Spring Water Research Articles

Spring water monitoring in the Upper Harz Mountains: Precipitation, runoff and specific electrical conductivity

Due to extreme weather events and deforestation the physical and chemical characteristics of watersheds in mountain areas could exceed the known variations. Therefore, the spring water of the Innerste river in the Western Harz Mountains (Germany) was monitored from 2020 to 2023. The monitoring approach is simple and can be directly transferred to other watersheds of springs which are connected to the meteoric water cycle.The specific electrical conductivity (SEC) of the water is compared to daily precipitation data. The SEC values range between 50 and 100 μS/cm. In September 2020 and July 2022 the spring dried out. A hysteretic relationship between spring runoff and spring water mineralisation was found. The SEC values of the spring water are rising during dry periods or in winter seasons with a long ice cover in the catchment area. The highest SEC values are typical for long dry periods and flush events after the drying out of the spring. The relationship of SEC and major ions of the spring water (especially bicarbonate) indicates that biogeochemical processes within the soil zone and water-rock interactions in fractured shales and greywackes of the catchment area control the chemical composition of the spring water. Comparing the obtained results with data measured before the first observed drying out of the spring, no unexpected new values and correlations of runoff, SEC values and ion concentrations were found.

A dermocosmetic regimen is effective and safe for mild to moderate acne in subjects of all skin phototypes

AbstractBackgroundAcne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with a multifactorial pathogenesis. The clinical appearance of acne and its sequelae may differ according to phototypes. Data regarding the potential benefit of dermocosmetics (DC) regardless of phototype are lacking and assessing acne improvement can be difficult, given the lack of visual support in people with skin of colour. A DC regimen, combining a cleanser and a cream, both containing thermal spring water, has been developed for the management of mild‐to‐moderate acne, for all skin phototypes studied.ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy and local tolerance of a DC routine in mild‐to‐moderate acne and to visualize the clinical improvement in all skin phototypes.MethodsIn an open‐labelled, multicentre clinical study, subjects of any phototype aged above 11 years and above with mild (N = 48, 55.2%) or moderate (N = 39, 44.8%) facial acne applied the DC twice daily for 56 days. No other acne care was allowed. Acne severity, as well as inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts, were assessed at baseline, Days 28 and 56. Photographs were taken using a novel imaging tool based on multimodal acquisition, to show clinical improvement over time.ResultsEighty‐seven subjects, 41 adults and 46 adolescents, were included; 59.8% were female and were aged between 11 and 44 years. The total acne lesion count decreased by 34%, the noninflammatory lesion count by 28%, and the inflammatory lesion count by 52% at Day 56. All % changes were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The GEA score decreased, with 25% of subjects showing at least a one‐grade improvement at Day 28 and 59% at Day 56. Local tolerance was excellent.ConclusionsThe tested DC care is beneficial for the improvement of acne and is very well tolerated in all skin phototypes studied.

The importance of riparian vegetation in maintaining spring water quality in Yeh Penet Watershed, Bali, Indonesia

Abstract. Wibowo FAC, Pramudya AD, Muttaqin T, Pangestu MNA. 2024. The importance of riparian vegetation in maintaining spring water quality in Yeh Penet watershed, Bali, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2051-2062. Water quality changes along with population growth and human activities. Riparian ecosystems play an important role in maintaining water quality since riparian vegetation have a complex root system which acts as a filter of toxic substances to not enter the spring water. This research analyzes the relationship between riparian vegetation and water quality at five springs in the bamboo rehabilitation area of the Environment Bamboo Foundation (YBLL) in the Yeh Penet Watershed, Bali, Indonesia. At each spring, vegetation analysis was carried out to determine the diversity and composition of riparian vegetation, as well as water quality assessment based on bio-physiochemical parameters. The result of vegetation analysis found that spring 1 was dominated by Equisetum hyemale, spring 2 by Diplazium esculentum, spring 3 by Digitaria longiflora and springs 4 and 5 by Musa paradisiaca. The analysis of bio-physicochemical parameters showed that the water from the five springs was suitable for consumption, but it needs to be heated to a temperature of ±100°C before consuming it due to the presence of coli bacteria. Riparian vegetation diversity had a strong relationship with water quality parameters especially Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) values, Ammonia (NH3), and total coliform. Our findings confirm the importance of riparian vegetation in maintaining water quality in water springs within a watershed.

