Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.15177/seefor.17-07
Dynamics, Hydrological Relations and Pollution of Precipitation and Flood Waters in a Forest Ecosystem
Damir Ugarković
orcid.org/0000-0002-5192-9974
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Svetošimunska 25, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
Danijela Balta
; Paštanska 8, HR-32256 Strošinci, Croatia
Ivica Tikvić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Svetošimunska 25, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Vucelja
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Svetošimunska 25, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
Igor Stankić
; Energy and Environmental Protection Institute (EKONERG), Koranska 5, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Water in forest ecosystems can be present in various forms. The hydrological water cycle unfolds via fundamental hydrological processes such as evapotranspiration, precipitation, infiltration and outflow. Certain infrastructure works and recent climate changes within lowland forest areas have resulted in changes in flood water and ground water trends, and in quantities of precipitation and evapotranspiration. One of the chemical water quality indicators is the presence of metals in water. Higher metal concentrations in natural waters are undesirable since they are polluters of aquatic systems and detrimental to living organisms. Particularly dangerous are cadmium and lead. The objective of this paper was to analyse watercourse levels, ground water depths, and relations between precipitation waters, flood waters, ground waters, relative air humidity and evapotranspiration. An additional objective was to analyse the pollution of precipitation and flood waters in lowland forest ecosystems.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Posavina region in Croatia. Precipitation data from Nova Gradiška meteorological station, watercourse levels of the Sava River and ground water depth data from piezometer stations were used in the analysis of the hydrological relations. For water quality analysis, precipitation was collected at six sample sites during the spring of 2015 and 2016. Flood water and precipitation were collected in three repetitions during the spring of 2015 and 2016.
Results: Trends of the Sava River water levels and ground water levels dropped significantly. The precipitation volume trend in the study area was positive, but not statistically significant, while evapotranspiration amounts increased significantly.
Conclusions: A significant correlation has been found between particular water forms in the hydrological cycle, i.e. between precipitation waters, flood waters and ground waters, and between relative air humidity and evapotranspiration. No pollution of precipitation waters and flood waters with metals was found.
Keywords
hydrological cycle; forest ecosystem; water pollution
Hrčak ID:
183597
URI
Publication date:
26.6.2017.
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