Tracing sources and fate of nutrients (N, P) with environmental isotopes

Nitrogen and phosphorous flows induce water quality degradations which are a major obstacle for reaching the “good qualitative status” of European surface and groundwater bodies aimed by the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). The diversity of nutrient sources, contamination pathways processes and is a key challenge for the management of natural resources. Understanding macronutrient sources and fate across large scales can be achieved through the use of multiple environmental isotopes as tracers. The STUDIUM MUTUAL consortium aims at merging these advanced tracer techniques into a diagnostic toolbox for characterising macronutrient (N and P) sources and fate in aquatic ecosystems for improved process understanding and catchment management. Here we present a short overview of the use of isotope techniques to assess nitrogen and phosphorous contamination of water resources, their speciation and transformations and their transfer dynamics in the different subsoil compartments.

Speaker

Dr Wolfram Kloppmann

BRGM, the French Geological SurveyDirection des Laboratoires, Orléans - FRCoordinator of LE STUDIUM Research Consortium: MULTI-ISOTOPE AND CHEMICAL TRACING FOR UNDERSTANDING THE SOURCES AND FATE OF MACRONUTRIENTS AT THE BASIN SCALE (MUTUAL)