Review and assessment of nitrate reduction in groundwater in the Baltic Sea Basin

Anker Lajer Højberg, Anne Lausten Hansen, Przemysław Wachniew, Anna J. Żurek, Seija Virtanen, Jurga Arustiene, Johan Strömqvist, Katri Rankinen, Jens Christian Refsgaard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Study region: Six countries within the Baltic Sea Basin: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Poland and Germany.

Study focus: During transport from the field to the sea nitrogen undergoes natural reduction, but with large spatial variations. Mapping this variation would allow more optimal regulation strategies, by imposing most restrictions in areas with low natural reduction. In the present study, a map for spatially variable nitrate reduction in groundwater is developed covering six countries in the Baltic Sea Basin. In contrary to previous studies within the Baltic Sea Basin, the present study provides an independent estimate of the nitrogen reduction in groundwater, based on review of national data and studies. Depending on availability, different approaches were used for the countries ranging from national modelling to expert judgement. Through a joint workshop the assessments were, to the extent possible, harmonised.

New hydrological insights for the region: The review revealed large variations in the hydro-geochemical conditions important for transport and degradation of nitrogen in groundwater. This includes the hydrogeology, the reducing conditions of the subsurface, and the fraction of water transported by drainage systems bypassing the reducing subsurface environments. Significant variations in groundwater reduction between the countries and within most of the countries were thus found, indicating that strategies for nitrogen regulation and mitigation measures may be optimised, if variation in the natural reduction of nitrate is considered.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-68
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Volume12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2017

Keywords

  • Baltic sea
  • Groundwater
  • Nitrate reduction

Programme Area

  • Programme Area 2: Water Resources

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Review and assessment of nitrate reduction in groundwater in the Baltic Sea Basin'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this