todirascu Brodina

Landslide Todirascu Brodina was triggered on right slape of Brodina, at

approximately 2 km of confluence with Suceava river, in torrential basin of Sandru river
( Fig.3.9)
Up to present were succeeded for step of landslide ( Fig.3.10) this remodeling
right slape of Sandru river on a length of 1250 m, a width between 80 and 150 m, an
energy of 300 m and an average slape of 20. The top of an slide body has covered
entirely proluvial cone of 10 m of Brodina river (614 m absolutw altitude).
Landslide has a superior cornice at about 900 m altitude, the body being
fragmented by a series of secondary cornices, that marks different montets in sliding
chronology.
Investigations mode, based on information giver by local people shows existence
of some initial movements of diluvium, in 1974-1975 after which has appeared a
diluvium body slip-ridge be hinde to hase or created puddle in June-July 2002 when on
a fond of humidity excess create by big quantities of precipitations fallen in this interval
in body sliding 1975 intiate in a first stage a slide with detrusor character .

4
 Laura andru

Detachament of diluvium was performed at 700-800 m altitude, the sling

covering lower part of proluvial cone (Fig.3.11)
Resulted cornice is willing in semicircle on a length about 100-110 m has a
height about 5 m, and the top of the sliding body is disposed in circle arch on a length
about 140 m.
In second stage is found the trigger of a displacement with aspect of muddy flow
on left flank of sliding that trains in movement diluvium material and rock (clay, purple
marl). The flow can be accumulation result and water drainage behind sliding 1975
body, also raised humidity determinate by meant quantities of precipitation fallen in
that time.
In first to stages were in approximately two weeks, in October 2002 was founde
the increasing in dimension of cracks on all three axes.
2003 summer marks trigger of third stage diluvium moving due to stability break as
result a new cornice, of 6-8 m, height at 880 m altitude, and behind sliding body
appears a small accumulation of water (Fig.3.12). Centrale displacements favour
rational lateral separation.
Fourth stage is manifesting through production of a small sliding, that moves
central part of superior cornice with 20 m difference of the level (900 m absolute
altitude) from initial position. In present the top of the sliding parasite terrace bridge of
10 m, at about 4-5 m of hes stop. We can appreciate fact that this one displace from
July 2002 till October 2004 with approximately 40 m.
Todirascu landslide is the result of mony local factors : lithology, structure,
eluvium thickness, precipitations, phreatic horizon, slope, initiale displacements.
As result of this landslide trigger was destroid a surface of 14 ha coniferous
forest, 1 ha meadow and it was affected network of high tension.
Continuing the process may block communal becomes risk factor for the 4
household situated in movement range diluvium, at distance between 30-60 m.

5
 Laura andru

Conclusions

The studied area is presenting a risk of geomorpholoical nature.

A part of ravens from studied area were reactivated because of a factors of
geomorphological nature, hydrological and anthropogenic.
Todirascu landslide was produced in 4 stages:
- fist stage July 2002 slide with detrusiv character;
- second stage October 2002 displacement trigger with aspect muddly flow;
- third stage July 2003 diluvium stability break;
- fourth stage July 2002 October 2004 : production of a small landslide.
Floods from 2005, 2006, 2008 had a distructive character, material lasses were
significant. This were the result of torrential character ( big intensity of the rain and
reduced time of concentrante) of the precipitation which leads to abundant drain on the
slopes and at landslide, and on the other hand, because of dislocations and logs
training and wooden wastes which produced successive blocking and unlocking.
Also the maintenance streams on localities territories studied was poor.
Materials losses were result of hidraulical bridges on the Putna ivers, this one
failing. Registered debit at historical floods from 26 July 2008, was about 1957 cubic
meters/second, and material lasses significant.
Erosion is favored of human intervention by deforestation : forest road design
and windfalls of the trees.