The dominance and growth of shallow groundwater resources in continuous permafrost environments

Water is a limited resource in Arctic watersheds with continuous permafrost because freezing conditions in winter and the impermeability of permafrost limit storage and connectivity between surface water and deep groundwater. However, groundwater can still be an important source of surface water in such settings, feeding springs and large aufeis fields that are abundant in cold regions and generating runoff when precipitation is rare. Whether groundwater is sourced from suprapermafrost taliks or deeper regional aquifers will impact water availability as the Arctic continues to warm and thaw. Previous research is ambiguous about the role of deep groundwater, leading to uncertainty regarding Arctic water availability and changing water resources. We analyzed chemistry and residence times of spring, stream, and river waters in the continuous permafrost zone of Alaska, spanning the mountains to the coastal plain. Water chemistry and age tracers show that surface waters are predominately sourced from recent precipitation and have short (<50 y) subsurface residence times. Remote sensing indicates trends in the areal extent of aufeis over the last 37 y, and correlations between aufeis extent and previous year summer temperature. Together, these data indicate that surface waters in continuous permafrost regions may be impacted by short flow paths and shallow suprapermafrost aquifers that are highly sensitive to climatic and hydrologic change over annual timescales. Despite the lack of connection to regional aquifers, continued warming and permafrost thaw may promote deepening of the shallow subsurface aquifers and creation of shallow taliks, providing some resilience to Arctic freshwater ecosystems.

The origin and water quality of spring systems in Monchique, Portugal: A focus on Long-Term sustainability and elevated sodium levels

Spring water systems in Monchique, SW Portugal, not only serve diverse local utilities–from thermal baths to bottled water–but also represent a microcosm of a global concern: elevated sodium levels in spring-sourced bottled waters. This research employs hydrogeochemical and isotopic analyses to investigate the origin, hierarchy and quality of the springs offering a new focus on elevated sodium concentrations, a known global cardiometabolic risk factor. The springs arise from a complex hydrogeological system formed by extensive faulting between argillaceous country-rocks and intruded Cretaceous syenites. Here we show that thermal springs with temperatures of 23–31 °C, have a groundwater age of 5000 years, indicative of extended water–rock interactions and recharge at elevations of 450 to 650 m revealing a hitherto unreported resilience in regional groundwater hydraulics. Conversely, cold springs recharging from 200 m to the area’s peak at 900 m follow shorter paths within the regolith influenced by shallow geological features. The study detects nitrate contamination from surface sources in the cold springs and relatively high sodium levels in the geothermal springs that approach or surpass guideline values. Elevated sodium is attributed, for the first time, to long-term interactions and cation exchange with Na-rich syenites, possibly intensified by heat-induced dissolution at depth. This study informs current perspectives on the long-term sustainability and public health implications of spring water systems. The ion chemistry and isotopic evidence suggest that thermal springs, due to their longer circulation times, are less vulnerable to climatic shifts compared to the more susceptible cold springs. While offering specific insights into the Monchique springs, the research has broad implications to similar high-sodium thermal springs across the Iberian Peninsula and potentially worldwide.

Molecular taxonomy of fish larvae in the Northwestern Arabian gulf: A baseline study from Kuwait's first marine protected area

Sulaibikhat Bay, a shallow embayment dominated by tides and extensive mud flats along the northern coast of Kuwait Bay, serves as a crucial nursery ground for various commercially important species of finfish and shellfish in the Northwestern Arabian Gulf (NWAG). As the location of Kuwait's inaugural marine protected area (MPA), Sulaibikhat Bay plays a vital role in fostering numerous fish and marine invertebrate species of commercial importance in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. Accurate identification of larval specimens from this habitat is essential for understanding their spawning dynamics and recruitment process. However, limitations in taxonomic identification hinder scientific understanding of fish larval recruitment. To address this, our baseline study employed an integrated taxonomic approach, combining conventional morphology with molecular techniques. Fish larvae collected from the MPA and surrounding waters in Spring (2022) were identified up to the genus and species levels using partial gene sequencing of 16 S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI) genes. Morphological analysis indicated the prevalence of Sparidae, Sillaginidae, and Dorosomatidae families. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of these families and identified two species, Crenidens crenidens (Sparidae) and Nematalosa nasus (Dorosomatidae), along with two genera, Diplodus sp. (Sparidae) and Sillago sp. (Sillaginidae), which exhibited maximum similarity to available COI sequences of Diplodus sargus, and Sillago maculata, respectively. This represents the first baseline molecular study on fish larvae from NWAG, laying the groundwork for future in-depth analyses with more larval specimens and spatiotemporal samplings from the entire exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Kuwait in the Arabian/Persian Gulf.

