Search

[EN] Emerging pollutants (EPs) include a wide array of chemical compounds, as well as some microorganisms, which presence was unknown or unmeasurable until recently, or have recently started to be considered a threat towards the environment or animal and human health. No clear or homogeneous regulations exist for their measurement or control, and efforts should be made to assess their presence and offer solutions for their safe management, as well as to achieve an optimal protection of water resources. A previous study performed by our research group thoroughly studied a wide profile of EPs in El Hierro Island (Canary Islands) for the first time. Now, we present the study of the same panel of 70 EPs in La Palma Island (Canary Islands). 14 samples were collected in 2021, at different locations in La Palma island, representing seven municipalities (Los Llanos de Aridane, Santa Cruz de la Palma, El Paso, Breña Baja, Tazacorte, Barlovento and Fuencaliente) and four installation types (Piezometers/Wells, Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), Water Gallery and Water Springs). High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was performed to analyse the EP array, which included five chemical families: UV filters, UV blockers/stabilizers, parabens, Pharmaceutical Active Compounds (PhACs) and pesticides. Subsequently, a comprehensive descriptive and statistical analysis, including different tests was performed on the data obtained. Heterogeneous concentration levels of the EPs studied were found based on municipality and installation type among the island, with some of the PhACs and UV blockers/stabilizers showing very high levels, especially at Breña Baja and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). It is worth noting that some of the samples comprised within the WWTPs category were collected outside the treatment plant, after water has been treated, so they should not bear dangerous concentrations of any hazardous compound. The high presence of two pesticides, i

[EN] The 2021 volcanic eruption in the Cumbre Vieja mountain range on La Palma Island (Canary Islands, Spain) raised concerns regarding the potential impact on groundwater resources. This study is the first part of a series of papers investigating those impacts, and focuses on the hydraulic impacts of the eruption, while subsequent papers will explore the geochemical consequences. Three boreholes equipped with sensors to measure hydraulic head, temperature, and electrical conductivity of groundwater were installed near the volcano. Monitoring started during the eruption and continued a year after it. Statistical analysis were performed to assess the relationship between the measured variables and real-time seismic-amplitude measurements (RSAM). In addition, the possibility of groundwater vaporization due to magma emergence was assessed with a groundwater flow numerical modelling of the island. Correlation coefficients were computed to assess the linear relationship between groundwater parameters and seismic signals, observing a statistically significant association, and suggesting near-instantaneous variations in parameters such as groundwater levels and EC. Different response patterns of groundwater levels were observed in recharging areas in highlands compared to discharge areas, showing an opposite correlation direction. Deduction of natural trends from the linear regression models of head and RSAM two months after the eruption revealed a more predictable impact on the groundwater system, as the hydrogeological system adjusts to the volcanic activity and its effects on the aquifer. The hydrogeological simulation of the “magma pumping effect” suggested that groundwater extraction was possible, but the absence of an appropriate groundwater monitoring network made it impossible to determine the amount of water extracted from the aquifer. The uncertainty analysis showed values up to 2000 m3·day−1. These findings have important implications for understanding the negat

[EN] Freshwater in coastal and island aquifers is a valuable resource whose availability is strongly conditioned by heterogeneity. More than 80 % of the Earth's surface is of volcanic origin, but the effect of volcanic dykes on the geometry of the saline interface that separates freshwater from seawater is still underexplored. This paper analyzes the impact of volcanic dykes on the depth of the saline interface in coastal and island aquifers and, subsequently, on the availability of fresh groundwater. Hydrogeological and hydrochemical data from a gallery, perpendicularly crossing several tens of dykes, were integrated with numerical modeling on the volcanic island of El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain). Measured hydraulic heads demonstrated that the presence of dykes increased the hydraulic gradient by more than an order of magnitude, with respect to an adjacent area not affected by dykes. Numerical assessment confirmed that the lower the hydraulic conductivity of the dykes, the greater the depth of the saline interface inland. This impact led to fresh groundwater reserves increasing inland, relative to a hypothetical case without dykes. Numerical simulations also demonstrated that dykes can prevent salinization of production wells in coastal and island aquifers, if they are correctly located. Locating production wells far enough inland in an area affected by dykes allowed a higher freshwater extraction rate than if dykes did not exist; near the coastline, the effect tended to be the opposite. These results will be key to improving the management of fresh groundwater resources in coastal volcanic aquifers, and especially on volcanic islands such as the Hawaiian Islands or the Macaronesian archipelagos.

