Vulnerability to Diffuse Pollution of European Soils and Groundwater

摘要

From the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains, European soils and groundwater arethreatened by diffuse pollution derived from various chemicals used in modern agriculture and by increased atmospheric deposition of pollutants. The investigated vulnerability of soils (including groundwater) to diffuse pollution depends on land cover, topsoil, net precipitation, aquifer type, groundwater recharge and age. The elaboration of the various composing elements, both for the topsoil and for groundwater, was realized by applying Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Net precipitation is estimated using meteorological data and applying the Langbein/Turc approach for the actual evapotranspiration. The vulnerability of European soils and European groundwater was estimated by establishing a ranking of the combined risks with regard to diffuse pollution. The results of the ranking and intermediate results are presented on maps.