Natural radioactivity level in Yemen: A systematic review of radiological studies

This paper aimed to conduct a systematic review of 26 published articles from 13 different regions in the Republic of Yemen related to the study of natural radioactivity (NORM) and enhanced artificial radioactivity (TENORM). The study relied on the analysis of various sample types, including air, groundwater, surface water, hot spring water, soil, sand, rocks, building materials, and oil field samples. It also analyzed the study areas, the types of detectors employed, and the study's timeframe. The analytical results raised significant concerns regarding the high levels of radioactivity observed in many of the studied regions. Moreover, some regions indicated the absence of any prior radiological study, despite apparent effects on the population and the environment, which suggest the presence of potential radionuclide concentration. Based on this study, it is strongly recommended that researchers conduct further radiological studies in regions previously studied over extended periods and in areas where no prior radiological studies have been conducted to assess potential radionuclide concentration.

Sources, Fates, and Geochemical Cycling of Mercury in Geothermal Fields: Insights From Mercury Isotopes

AbstractGeothermal fields emit remarkable amounts of mercury (Hg) to the environment. To address the source, fate and geochemical cycling of Hg in geothermal fields, we investigated Hg concentrations and isotopic compositions of hot spring water and fumarole gases from Rehai and Dagejia in SW‐China. Elevated Hg concentrations in fumarole gases (10.0–167 ng m−3) and hot spring water (3.44–84.5 ng L−1) were observed, suggesting that both geothermal fields are of environmental concern. The variation in Δ199Hg (−0.06 to 0.23‰) and Δ200Hg (−0.09 to 0.19‰) in hot spring water supports Hg likely originating from endogenous volcanic degassing and/or rainwater. Negative and nearly zero Δ199Hg in fumarole gases (−0.32 to 0.03‰) supports volcanic degassing and background atmosphere origin. The ranges of δ202Hg in fumarole gases (−0.74 to 0.59‰) and hot spring water (−1.29 to 0.52‰) could reflect limited fluids boiling in geothermal fields. This study, thus, fills an important knowledge gap regarding Hg global cycling.

Outstanding performance of magnetic La2O2CO3/Fe3O4 nanosheets for simultaneous removal of phosphate and arsenate from wastewater

The chemical similarities and co-occurrence of phosphate and arsenate contamination have heightened the focus on their efficient simultaneous removal. In this study, magnetically recoverable La2O2CO3/Fe3O4 nanosheets were synthesized through the calcination of La-Fe binary metal glycolate. Based on magnetic and adsorption properties, La2O2CO3/Fe3O4 nanosheets with a La to Fe molar ratio of 1:1 (La2O2CO3/Fe3O4-1) were selected for further exploration. Electron microscopy characterization revealed that the nanocomposites consist of stacked La2O2CO3 and Fe3O4 nanosheets. The La2O2CO3/Fe3O4-1 nanocomposites exhibited exceptional adsorption capacities of 114.6 mg P/g and 230.2 mg As/g. Additionally, the material exhibited rapid adsorption kinetics and maintained excellent adsorption performance within a pH range of 3.0 to 9.0, showing significant selectivity for phosphate and arsenate even in the presence of various coexisting ions. Adsorption-desorption cycling tests indicated good potential for recycling. When applied to the spring water of Yangzonghai Lake, the material efficiently reduced the concentrations of phosphate and arsenate from 0.725 mg P/L and 1.380 mg As/L to below 0.020 mg P/L and 0.010 mg As/L, respectively. Mechanistic studies suggest that La2O2CO3 facilitates the removal of phosphate and arsenate primarily through electrostatic attraction and ligand exchange. These findings indicate that La2O2CO3/Fe3O4 holds significant promise for the co-removal of phosphate and arsenate, even at low concentrations.

