VEgetation NUtrient-retention Service (VENUS) index: an indicator to assess favourable conditions for nutrient retention by vegetation.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Murgese
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Complete Analysis ◽  
Retention Performance ◽  
Hydrogeological Model ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Definition Of

<p>Ecosystems role in preserving water resources is acknowledged by EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and by Groundwater Directive 2006/118/EC. In this view nutrient concentration represent a critical aspect with regard to water quality and eutrophication. Nitrate pollution is specifically addressed by the Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC, which provides nitrate management rules for farming activities, defines nitrate vulnerable zones and gives indications on nitrate monitoring in water bodies.</p><p>To preserve water quality levels an important role is played by Riparian Buffer Zones (RBZ) through the provision of the Ecosystem Service (ES) nutrient retention, the uptake process operated by plant roots. Research has shown how ES valuation is a very effective approach to support land management process, as it allows a better understanding of the importance of the role of ecosystems in guaranteeing wellbeing conditions for human communities and for the environment.</p><p>In order to perform a complete assessment of ES, the use of maps only providing information on processes occurring at/above the surface (e.g land use maps, or ecosystem maps, or ecosystem function maps) does not allow a complete analysis of underground dynamics.</p><p>In the case of the valuation of the ES “nutrient retention” provided by RBZ it is necessary to include the hydrogeological model and its links with the riverine network. The simple presence/absence of vegetation, or even a detailed vegetation classification map, cannot provide a complete description of all conditions required to fully assess this ES, as information on groundwater flow, sediments and soils characteristics is needed.</p><p>For the Riparian Vegetation Management Plan of the Gesso Stura Riverine Park a specific index to study vegetation contribution to nutrient retention was introduced: the VEgetation NUtrient-retention Service (VENUS) Index. This index provides land managers a semi-quantitative indication on the spatial distribution of “best conditions” (suitability map) for nutrient retention by vegetation; it is based on a simple set of parameters representing the main factors controlling the interactions between vegetation roots and water flows (runoff and groundwater) from surrounding areas towards water bodies.</p><p>The application of the VENUS Index improved the definition of management measures for riparian vegetation and allowed reaching the following results: (1) identification of homogeneous sectors in terms of RBZ relevance for nutrient retention; (2) assessment of different RBZ management scenarios with regard to nutrient retention performance; (3) definition of specific management measures to preserve and/or foster the provision of nutrient retention.</p>

The effect of reed beds distributions on the Ecohydraulic dynamics of wetlands and lowlands: experimental analyses and simulations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Francesco Cesare Lama
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Reed Beds ◽  
Riparian Species

<p>The interplay between riparian vegetation and water flow in vegetated water bodies has a key role in the dynamic evolution of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in wetlands and lowlands. The present study analyzes the effects of the spatial distribution of reed (<em>Phragmites australis</em> (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.) beds, an invasive riparian species extremely widespread in wetland and lowlands worldwide, on the main hydraulic and hydrodynamic properties of an abandoned vegetated reclamation channel located in Northern Tuscany, Italy. A field campaign was carried out to obtain Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of reed beds through both ground-based and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) methodologies, and to correlate them to the channel’s flow dynamic and water quality main features. Then, Hydrodynamic simulations of the vegetated reclamation channel were performed and validated based on the experimental measurements of the hydraulic and vegetational parameters acquired in the field to build up a robust model to be employed also in future Ecohydraulic researches. The evidences of this study constitute useful insights in the quantitative analysis of the correlation between the spatial distribution of riparian vegetation stands in natural and manmade vegetated water bodies and their hydrodynamic and water quality main features.</p>

Assessing the impact of land use management on the hydrodynamic behavior of vegetated water bodies colonized by riparian weed species 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariano Crimaldi ◽  
Giuseppe Francesco Cesare Lama
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Flow Resistance ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Digital Processing ◽  
Vegetation Management ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Hydrodynamic Behaviour ◽  
The Impact