Over the past decades, the understanding and assessment of cross-systems interactions have gained momentum in research and policy-support. As such, scientific literature on Nexus assessment methods and applications continues to grow, followed by numerous state-of-the-art reviews. Among the flexibility and variety of Nexus approaches, comprehensive, transferable and accessible methodologies with operational potential are missing. To address this gap, we introduce the SIM4NEXUS approach, which emerged from twelve test cases. Fledged from practice, the approach is a unique output in the Nexus research field. It is informed by the development of twelve case studies, which differ in spatial scope, socioeconomic and biophysical contexts, and Nexus challenges. The studies were conducted under similar conditions (e.g., timeframe and multidisciplinary teams of experts and dialogues with practitioners from policy and business). We find that transdisciplinarity and the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods are vital elements in Nexus assessments for policy support. Additionally, we also propose steps to advance Nexus assessments: 1) integration of the policy cycle in research (including monitoring and evaluation, and offer support during the implementation process), 2) multidisciplinary collaboration with different levels of engagement and financial support, 3) inclusion of ecosystems and other relevant dimensions (e.g., health) in the Nexus. Ultimately, the SIM4NEXUS approach provides practice-based guidance on conducting a Nexus assessment, and we recommend it for future Nexus assessments by the research community, institutions, and private actors., Not duplicate with DiVA 1652952QC 20220715

The development of solutions to manage or mitigate climate change impacts is very challenging, given the complexity and dynamicity of the socio-environmental and socio-ecological systems that have to be modeled and analyzed, and the need to include qualitative variables that are not easily quantifiable. The existence of qualitative, interoperable and well-interlinked data is considered a requirement rather than a desire in order to support this objective, since scientists from different disciplines will have no option but to collaborate and co-design solutions, overcoming barriers related to the semantic misalignment of the plethora of available data, the existence of multiple data silos that cannot be easily and jointly processed, and the lack of data quality in many of the produced datasets. In the current work, we present the SustainGraph, as a Knowledge Graph that is developed to track information related to the progress towards the achievement of targets defined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national and regional levels. The SustainGraph aims to act as a unified source of knowledge around information related to the SDGs, by taking advantage of the power provided by the development of graph databases and the exploitation of Machine Learning (ML) techniques for data population, knowledge production and analysis. The main concepts represented in the SustainGraph are detailed, while indicative usage scenarios are provided. A set of opportunities to take advantage of the SustainGraph and open research areas are identified and presented.

Over the past decades, the understanding and assessment of cross-systems interactions have gained momentum in research and policy-support. As such, scientific literature on Nexus assessment methods and applications continues to grow, followed by numerous state-of-the-art reviews. Among the flexibility and variety of Nexus approaches, comprehensive, transferable and accessible methodologies with operational potential are missing. To address this gap, we introduce the SIM4NEXUS approach, which emerged from twelve test cases. Fledged from practice, the approach is a unique output in the Nexus research field. It is informed by the development of twelve case studies, which differ in spatial scope, socioeconomic and biophysical contexts, and Nexus challenges. The studies were conducted under similar conditions (e.g., timeframe and multidisciplinary teams of experts and dialogues with practitioners from policy and business). We find that transdisciplinarity and the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods are vital elements in Nexus assessments for policy support. Additionally, we also propose steps to advance Nexus assessments: 1) integration of the policy cycle in research (including monitoring and evaluation, and offer support during the implementation process), 2) multidisciplinary collaboration with different levels of engagement and financial support, 3) inclusion of ecosystems and other relevant dimensions (e.g., health) in the Nexus. Ultimately, the SIM4NEXUS approach provides practice-based guidance on conducting a Nexus assessment, and we recommend it for future Nexus assessments by the research community, institutions, and private actors.