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The integrated project AquaTerra of the EU sixth framework lays foundations for better understanding of river–sediment–soil–groundwater systems

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Hayley Fowler

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Abstract

The integrated project ‘‘AquaTerra’’ with the full title ‘‘integrated modeling of the river–sediment–soil–groundwater system; advanced tools for the management of catchment areas and river basins in the context of global change’’ is among the first environmental projects within the sixth Framework Program of the European Union. Commencing in June 2004, it brought together a multidisciplinary team of 45 partner organizations from 12 EU countries, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia and Montenegro. AquaTerra is an ambitious project with the primary objective of laying the foundations for a better understanding of the behavior of environmental pollutants and their fluxes in the soil–sediment–water system with respect to climate and land use changes. The project performs research as well as modeling on river–sediment–soil–groundwater systems through quantification of deposition, sorption and turnover rates and the development of numerical models to reveal fluxes and trends in soil and sediment functioning. Scales ranging from the laboratory to river basins are addressed with the potential to provide improved river basin management, enhanced soil and groundwater monitoring as well as the early identification and forecasting of impacts on water quantity and quality. Study areas are the catchments of the Ebro, Meuse, Elbe and Danube Rivers and the Bre´ villes Spring. Here we outline the general structure of the project and the activities conducted within eleven existing sub-projects of AquaTerra.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Gerzabek MH, Barceló D, Bellin A, Rijnaarts HHM, van Veen J, Darmendrail D, Fowler HJ, Négrel P, Frank E, Grathwohl P, Kuntz D, Barth JAC

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Environmental Management

Year: 2007

Volume: 84

Issue: 2

Pages: 237–243

Date deposited: 12/05/2010

ISSN (print): 0301-4797

ISSN (electronic): 1095-8630

Publisher: Academic Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.10.014

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.10.014


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