<p>The aim of this study is the assessment of the effect of riparian vegetation management practices on the hydrodynamic behaviour of vegetated water bodies colonized by riparian weed species. The present study was carried out by calibrating the most suitable literature models on flow resistance of vegetated flows, by considering different riparian vegetation management scenarios. The key dimensional features of the examined riparian vegetation elements were estimated by comparing the outcomes of the digital processing of remote sensing and proximity sensors extremely widespread in both agricultural and forestry studies and applications. The main remarks of this study well demonstrated that the knowledge of the hydraulic and hydrological proprieties of vegetated flows at field scale is sensibly affected by the uncertainties in the measurements of riparian vegetation biomass and water quality, differently from experimental analyses conducted in dedicated flumes in the laboratory performed in standard environment conditions.</p>

Dosimetry and optimization in digital radiography based on the contrast-detail resolution

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilson Otto Gomes Batista ◽  
Alexandre Gomes De Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Inverse Image ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Complete Analysis ◽  
Portable Devices ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Air Kerma ◽  
Direct Radiography ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Entrance Surface Air Kerma

Contrast-detail (C-D) curves are useful in evaluating the radiographic image quality in a global way. The objective of the present study was to obtain the C-D curves and the inverse image quality figure. Both of these parameters were used as an evaluation tool for abdominal and chest imaging protocols. The C-D curves were obtained with the phantom CDRAD 2.0 in computerized radiography and the direct radiography systems (including portable devices). The protocols were 90 and 102 kV in the range of 2 to 20 mAs for the chest and 80 kV in the range of 10 to 80 mAs for the abdomen. The incident air kerma values were evaluated with a solid state sensor. The analysis of these C-D curves help to identify which technique would allow a lower value of the entrance surface air kerma, Ke, while maintaining the image quality from the point of view of C-D detectability. The results showed that the inverse image quality figure, IQFinv, varied little throughout the range of mAs, while the value of Ke varied linearly directly with the mAs values. Also, the complete analysis of the curves indicated that there was an increase in the definition of the details with increasing mAs. It can be concluded that, in the transition phase for the use of the new receptors, it is necessary to evaluate and adjust the practised protocols to ensure, at a minimum, the same levels of the image quality, taking into account the aspects of the radiation protection of the patient.

Анализ «Методики разработки нормативов допустимых сбросов веществ и микроорганизмов в водные объекты для водопользователей» в общем контексте водоохранного законодательства (в порядке обсуждения)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Saakian ◽  
Aleksandr, Grigor’ev ◽  
E. Kravets ◽  
E. Rudakov ◽  
A. Faddeev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Water Protection ◽  
Best Available Technologies ◽  
Process Indicators ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Protection Legislation ◽  
The Impact

Выполнен анализ действующей редакции Методики разработки нормативов допустимых сбросов веществ и микроорганизмов в водные объекты для водопользователей , утвержденной приказом Минприроды России от 17 декабря 2007 г. 333, на предмет непротиворечивости и соответствия нормам водоохранного законодательства. Выявлена неопределенность применения Методики в условиях воздействия на качество воды природных и антропогенных факторов, не зависящих от конкретного водопользователя. Положения Методики противоречат принципам нормирования воздействия на водные объекты на основе наилучших доступных технологий, что было показано на примерах утвержденных технологических показателей содержания загрязняющих веществ в сточных водах различных отраслей промышленности. Анализ системы нормирования допустимых воздействий на водные объекты и географической дифференциации нормативов качества воды в пределах Российской Федерации вместе с системой целевых показателей качества воды также показал несоответствие Методики основным принципам водоохранного законодательства.The analysis of the current edition of the Methods of developing standards for permissible discharges of substances and microorganisms into water bodies for water users , approved by the Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia dated December 17, 2007 No. 333 for consilience and compliance with the regulations of the water protection legislation, is carried out. Uncertainty of the application of the Methods in the conditions of the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors that are independent of a specific water user on the quality of water has been identified. The provisions of the Methods contradict the principles of regulating the impact on water bodies based on the best available technologies shown on the examples of approved process indicators of the concentrations of various industrial pollutants in wastewater. An analysis of the system of regulating the permissible impact on water bodies and the geographical differentiation of water quality standards within the boundaries of the Russian Federation, together with the system of water quality targets, also showed that the Methods do not comply with the basic principles of the water protection legislation.

