A Brief Overview of Joint Research of Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics, and Georgian Technical University, Institute of Hydrometeorology over the Past 10 Years

Abstract

For many decades, the Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, TSU, has had close scientific ties with the M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics, TSU, and the Institute of Hydrometeorology, GTU. Over the years, these institutes have conducted a large number of joint research projects in various areas in the fields of geography, geophysics, and hydrometeorology. This activity has not diminished in recent years. In particular, the following joint studies have been carried out over the past 10 years: The general and distinctive features of karst phenomena in the territory of Georgia have been studied. The distribution of hail by average maximum size in the territories of municipalities in the Kakheti region of Georgia was studied. A simulation of the distribution of hailstones by average maximum size in the territory of Kakheti (Georgia) was carried out using data on the freezing level in the atmosphere and radar measurements. Various bioclimatic characteristics of the village of Mukhuri and the Martvili Canyon (Western Georgia) were studied. The ionisation and microclimatic properties of the Tetra cave (Tskaltubo, Georgia) were studied. An assessment was made of the selective absorption of atmospheric aerosols from the coastal zone of the Black Sea in the spectral range of 0.52-0.80 μm, as well as other climatic parameters against the background of climate change. The influence of short-term geomagnetic activity on the variability of meteorological parameters in the mid-latitude region was studied. A structured data study was conducted to study wind variability to assess drought in Georgia. A drought assessment was also carried out based on the SPEI and SPI indices for this territory. A connection has been identified between the normalised vegetation difference index, precipitation, and drought indices in the conditions of Kakheti, and a correlation of drought indices for different climatic conditions has been established. Work has begun on the use of machine learning and big data for environmental monitoring. Sediments in reservoirs have been studied using field experiments; the spatiotemporal distribution, genesis, and transport of bottom sediments have been determined; issues of solving the problem of siltation in reservoirs for the development of hydropower and coastal protection are discussed; and methodological aspects of determining landscape hydrological resources are discussed. The change in the number and extent of glaciers in the Dolra River basin in 1911–1960–2014 (Caucasus Mountains, Georgia) was studied using old topographic maps and Landsat satellite images. Between 1960 and 2014, the changes in the Chalaati and Zopkhito glaciers in the Georgian Caucasus were studied. In the future, it is planned to further strengthen scientific ties between these institutes.