Contaminated sediments transported onto the river terrace during high water events can contribute significant quantities of potentially toxic elements to riparian soils. Seven trace elements (As, Cd, ...Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were analysed in the river sediment and riparian soil of the River Sava and their spatial distribution, potential toxicity and ecological risk levels were evaluated. The results showed that levels of all the trace metals were enriched to varying extents in both the sediment (As, Cr, Ni, and Pb) and soil (Ni) when compared to reference levels for sediments and European soils. Mean concentrations of trace metals in sediment and soil, apart from Pb, increased downstream in the River Sava. The similar increasing trend of these elements in sediment and soil may be explained by their increased load due to anthropogenic pressures (As, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn in sediment and the significant accumulation of Ni in soil) and frequent periodic flooding (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn in sediment and Cd in soil are influenced by both high water events and natural factors such as the geological substrate), particularly in lowland regions. In this study, soluble As, Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni fractions in sediment and soil <10% indicated their low mobility. The exceptions were readily soluble Pb and Zn in the sediment and soil at some sampling sites. In the lower reaches, levels of Pb in sediment was indicative of a medium environmental hazard, while there was a high environmental hazard in the upper reaches with the average Pb content in sediment higher than the PEL. Pollution factors for Pb in soil indicated a medium environmental hazard in the upper and middle reaches and a high environmental hazard at some sites in the lower stretches of the Sava River, although total Pb content in soil was within the range proposed for European soils.
•Riparian zone contamination was studied on a large spatial scale.•As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in riparian soil and river sediment were analysed.•Cr and Ni levels >PEL (CCME 2001) were found in river sediment in river's lower reaches.•Elevated As, Cr, Ni and Zn levels were found in riparian soil in river's lower reaches.•Hazardous readily soluble Pb in sediment and soil was found in upper reaches.
Soils from Aveiro, Glasgow, Ljubljana, Sevilla and Torino have been investigated in view of their potential for translocation of potentially toxic elements (PTE) to the atmosphere. Soils were ...partitioned into five size fractions and Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in the fractions and the whole soil. All PTE concentrated in the <10
μm fraction. Cr and Ni concentrated also in the coarse fraction, indicating a lithogenic contribution. An accumulation factor (AF) was calculated for the <2 and <10
μm fraction. The AF values indicate that the accumulation in the finer fractions is higher where the overall contamination is lower. AF for Cr and Ni are particularly low in Glasgow and Torino. An inverse relationship was found between the AF of some metals and the percentage of <10
μm particles that could be of use in risk assessment or remediation practices.
Metals in size fractions of urban soils.
•Monitoring of stable isotopes in precipitation.•Precipitation events related to atmosphere circulation patterns.•Isotopic composition of precipitation dependent on elementary circulation mechanism – ...ECM of atmosphere.•ECM-isotopic model for estimating statistical distribution of isotope composition in precipitation.
Precipitation generating processes depend on atmospheric circulation patterns and consequently it is expected that its water stable isotopic composition of hydrogen and oxygen is related to them. Precipitation generated at similar atmospheric circulation patterns should have similar empirical distribution of δ2H and δ18O values. Mathematical model based on the linear combination of δ2H and δ18O values and on precipitation amount weighted average related to elementary air circulation mechanisms – ECM is proposed. The model enables estimation of average δ2H and δ18O values and their standard deviation for the precipitation generated at distinctive atmospheric circulation patterns. Approach in which atmospheric circulation patterns were classified as ECM based on the Dzerdzeevskii classification was applied. Application of the model is illustrated on the long term precipitation record from Ljubljana GNIP station Slovenia. Estimated values of the parameters for empirical distributions of δ2H and δ18O of each ECM subtype have shown that calculated estimates are reasonable. Further applications of the proposed model enable new insight into the understanding of isotopes spatial and temporal distribution in precipitation important also for better understanding of climate proxies.