Management and Status of Japanese Public Waters

1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Goda
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Industrial Wastewater ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Industrial Wastewaters ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Japanese Rivers ◽  
Per Capita

The management and status of public water bodies in Japan is discussed. The environmental quality standards which have been set and the levels of compliance with these standards are shown. The water quality of Japanese rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands and coastal waters is described, and eutrophication problems are mentioned. The effects of changes in population density and levels of recycling of industrial wastewaters on the quality of water bodies are discussed. Almost 75% of industrial wastewater is now recycled. Per capita availability of freshwater in Japan is comparatively low, and the construction of 530 dams, in addition to the 2393 dams already in operation, is planned. Irrigation effluents from paddy fields are a major factor which influences river water quality in Japan. The improvement of water quality using various methods is discussed.

Development of Dialog System Model for Eutrophication Control between Discharging River Basin and Receiving Water Body – Case Study of Lake Sagami (Japan)

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 1821-1824
Author(s):  
M. Suzuki ◽  
K. Chihara ◽  
M. Okada ◽  
H. Kawashima ◽  
S. Hoshino
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Expert System ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Body ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Pollution Load ◽  
Water Quality Data ◽  
Receiving Water

A computer program based on expert system software was developed and proposed as a prototype model for water management to control eutrophication problems in receiving water bodies (Suzuki etal., 1988). The system has several expert functions: 1. data input and estimation of pollution load generated and discharged in the river watershed; 2. estimation of pollution load run-off entering rivers; 3. estimation of water quality of receiving water bodies, such as lakes; and 4. assisting man-machine dialog operation. The program can be used with MS-DOS BASIC and assembler in a 16 bit personal computer. Five spread sheets are utilized in calculation and summation of the pollutant load, using multi-windows. Partial differential equations for an ecological model for simulation of self-purification in shallow rivers and simulation of seasonal variations of water quality in a lake were converted to computer programs and included in the expert system. The simulated results of water quality are shown on the monitor graphically. In this study, the expert system thus developed was used to estimate the present state of one typical polluted river basin. The river was the Katsura, which flows into Lake Sagami, a lake dammed for water supply. Data which had been actually measured were compared with the simulated water quality data, and good agreement was found. This type of expert system is expected to be useful for water management of a closed water body.

scholarly journals The RiBaTox web tool: selecting methods to assess and manage the diverse problem of chemical pollution in surface waters

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kees J. M. Kramer ◽  
Frank Sleeuwaert ◽  
Guy Engelen ◽  
Christin Müller ◽  
Werner Brack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
End Users ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Web Tool ◽  
Novel Approaches ◽  
Local Water

Abstract Chemical pollution of water bodies is a complex problem around the globe. When described by the extremes of the range of problem definitions, water bodies can be chemically polluted by a single compound that is emitted from a point source or an incidental spill, or by chronic diffuse emissions from local and upstream land uses. The resulting mixture exposures can vary in space and time, e.g. due to the use of pesticides in the crop growing season. The environmental management objectives are commonly to protect and restore surface waters against human influences. Currently, chemical pollution is globally judged for a selected set of compounds, by judging each of these individually in comparison with protective environmental quality standards. Research has provided a novel assessment paradigm (solution-focused risk assessment) and novel data, measurement methods and models to improve on current practices. Their adoption and application require establishing novel linkages between the diverse problem definitions and the novel approaches. That would assist water quality professionals to select the most effective option or options to protect and restore water quality. The present paper introduces the RiBaTox (River Basin Specific Toxicants assessment and management) web tool. It consists of short descriptions of the novel approaches (made available as Additional file 1) and a decision tree for end-users to select those. The overview of novel approaches collated in RiBaTox is relevant for end-users ranging from local water quality experts up till strategic policy developers. Although RiBaTox was developed in the context of European water quality problems, the methods provided by RiBaTox are relevant for users from (inter)national to local scales. This paper is part of a series of Policy Briefs from the EU-FP7 project SOLUTIONS (http://www.solutions-project.eu), which provide backgrounds on chemical pollution of surface waters and policy practices and proposed improvements.