Utilization of sago plants (Metroxylon spp.) as a bioindicator of water springs

Abstract. Botanri S, Uluputty MR, Kamsurya M, Kamaruddin, Latuponu H, Habi ML, Djumat JL, Kaliky F. 2024. Utilization of sago plants (Metroxylon spp.) as a bioindicator of water springs. Biodiversitas 25: 1682-1690. Sago plants (Metroxylon spp) in Maluku, Indonesia are often used as an indication of a water spring. If an area grows sago, there is most certainly a spring exists. However, this anecdotal evidence has never been empirically tested. The research aims to investigate the use of sago plants as bioindicators of water springs and to analyze the relationship between water spring discharge and sago plant characteristics and environmental factors. The research was carried out on the island of Ambon, Maluku, for 12 months from January to December 2023. This research used a survey method by conducting a census of all water springs in most areas of Ambon Island. Observations of root characteristics, sago population density, and microclimate were conducted in 3 sample areas using the purposive sampling method. Observation data were analyzed using Principal Component Regression Analysis (PCRA). The research results show that sago plants can be used as bioindicators to indicate the existence of water springs. Spring water discharge was influenced by the characteristics of sago roots, including root diameter, fresh root weight, root water content, and sago population density. Collectively, the influence of root characteristics and sago stand density reached 73.4% (R-square 0.734) with a correlation between the independent variables (X1-X4) and variable Y (spring discharge) R = 0.857. Spring discharge was also influenced by microclimate characteristics, including temperature, air humidity, intensity of solar radiation, and rainfall. The contribution of the influence of microclimate characteristics to spring discharge reached 88.2% (R-square 0.882). The correlation is very strong, with a value of R = 0.939. The findings of our study imply that sago can be used as a water spring conservation plant.

Manganese exposure from spring and well waters in the Shenandoah Valley: interplay of aquifer lithology, soil composition, and redox conditions

Manganese (Mn) is of particular concern in groundwater, as low-level chronic exposure to aqueous Mn concentrations in drinking water can result in a variety of health and neurodevelopmental effects. Much of the global population relies on drinking water sourced from karst aquifers. Thus, we seek to assess the relative risk of Mn contamination in karst by investigating the Shenandoah Valley, VA region, as it is underlain by both karst and non-karst aquifers and much of the population relies on water wells and spring water. Water and soil samples were collected throughout the Shenandoah Valley, to supplement pre-existing well water and spring data from the National Water Information System and the Virginia Household Water Quality Program, totaling 1815 wells and 119 springs. Soils were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence and Mn K-Edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. Factors such as soil type, soil geochemistry, and aquifer lithology were linked with each location to determine if correlations exist with aqueous Mn concentrations. Analyzing the distribution of Mn in drinking water sources suggests that water wells and springs within karst aquifers are preferable with respect to chronic Mn exposure, with < 4.9% of wells and springs in dolostone and limestone aquifers exceeding 100 ppb Mn, while sandstone and shale aquifers have a heightened risk, with > 20% of wells exceeding 100 ppb Mn. The geochemistry of associated soils and spatial relationships to various hydrologic and geologic features indicates that water interactions with aquifer lithology and soils contribute to aqueous Mn concentrations. Relationships between aqueous Mn in spring waters and Mn in soils indicate that increasing aqueous Mn is correlated with decreasing soil Mn(IV). These results point to redox conditions exerting a dominant control on Mn in this region.

Assessing health risks in bottled water: chemical compounds and their impact on human health.

Bottled mineral and spring water constitute one of the main sources of drinking water. Relevant legal acts in each country individually regulate the highest permitted concentrations of harmful substances in these waters. However, current regulations do not take into account newly emerging contaminants such as BPA. Analysis of the chemical composition of 72 bottled waters from the Polish market showed that undesirable elements occur in quantities that do not exceed the maximum permissible concentrations. Special attention should be paid to bottled therapeutic water, which may contain elevated concentrations of some micronutrients, such as Al, B, Ba, Fe, Mn, or Sr contributing to the pattern of health risk with excessive consumption of this type of water. The presence of BPA was confirmed in 25 tested waters. The calculated hazard index values showed that the most exposed group are children up to 12 years of age. The greatest attention should be paid to waters with high mineralisation, for which the calculated risk values are the highest.

Response of weathering carbon sink effect to anthropogenic sulfuric acid in different lithological catchments: A case study from Southwest China