Spring water chemistry and carbon cycling in our study mainly depend on geological composition of the aquifer. The investigated Alpine springs in Slovenia represent waters strongly influenced by ...chemical weathering of Mesozoic limestone and dolomite, only one spring was located in Permo-Carboniferous shales. The carbon isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and suspended organic carbon (POC) as well as major solute concentrations yielded insights into the origin of carbon in Alpine spring waters. The major solute composition was dominated by carbonic acid dissolution of calcite. Waters were generally close to saturation with respect to calcite, and dissolved CO2 was up to fortyfold supersaturated relative to the atmosphere. δ13C of DIC indicates the portion of soil CO2 contributed in water and is related with soil thickness of infiltrating water in aquifer and could be therefore used as a tool for vulnerability assessment. The δ13C of DIC ranged from −15.8‰ to −1.5‰ and indicated less and more vulnerable aquifers. Mass balances of carbon for spring waters draining carbonate rocks suggest that carbonate dissolution contributes from approximately 49% to 86% and degradation of organic matter from 13.7% to 51.4%, depending on spring and its relation with rock type, soil environment, and geomorphic position. Stable oxygen isotope composition of water (δ18OH2O), and tritium values range from −12.2 to −9.3‰ and from 6.4 to 9.8 TU, respectively and indicate recharge from modern precipitation. According to active decay of tritium and tritium in modern precipitation the age of spring waters are estimated to be about 2.6years for springs located in Julian Alps, about 5years for springs located in Karavanke and about 5years for springs located in Kamniško–Savinjske Alps.
► In this study we examine water chemistry and carbon cycling of Alpine springs. ► The major solute composition was dominated by dissolution of calcite. ► More negative δ13CDIC values indicated less vulnerable aquifers. ► Isotopic composition of oxygen indicates recharge from precipitation. ► The age of springs was estimated according to tritium up to 5years.
“The Disappearing Tombstone and Other Stories from Emona” is a collection of ten stories about real people, who once lived in Emona or the surrounding countryside. These stories shed light on the ...everyday lives and often highly unusual fates of these people. The eleventh story reveals why the Romans believed that Emona had been founded by Jason and his Argonauts. The myth would lead later historians to believe that Emona was older than Rome.The stories are based on the inscriptions from Roman funerary and other monuments, which are kept the lapidarium of the National Museum of Slovenia and in the City Museum of Ljubljana (MGML). The booklet is partly a result of the EAGLE project (“Europeana Network of Ancient Greek and Latin Epigraphy”) and partly of the programme “Archaeological Investigations” of the Institute of Archaeology ZRC SAZU.
The stable isotopic composition of hydrogen and oxygen (
δ
2H and
δ
18O) and tritium activity (
3H) were monitored in monthly precipitation at two continental stations (Ljubljana, Zagreb) and six ...stations along the eastern Adriatic coasts of Slovenia and Croatia in the period 2001–2003. Mean air temperatures and amount of precipitation were also recorded.
Distinct differences in both meteorological and isotopic data between the continental and maritime stations were observed. Seasonal variations in
δ
18O are smaller at the maritime stations than at the continental ones due to smaller seasonal temperature variations. A good correlation between
δ
18O and
δ
2H was obtained for each station, and the local meteoric water lines are close to the Global Meteoric Water Line, with a decreasing trend of slope for the south-Adriatic stations. Good correlations between
δ
18O in monthly precipitation and mean monthly air temperature were observed at all stations. The slope of
δ
18O vs.
T varied between 0.37‰
°C
−1 and 0.15‰
°C
−1. Mean
3H activity and seasonal variation of
3H activity are smaller at maritime stations than at continental ones. Additionally,
3H activity decreases in the NW–SE direction of the Adriatic coast.
The study of spatial variations over this relatively small area rich in geographical and climatic diversities showed the complexity of the isotopic composition of precipitation and the isotopic data obtained for eight stations, most of them in the karstic area along the Adriatic coast, and gave valuable information for regional hydrological investigations and modelling of isotope variability over the Mediterranean basin.