scholarly journals Smart Nutrient Retention Networks: a novel approach for nutrient conservation through water quality management

Inland Waters ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Dianneke van Wijk ◽  
Sven Teurlincx ◽  
Robert J. Brederveld ◽  
Jeroen J. M. de Klein ◽  
Annette B. G. Janssen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Nutrient Conservation

scholarly journals In vitro bioanalytical assessment of toxicity of wetland samples from Spanish Mediterranean coastline

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Celma ◽  
Geeta Mandava ◽  
Agneta Oskarsson ◽  
Juan Vicente Sancho ◽  
Lubertus Bijlsma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Reporter Gene Assay ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon ◽  
Gene Assay

Abstract Background Fresh water bodies represent less than 1% of overall amount of water on earth and ensuring their quality and sustainability is pivotal. Although several campaigns have been performed to monitor the occurrence of micropollutants by means of chemical analysis, this might not cover the whole set of chemicals present in the sample nor the potential toxic effects of mixtures of natural and anthropogenic chemicals. In this sense, by selecting relevant toxicity endpoints when performing in vitro bioanalysis, effect-based methodologies can be of help to perform a comprehensive assessment of water quality and reveal biological activities relevant to adverse health effects. However, no prior bioanalytical study was performed in wetland water samples from the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. Methods Eleven samples from relevant water bodies from the Spanish Mediterranean coastline were collected to monitor water quality on 8 toxicity endpoints. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), androgenicity (AR+ and AR−), estrogenicity (ER+ and ER−), oxidative stress response (Nrf2) and vitamin D receptor (VDR+ and VDR−) reporter gene assays were evaluated. Results AhR was the reporter gene assay showing a more frequent response over the set of samples (activated by 9 out of 11 samples), with TCDD-eq in the range 7.7–22.2 pM. For AR, ER and VDR assays sporadic activations were observed. Moreover, no activity was observed on the Nrf2 reporter gene assay. Wastewater and street runaway streams from Valencia could be responsible for enhanced activities in one of the water inputs in the Natural Park ‘L’Albufera’. Conclusions Water quality of relevant wetlands from the Spanish Mediterranean coastline has been evaluated. The utilization of a panel of 5 different bioassays to cover for different toxicity endpoints has demonstrated to be a good tool to assess water quality.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Impact of Small Hydropower Plants on the Ecological Status Indicators of Water Bodies: A Case Study in Lithuania

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Laima Česonienė ◽  
Midona Dapkienė ◽  
Petras Punys
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Fish Abundance ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Small Hydropower ◽  
Hydropower Plants ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
The Impact

Hydropower plants produce renewable and sustainable energy but affect the river’s physico-chemical characteristics and change the abundance and composition of the aquatic organisms. The impact of large HPPs on the ecological conditions of surface water bodies have been extensively studied, but less attention has been paid to environmental impact studies of small hydropower plants (SHPs). The impact of hydropeaking on both the river flow regime and ecosystems has been well-studied for peaking mode plants, mainly medium to large-sized ones. However, for small hydroelectric power plants, and especially for those in lowland rivers, the available information on water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates communities and fish abundance, and biomass is not sufficient. Ten small hydropower plants were selected, and the ecological status of water bodies was assessed in different parts of Lithuania. The studies were performed at the riverbed upstream from the SHPs, where the hydrological regime has not changed, and downstream from the SHPs. It was found that the small hydropower plants do not affect the physico-chemical values of the water quality indicators. This study demonstrated that the total number of benthic macroinvertebrates taxa (TS) is influenced by the concentration of nitrogen and suspended solids, the water flow, the river area, and the current speed; the number of EPT (Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies)) taxa is influenced by the concentration of nitrogen and suspended solids. The studied indicators do not have a significant impact on biomass. The SHPs affect the fish abundance and biomass. The Lithuanian fish index (LFI) is influenced by the average depth and area of the river. Some SHPs operating in lowland areas may yield somewhat significant hydrograph ramping but more detailed investigation is needed to support the significance of this impact on the biological indices.

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