Objective
Its objectives are:
1) To quantify fluxes of traces metals discharged by the Rio Tinto and Odiel to the Gulf of Cadiz and assess how this is modified by estuarine processes during the extreme pH (2-8) changes encountered in this system. 2) To determine the fate and fluxes of metals in the Gulf of Cadiz and their relation to hydrodynamics and biological activity.
3) To record effects of human activities through historical times, from ancient mining (Phoenician, Roman) to the next closure of the present mine.
TOROS is a mulstidisciplinary approach which intends to study the inputs of two acidic (pH 2) and metal-rich
rivers (Tinto and Odiel rivers) draining one of the most important sulfide mineralised in the world and
discharging in the Gulf of Cadiz which provides up to 20% of the Mediterranean inflow waters.
Dissolved trace metal (Cd, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, As, Fe, Mn) concentrations and speciation will be determined
in the Tinto and Odiel rivers, estuary and in the Gulf of Cadiz. The mobilisation of trace metals from the
sediment to the overlying waters will also be evaluated using near bottom sampling. The extent of human
impact on trace metal mobilisation in the Huelva catchment will be assessed on the sedimentary phase, using
variations of metal content and ratios and stable Pb isotopes as tracers of mine inputs.
The main characteristics of the hydrology and the sedimentology of the rivers and estuarine system will be
studied (i.e. major ion concentrations, water and sediment discharge, sedimentation rates and mineralogy).
A 3D-hydrodynamics of the Gulf of Cadiz will be implemented. This hydrodynamic model, dealing primarily
with water circulation, will be modified to incorporate the data obtained for trace metals, nutrient concentrations
and primary productivity. Remote sensing techniques will be used to obtain information on the dispersal of the
river plume during the sampling periods. Geostatistical analysis of the data will be carried out. A data base
will be established, both to facilitate data exchange (and availability) and provide a resource for future work
in similar projects.
At a regional scale the problem of the rehabilitation of the Rio Tinto mining area and its surface waters has been
projected, after the next closure of the Rio Tinto mine. It is intented that this study will provide valuable
information to assist in the rehabilitation project, and in subsequent water pollution management programmes.
This aspect of water ressource management is especially important in South European regions and specially in
the province of Huelva which suffers from chronic lack of water to cover agricultural and health needs.
This project which is run jointly by 8 institutions (laboratories) belonging to 4 state members from EU: Spain,
United-Kingdom, Belgium and France is also intended to give valuable answers to the following questions:
Has mining activity increased the trace metal fluxes? Did the waters have a near neutral pH before human
intervention? The results of this study should be used for addressing other contamination problems in the
Mediterranean basin from mining areas.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology sedimentology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data exchange
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geochemistry biogeochemistry
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
34095 Montpellier
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.