The earthquake (Mw 6 from the SHEEC defined by the MDPs) that occurred in the central part of Slovenia on 14 April, 1895, affected a broad region, causing deaths, injuries, and destruction. This ...event was much studied but not fully explained; in particular, its causative source model is still debated. The aim of this work is to contribute to the identification of the seismogenic source of this destructive event, calculating peak ground velocity values through the use of different ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) and computing a series of ground motion scenarios based on the result of an inversion work proposed by Jukić in 2009 and on various fault models in the surroundings of Ljubljana: Vič, Želimlje, Borovnica, Vodice, Ortnek, Mišjedolski, and Dobrepolje faults. The synthetic seismograms, at the basis of our computations, are calculated using the multi-modal summation technique and a kinematic approach for extended sources, with a maximum peak ground velocity value of 1 Hz. The qualitative and quantitative comparison of these simulations with the macroseismic intensity database allows us to discriminate between various sources and configurations. The quantitative validation of the seismic source is done using ad hoc ground motion to intensity conversion equations (GMICEs), expressly calculated for this study. This study allows us to identify the most probable causative source model of this event, contributing to the improvement of the seismotectonic knowledge of this region. The candidate fault that has the lowest values of average differences between observed and calculated intensities and chi-squared is a strike slip fault with a toward-north rupture as the Ortnek fault.
The concentration of PCBs in topsoils from five European cities was assessed and the highest levels were found in Glasgow (Scotland), followed by Torino (Italy), Aveiro (Portugal), Ljubljana ...(Slovenia) and Uppsala (Sweden). All cities showed the presence of local sources in addition to diffuse contamination from global atmospheric transport. The association of general soil parameters with PCBs in Glasgow and with heavier congeners in Torino and Ljubljana indicates that retention of these compounds is occurring. The profiles obtained resemble Aroclor 1254 and 1260, which are important local sources. Nevertheless, differences in PCB profiles were observed among cities, due to the combined effects of the age of the contamination (which determines the time available for volatilisation and degradation), different sources of PCBs and differences in climate (which influence volatilisation and deposition).
The distribution of PCBs in topsoils from five European cities was studied and differences were observed in terms of total concentration and congener profiles.
Groundwater is an important resource for drinking water. Although it is a relatively stable and protected water resource, its quality, especially in highly urbanized catchments, is vulnerable to ...pollution related to unusual events or accidents causing releases of hazardous substances. To ensure the safe supply of drinking water in these cases, prompt actions must be taken and solutions must be delivered under time constraints. This paper describes a decision support system for emergency groundwater management that was developed to improve activities after the discovery of pollution in the catchments of drinking water abstraction wells in the Ljubljansko polje aquifer. It is a system based on a monitoring network and the integration of numerical modeling techniques with expert knowledge. The integration of logically interlinked activities, including the detection of pollution in the groundwater, the simulation of pollution propagation and decision making, into a common system provides a basis for proactive water resource management. The user-friendly interface enables water managers to utilize modeling tools and rapidly access information for mitigating pollution of groundwater resource, which in the presented case significantly contributes to a safer drinking water supply.
Land degradation of alluvial plains is an environmental risk for groundwater contamination, stemming from the mobilization of contaminants that can occur from waste‐filled gravel pits. This risk can ...be increased by river damming and consequential rises in groundwater levels. The presence and characteristics of former historical land degradation of alluvial plains should therefore be considered when planning hydroelectric projects. The aim of this study was to assess the hydrological and environmental impacts of the planned damming of the Sava River on the groundwater, which is the drinking water source for the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. It introduces an integrative approach for determining the characteristics of old waste‐filled gravel pits with stereo image processing of historical aerial photographs and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in combination with hydrological modelling. Thirty gravel pits in the study area (17 km2) were identified by stereo image analysis, and three were selected to test results in the field using non‐invasive ERT. Integrating this information with the results of hydrological modelling, we assessed the risk of groundwater contamination from the scenario of the planned damming of the River Sava. The results indicate that the thickness of the unsaturated zone below the identified gravel pits will be reduced by an average of 4 m at median groundwater level conditions during damming, which will increase the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination.
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