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This paper describes the spatial and temporal variability of the hydrogeochemistry of shallow aquifer in the western Po Plains, located in Piedmont (northwestern Italy), using groundwater monitoring network data for the main chemical–physical parameters. Hydrochemical maps for the 2015–2020 period were created to identify the main natural and anthropogenic factors responsible for the remarkable spatial variability. Temporal variations in the 2000–2020 period were defined to show the existence of variabilities that were previously not investigated. The spatial and temporal elaborations show significant and various variabilities. The hydrochemical maps confirm the existence of several natural and anthropogenic factors, including the lithological compositions of aquifers, agricultural practices and pressure from urban centres. The temporal variations suggest different resilience capacities of the aquifers to the several impacting factors. The availability of this knowledge is crucial to create the basis for groundwater protection.

This paper describes the spatial and temporal variability of the hydrogeochemistry of shallow aquifer in the western Po Plains, located in Piedmont (northwestern Italy), using groundwater monitoring network data for the main chemical–physical parameters. Hydrochemical maps for the 2015–2020 period were created to identify the main natural and anthropogenic factors responsible for the remarkable spatial variability. Temporal variations in the 2000–2020 period were defined to show the existence of variabilities that were previously not investigated. The spatial and temporal elaborations show significant and various variabilities. The hydrochemical maps confirm the existence of several natural and anthropogenic factors, including the lithological compositions of aquifers, agricultural practices and pressure from urban centres. The temporal variations suggest different resilience capacities of the aquifers to the several impacting factors. The availability of this knowledge is crucial to create the basis for groundwater protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave reserves, initially aimed at protecting surf 'spots', are becoming a way to ensure the conservation of coastal areas that are of great ecological and economic value. They foster local development and contribute to countries' achievements toward international objectives. Several projects to implement large wave reserves are on their way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to a Fossil-Lagerstätte of international significance for the Lower Cretaceous, the Araripe basin is one of the richest and most threatened reservoirs of geodiversity in Brazil. Far from being limited to its palaeontological heritage, the major importance of geodiversity in the Araripe region is also related to high levels of geomorphodiversity, pedodiversity, and hydrodiversity, as evidenced by recent research. However, numerous threats and severe damages were identified in the field, affecting all the components of the abiotic nature. As a major geodiversity hotspot, the Araripe basin requires greater attention along with an urgent need for conservation in areas without adapted protection tools. The creation of the Araripe UNESCO Global Geopark in 2006 was a crucial step toward geodiversity conservation, but its present borders are far from covering the Araripe basin as a whole. This implies the search for new solutions or alternatives, mainly in the field of geoeducation, to raise geodiversity awareness among the municipal authorities as well as the local population, in a predominantly rural region today affected by rapid and poorly planned urban growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hydrochemical and isotopic tools were used for hydrogeological characterization. • Hydrodiversity is greatly linked to hydrogeochemical processes. • Hydrodiversity can be behind of the natural and cultural heritage. The protection of geodiversity has been gaining interest during the last decades. However, the study of hydrodiversity has been much less developed than other aspects of the geological heritage (lithology, mineralogy, geomorphology, palaeontology). The objective of this work is to help with an inclusive definition of hydrodiversity by assessing its importance as part of geodiversity and how it can condition the natural and cultural heritage of a region. To that end, we have selected as a study area an evaporitic karst enclave of great geomorphological and environmental value located in southern Spain, named Los Hoyos, where diverse water features are found. Based on the hydrochemical and isotopic analysis of the water points, five main processes explain the hydrodiversity of the area: (1) the availability of minerals in the environment, (2) the residence time of groundwater, (3) the evaporation of water in the wetlands, (4) the common-ion effect (5) and the high ionic strength of groundwater. All these processes, directly related to the geology and geomorphology of the area (geodiversity), have given rise to diverse ecosystems (including protected wetlands), which enhance local biodiversity and geological forms (travertines), and are connected to the area's cultural heritage (salt extraction from the Paleolithic). This hydrodiversity is partially or totally responsible for a series of services to society related to its intrinsic, cultural, aesthetic, economic, functional, and scientific values. The case here presented exemplifies the importance of hydrodiversity in the natural and cultural heritage and highlights the need of advancing on the definition, promotion and protection of the hydrological heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is an important landscape element of protected areas, but its significance to geoparks (parks representing geological heritage) is still unclear. The content of the official, standardized descriptions of the UNESCO global geoparks (144 in total) was analyzed in order to understand the consideration of water by geopark creators/managers. It was found that water objects (seas/oceans, rivers, and lakes are most common) are mentioned in 55% of these descriptions, and 47% of the latter bear photos of water objects. Moreover, water is generally strongly related to geological heritage (in 80% of cases). These findings imply a significant attention to hydrodiversity in geoparks (apparently, official descriptions reflect global geopark practice and intentions). This attention does not differ between Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. It has increased in the 2010s relatively to the 2000s. The registered consideration of water in geoparks can be explained differently, and one plausible hypothesis links it to an increasing willingness of geopark creators/managers to demonstrate the natural integrity of geological heritage landscapes. Such attention to water is suitable to deliver the knowledge of this integrity to tourists, but it increases the risks of visitor distraction from geological heritage, shifting to easy-to-understand and beautiful water objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]