Growing Season Climate Variability and its Influence on Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris Berries and Wine Quality: Study Case in Romania (2005-2015)

The purpose of our research was to find out what influence climatic variability in the growing season has on the berry and wine composition in two white grape varieties grown in the vineyard of Banat Universityof Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Timisoara, located in the western area of Romania.  The quality and characteristics of the wines produced in a limited area is essentially due to the environment,including natural and human factors. Two white cool-intermediate climate grape varieties - Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris were chosen to study the impact of climate change on the main characteristics of juice and wine. A number of 40 berries from each variety was chosen for phenol extraction, total soluble solids (sugar content), titratable acidity and pH determinations. Wine samples were analysed after one year of ageing in the bottle. Alcohol concentration was not majorly influenced by temperature and rainfall over the years. Some experimental years with hot weather were favourable for sugar accumulation in berries and wine respectively;therefore, potential alcohol also increased. In the last decade, annual and monthly variability of rainfall and temperature influenced the phenological cycle of grapevines most, delaying or accelerating the developing of foliar area, as well as the ripening and harvesting time, which has a direct influence on grapes and wine products

A new approach to radon temporal correction factor based on active environmental monitoring devices

The present study aims to identify novel means of increasing the accuracy of the estimated annual indoor radon concentration based on the application of temporal correction factors to short-term radon measurements. The necessity of accurate and more reliable temporal correction factors is in high demand, in the present age of speed. In this sense, radon measurements were continuously carried out, using a newly developed smart device accompanied by CR-39 detectors, for one full year, in 71 residential buildings located in 5 Romanian cities. The coefficient of variation for the temporal correction factors calculated for combinations between the start month and the duration of the measurement presented a low value (less than 10%) for measurements longer than 7 months, while a variability close to 20% can be reached by measurements of up to 4 months. Results obtained by generalized estimating equations indicate that average temporal correction factors are positively associated with CO2 ratio, as well as the interaction between this parameter and the month in which the measurement took place. The impact of the indoor-outdoor temperature differences was statistically insignificant. The obtained results could represent a reference point in the elaboration of new strategies for calculating the temporal correction factors and, consequently, the reduction of the uncertainties related to the estimation of the annual indoor radon concentration.Acknowledgements: The research is supported by the project ID P_37_229, Contract No. 22/01.09.2016, with the title, Smart Systems for Public Safety through Control and Mitigation of Residential Radon linked with Energy Efficiency Optimization of Buildings in Romanian Major Urban Agglomerations SMART-RAD-EN” of the POC Programme

An Innovative System for Monitoring Radon and Indoor Air Quality

Nowadays, a global trend towards increasing the performance of a building is the reduction in energy consumption. In this respect, for existing residential buildings the most common techniques are the application of a thermal insulation layer to the exterior wall of the building and / or window replacements. Unfortunately, their application without proper education of those involved may have a negative effect on the indoor air quality. The use of a continuous monitoring device can give the owner the ability to understand the impact of his behaviour on indoor air quality and, as such, to adjust his routine in order to maintain the indoor air quality at the desired level. This paper introduces a prototype, called ICA system, for continuous, real-time indoor air quality monitoring. The ICA system presents sensors for monitoring the concentration of radon, CO2, CO, VOCs, as well as meteorological parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and relative humidity. Experiments were performed both in laboratory and in situ conditions for testing and validating the proposed system.This work was supported by the project ID P_37_229, Contract No. 22/01.09.2016, with the title “Smart Systems for Public Safety through Control and Mitigation of Residential Radon linked with Energy Efficiency Optimization of Buildings in Romanian Major Urban Agglomerations SMART-RAD-EN” of the POC Programme