Objective
A mathematical model based on the ecological and biogeochemical functioning of large drainage networks will be developed to study the relationship between nutrient levels and fluxes in response to hydraulic and land management in the watershed. The model will be tested on a number of European river systems representative of European climatic conditions.
During their transfer from land to sea, nutrients are involved in very active processes which lead to their transformation, immobilisation or elimination. However, human management has resulted in a considerable reduction of riparian interactions altering the retention capacity of the river systems. This is the main cause of the increase of nutrient contamination and coastal eutrophication problems.
The project will therefore focus on the development of a coupled hydrological-ecological mathematical model which will take into account the role of hydrological annexes and riparian zones in the overall functioning of river systems. The model will be adapted to seven river systems in Europe (Exe, Severn, Aliakmon, Seine, Loire, Scheld, Rhine), differing by their hydrological regime, the size of their basin area, the degree of management and land use in the watershed.
For each river system a data base specifically adapted to the structure of the model will be constituted with both published data or data gathered in the course of the project. Field and laboratory experiments will be carried out on ecological processes in order to increase the validity of the model in view of its ability to reproduce the present situation in the different river systems. Then the model will be used to test the effects of previous human impacts (including hydraulic management, land use changes, urban development) on the ecological functioning and nutrient transport. This retrospective use of the model will help to define scenarios of future management of the hydrological landscape.
The approach proposed in this project will contribute to the scientific basis for a European policy of integrated river management aiming at improving the water quality of surface waters and of coastal zones.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering natural resources management land management
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences hydrology drainage basins
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
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.
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
75252 Paris
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.