Meteorological Hazard-Related Losses and Waste Generation in the Supsa River Basin, Western Georgia

The Supsa River basin, located in the humid subtropical climate zone of western Georgia, is characterized by diverse climatic zones and frequent meteorological hazards. Based on the meteorological observation data of the National Environmental Agency for 1960-2024, the catalog of natural disasters created at the M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, and other literary sources, including the results of regional climate modeling, the climatic conditions and meteorological hazards of the Supsa River basin were studied. The temperature in the study area varies from 4°C (in mountainous areas) to 14°C (in the lowlands), and the annual precipitation is within 1,400–2,400 mm. The meteorological hazards common in the basin are fog, thunderstorms, hail, and blizzards. Droughts are not typical for the basin due to high humidity and significant precipitation. The paper analyzes the damage and waste generation associated with these meteorological hazards. Preventive measures, including early warning systems, windbreaks, and hail protection nets, are recommended to minimize the damage caused and reduce the generation of organic and construction wastes.