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Hydrological modelling has long been recognised as an essential tool for understanding and predicting water dynamics, particularly in regions where long-term observational data are limited. In Latvia, significant advancements have been made in the development of hydrological models, with the METQ model family becoming one of the most widely applied for the simulation of runoff and groundwater level regimes. Initially developed in the 1980s, METQ has been continuously refined to improve its predictive capabilities,...

The research was carried out to examine the influence of tributary inflows on the hydrochemical properties of the Svete River, which traverses intensive agricultural regions. Sixteen monitoring sites were selected along the main channel and at major tributary junctions. Water samples were collected monthly from surface layers (0 5 cm) over a one-year period, and concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and selected metals were evaluated. A multi-parameter probe and an inductively coupled plasma optical ...

Snow water pollution, especially from heavy metals, is a growing global environmental concern, as urbanization and industrial activities increasingly contribute to the contamination of precipitation. Snow, acting as a natural filter, accumulates atmospheric pollutants, which are subsequently released during snowmelt, entering stormwater systems and surface water bodies. This issue has been observed across Europe, North America, and other industrialized regions, where heavy metals such as nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu...

In urban environments, human health is increasingly affected by air quality, particularly air pollution with particulate matter (PM), which contains various toxic chemical elements. Car traffic is one of the main sources of air pollution in urban areas, which not only raises dust from roadways but also emits micro particles from diesel engines and tire wear containing heavy metals. The aim of the study is to evaluate the ability of the lichen species Xanthoria parietina, commonly found in Latvia, to biomonitor and...

Every year, cities are becoming more populated and urban traffic more intense. Urban air quality is deteriorating and causes for pollution are being sought and solutions to improve the quality of life in urban areas. Atmospheric deposits, vehicles, traffic and de-icing products are the main sources of snow pollution in cities. Snow, located near roads and streets with intense traffic, is a very useful tool for identifying the risks of traffic-related metals in the environment. In many countries, in winter, they us...

The number of transport units in cities is increasing every year. This trend contributes to air pollution problems in many rapidly urbanizing countries. Various heavy metals and other chemical elements, including aluminum, have been related to air quality degradation. Poor air quality affects people, especially young children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses, causing health problems and aggravating existing problems. The aim of the research is to find out which parts of the city of Jelgava have the ...

The development of sustainable ecosystem services worldwide is one of the priority issues in the context of environmental protection. Sustainable use of ecosystem services ensures the conservation of natural resources for future generations. In the cold climate of the lowland river, there is a highly seasonal hydrological regime affecting the use of ecosystem services. Biodiversity in flood meadows depends directly on seasonal variations in water levels. Balanced hydro generation and water regulation can pose risk...

The oversupply of water during the floods and the low soil surface levels determine the difficult ecological, economic, and demographic conditions. It then leads to using agricultural land of different types and intensities and various methods of regulating the water regime: summer polders. Human activity has significantly impacted the ecological processes of the floodplains of the Svete floodplain with extensive amelioration works that have significantly altered the appearance of a natural park. The total area of...

The harmful effects of various air pollutants on human health, living in a polluted air environment, are relatively well proven: the morbidity of the population is increasing, life expectancy is decreasing. Suspended particulates are one of the generally recognized air pollutants. The most dangerous solid particles are released during primary combustion processes, they contain heavy metals (zinc, copper, iron, lead). Heavy metals are known to be persistent in the human body and remain for decades. Heavy metals can...

Reducing emissions of nitrous oxides in the agricultural sector is one of the mainchallenges. Stable isotopes are one of the tools that record information on changes ingreenhouse gas production, transportation and emissions. The relationship between theprocesses in soil and emissions entering the atmosphere. Stable isotopes, which are directisotopes of nitrous oxide emissions from soil, are already recognised as a promising toolfor tracking atmospheric nitrous oxide emissions from various studies. The purpose ofth...

Air pollution is a problem today, and it is essential to know how high it is. By increasingpeople's standard of living, increasing the number of factories, cars and citizens, it ishelpful to know how much pollution is distributed and whether it does not exceed thestandards allowed for pollution. It is necessary to investigate air pollution with heavymetals in Jelgava by identifying data from areas. In preparing the analysis, it is possibleto assess whether air quality is adequate and does not exceed pollution stan...

The increasing world population demand for bioeconomy products intensify the nitrogen cycle and encourage eutrophication in water bodies. Global climate change and land use transformation have a significant impact on the hydrological cycle. Integrated water management in the catchment area is a sustainable solution for catchment area development and balancing economic and environmental interests. The aim of this study is to develop an optimization model for sustainable lake management. The case study is done in eu...

The mitigation of GHG emissions from anthropogenic ecosystems is one of a challenge for following decades. Successful GHG emission mitigation scenarios can be developed if there are tools to predict GHG emission trends according to climate, soil conditions, farm management practices, and other factors. One of the essential GHG emission sources is managed agricultural soils, and the most important factors are soil conditions, soil moisture, and temperature. The conceptual hydrological model METQ has been created un...

Changing climate variability and the type of land use are the main factors influencing the hydrological regime. The hydrological regime of the lake has a direct impact on biodiversity and has an impact on socio-economic processes in areas adjacent to the lake. The aim of the study is to predict and assess the impact of climate change and the change in the type of land use on the hydrological regime of Lake Usma. Two linear land-use change scenarios were used for modelling. Twelve climate scenarios were used to mod...

The river is the consequential landscape ? forming element as it is rinsing and transporting the weakest rocks, scraping the bed and accumulating the sediment. During these processes in the river, diverse ecosystems are forming in various areas that provide habitats for a wide range of plant and animal species. In almost every river there is occurring a natural process as erosion. River erosion assessment should be considered in river management and included in management measures, as erosion can be determining fa...

Lake Usma is unique with hundred years' old nature reserve and Natura 2000 territories in one part of the lake and developing the tourism industry in other part of the lake. During last ninety years, the water level of Lake Usma increased for approximately one meter, which caused coast erosion, changed soil ground water level in large territories around it and it is regarded to be a major factor for lake ecosystem functioning. To find sustainable management solution of Lake Usma, there is a necessity to understand...