DEPLETION OF WATERCOURSES IN NORTH-EASTERN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: THE MILETIN RIVER

The article focuses on the droughts occurring in the Miletin hydrographic basin, in order to underline the impact of this meteorological phenomenon on certain hydrological hazards in a region lacking sufficient water resources. A better insight into droughts and drying-up phenomena underlines clearly that regulation projects need to be implemented for the course of the Miletin River, in order to ensure the amount of water necessary for certain economic sectors, mostly in the summer. Several mathematical indices have been applied to identify the drought phenomenon. The drought is increased by the torrential character of the precipitations, with very high values of rainfall during very short time periods (a maximum of 90.3 mm/24 hours), and the presence of long periods entirely lacking rainfall (two-three consecutive months). In the warm period of the year, the more accentuated droughts determine a considerable reduction of discharges and even the emergence of the drying-up phenomenon in the upper basin of the Miletin River. The minimal recorded discharge was 0 m(3)/s registered at the Nicolae Balcescu station (the upstream sector) and 0.002 m(3)/s registered at the Halceni station (the downstream sector). The 1, 2 and 3 rank (Horton-Strahler system) watercourses dry up completely, while those of superior ranking register persistent outflow. Complete dry up has been recorded in 1968, 1969 and 1987.