Abstract

The important features of the mountain areas may be synthetically assessed, based on several methods of numerical analysis (a series of indexes) of the ecological potential. In this paper we have analyzed the following indexes: De Martonne’s aridity index, continentality index of Gams, hydrothermal index, pluviothermal index and snow index. To achieve this, climate date obtain from these stations were processed and compared: Arefu, Titesti, Campulung Muscel, Fagaras and Paltinis. The De Martonne’s aridity index ranges from 39 (Arefu) in the tree forest zone, 50 (Cumpana) in the mixed broadleaf-coniferous forest zone, to 70 at Piscul Negru (in the coniferous forest zone), to 130 at Balea (in the subalpine zone) and to 157 on the highest peaks. The continentality index of Gams ranges from 1.6 at Arefu, to 0.9 at Cumpana, to 0.7 at Piscul Negru (1220 m), to 0.6 at Balea and to less than 0.6 on the alpine ridges. The hydrothermal index varies between 6 (the Arefu Depression) and – 3 (the high alpine ridges). The pluviothermal index ranges from 10.0 at Arefu, to 11.5 at Cumpana and to more than 30 above 1500 m. Analyzing the data obtained it may be noted that climatic vertical zonality is reflected in the values of these indices. Based on this we can differentiate bewteen vegetation and soils vertical zonality

Key words: The Southern Carpathians, Romania ecoclimatic indexes, geoecological conditions, Fagaras mountains.