Accurately quantifying the carbon sink effect resulting from chemical weathering caused by anthropogenic H2SO4 is imperative to improve the assessment of the global carbon budget. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of precise understanding regarding the impact of anthropogenic H2SO4 on CO2 consumption during chemical weathering. Here, spring water samples were collected monthly from three catchments with distinct bedrock lithologies affected by severe acid precipitation in Southwest China for analyses of hydrogeochemistry and δ13CDIC to quantitatively estimate the effect of anthropogenic H2SO4 on the weathering carbon sink budget. The results show that carbonates contribute 97.4 %, 95.0 % and 88.8 % of the total cationic load using a straightforward method in the Beidiping carbonate catchment, as well as in the Shegengyan and Bianyan silicate catchments, respectively. The [Ca2++Mg2+]/[HCO3−] (0.98–1.19) and [Ca2++Mg2+]/[HCO3−+SO42−] (approximately 1) equivalent ratios, and δ13CDIC values (−16.8 to −8.0 ‰) of the samples suggest that besides H2CO3, H2SO4 is involved in carbonate weathering. The stoichiometry of the chemical compositions of spring water indicates that the presence of H2SO4 enhances carbonate weathering rates by 14.8 %, 8.1 % and 7.5 % while decreasing the CO2 consumption by 8.2 %, 4.3 % and 4.0 % in Beidiping, Shegengyan and Bianyan, respectively. Thus the reduced proportion of karst carbon sink in the carbonate catchment is approximately 2 times that in the silicate catchment, suggesting that carbonate weathering in the karst catchment is more sensitive to acid precipitation. The impact of acid precipitation on rock weathering in the silicate catchment is constrained by the soil buffering effect. Our study highlights the important role of anthropogenic H2SO4 in carbonate weathering, which should be critically evaluated in regional and global carbon cycles in future studies.

Utilization of Multi-Ionic Interaction of Yumoto Hot Springs for Enhancing the Moisturizing Properties of Hyaluronic Acid Sodium Salt

Hot spring (HS) waters manifest diverse positive effects on the skin due to their unique chemical compositions. Sodium hyaluronate acid (HA) comprises N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucuronic acid, and distinguishes itself with superior qualities in skin regeneration, providing moisturizing and anti-aging benefits. The combination of HA with HS water is widely applied across ophthalmology, pneumology, nutrition, and cosmetics. This study delved into the application of HA in cosmetology, with a focus on its interaction with HS water and its effects on moisture retention and promoting wound healing. In particular, with the alkaline pH levels of the Yumoto HS, HA molecules may undergo dissociation to be ionized resulting in a negatively charged polymer and interacting with positively charged ions in the HS water through electrostatic interactions. The shifted peaks in the FTIR result and zeta potential shifts to a less negative region in the case of HA-HS compared to HA-DI indicate an ionic interaction between HS water and HA. Moisture tests confirmed the sustained hydration when HA is dissolved in HS water, underscoring its potential to improve skin hydration at certain concentrations, specifically at 0.5% and 1%. Additionally, MTT assay results demonstrated that HS water stimulates the growth of fibroblast cells compared to distilled water, implying its potential beneficial effect in wound healing. These findings suggested the multifaceted benefits of HAHS in skincare, highlighting its role in enhancing skin hydration and potentially accelerating wound healing processes, thus presenting avenues for the development of advanced cosmeceutical formulations.

Intertidal spring dynamics and coastal nutrient loading revealed through geophysics, drone surveys, and in‐situ monitoring

AbstractCoastal eutrophication poses an increasing risk to ecosystem health due to enhanced nutrient loading to the global coastline. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) represents a significant pathway for nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3‐N) transport to the coast, but diffusive SGD transport is difficult to monitor directly, given the low flux rates and expansive discharge areas. In contrast, focused SGD from intertidal springs can potentially be sampled and directly gauged, providing unique insight into SGD and associated contaminant transport. Basin Head is a coastal lagoon in Prince Edward Island, Canada that is a federally protected ecosystem. Nitrate‐nitrogen is conveyed from agricultural fields in the contributing watershed to the eutrophic lagoon via intertidal groundwater springs and groundwater‐dominated tributaries. We used several field methods to characterize groundwater discharge, nutrient loading, and in‐channel mixing associated with intertidal springs. The tributaries and intertidal springs were gauged and sampled to estimate a representative summer nitrate load to the lagoon. Our analysis revealed that NO3‐N export to the lagoon through tributaries and springs throughout summer 2023 was on average 401 kg N/month, with the combined spring loading comparable in magnitude to the combined tributary loading. We collected thermal infrared and visual imagery using drone surveys and found spatial overlap between cold‐water plumes from the spring discharge and macroalgae blooms, indicating the local thermal and ecosystem impacts of the focused SGD. We also mapped the electrical resistivity (salinity) distribution in the water column around one large spring with electromagnetic geophysics at different tidal stages to reveal the three‐dimensional spring plume dynamics. Results showed that the fresher spring water floated above the saline lagoon water with the brackish plume oriented in the direction of the tidal current. Collectively, our multi‐pronged field investigations help elucidate the hydrologic, thermal, and nutrient dynamics of intertidal springs and the cascading ecosystem impacts.

Heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment using deterministic and Monte Carlo simulation approaches in the Himalayan spring and surface water systems of Kulgam District, Kashmir valley, India

Heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment using deterministic and Monte Carlo simulation approaches in the Himalayan spring and surface water systems of Kulgam District, Kashmir valley, India

A two-dimensional model test system for floor failure during automatic roadway formation mining without pillars above confined water

The coal mining in North China is seriously threatened by floor water inrush from the Ordovician limestone, so it is particularly important to explore failure characteristics. Automatic roadway formation mining without pillars (ARFMP) provides an effective method for reducing floor failure. To explore failure characteristics above confined water, a two-dimensional model test system is built up. Such a system can be applied to compare the difference of floor failure between ARFMP above confined water and traditional retained coal pillar mining, and to intuitively analyze the lifting law of confined water under dynamic disturbance. The core features of this system include the customized spring sets and water bag adopted as materials to simulate the floor aquifer, the guide lift hose and branch conduit used as the lifting channel of confined water, and the flow rate and cumulative volume monitored in real time. The customized “cutting-support-blocking” integrated device is the key equipment to simulate ARFMP. Then, the model test is conducted on a typical engineering case. By comparing stress, displacement, and water inrush characteristics of floor in different areas, failure characteristics of the roof-cutting side, the middle of working face, the collapse column area, and the coal pillar side were obtained, and it was clarified that ARFMP can effectively prevent floor water inrush. According to the results of model test, a comprehensive treatment scheme combining ARFMP with the floor regional control is proposed to ensure the safe mining of working face.

Reconstruction of the Subsurface of Al-Hassa Oasis Using Gravity Geophysical Data

Al-Hassa city, located in Eastern Saudi Arabia, boasts the world’s largest oasis and the most expansive naturally irrigated lands. Historically, a total of 280 natural springs facilitated significant groundwater discharge and irrigation of agricultural land. Furthermore, the water in certain springs formerly had a high temperature. The spatial variability of the water quality was evident. At the same time, Al-Hassa Oasis is situated on the northeastern side of the Ghawar field, which is the largest conventional onshore oil field in the world in terms of both reserves and daily output (approximately 3.8 mmb/d). The aforementioned traits suggest an intricate subsurface that has not yet been publicly and thoroughly characterized. Due to the presence of significant cultural noise caused by agricultural and nearby industrial activities, a robust, easy-to-use, and accurate geophysical method (gravity) was used to cover an area of 350 km2, producing the 3D subsurface model of the study area. A total of 571 gravity stations were collected, covering the whole Al-Hassa Oasis and parts of the nearby semi-urban areas. The gravity data were corrected and processed, and a 3D inversion was applied. The resulting 3D geophysical subsurface modeling unveiled an intricate subterranean configuration and revealed lateral variations in density, indicating the presence of a potential salt dome structure, as well as fracture zones that serve as conduits or obstacles to the flow of the subsurface fluids. This comprehensive modeling approach offers valuable insights into the subsurface dynamics of the broader study area, enhancing our understanding of its qualitative tectonic and hydraulic features and their impacts on the area’s natural resources, such as groundwater and hydrocarbons.

What are the growth kinetics and biochemical compositions of microalgae isolated from diverse aquatic ecosystems in Morocco, France, and Tunisia?

Thirty-six microalgae belonging to five taxonomic groups (Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyceae, Diatomophyceae, Euglenophyceae, and Eustigmatophyceae) were identified from six freshwater ecosystems in Morocco, two treatment stations in Etueffont landfill in France and three hot spring waters in Tunisia. Investigations on species growth kinetics and growth rates showed that the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya gelatinosa exhibited both the highest biomass and growth rate with 4 g DW L-1 and 0.282 day-1, respectively. A significant protein production (more than 40% DW) was observed across the studied species. Cyanobacteria and chlorophytes stood out for their increased protein production with a maximum (66.63 ± 3.84% DW) attained by the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. Chlorophytes produced substantial amounts of carbohydrates (more than 20% DW). Euglenophytes including Phacus orbicularis and Euglena ehrenbergii along with the chlorophyte Graesiella sp. accumulated significant amounts of lipids (up to 31.12% DW).

Waterquality 1.0: a software for HHR, WQI, and geochemistry assessment case of mineral and spring water commercialized in Algeria

Waterquality 1.0: a software for HHR, WQI, and geochemistry assessment case of mineral and spring water commercialized in Algeria