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Hydrological modelling has long been recognised as an essential tool for understanding and predicting water dynamics, particularly in regions where long-term observational data are limited. In Latvia, significant advancements have been made in the development of hydrological models, with the METQ model family becoming one of the most widely applied for the simulation of runoff and groundwater level regimes. Initially developed in the 1980s, METQ has been continuously refined to improve its predictive capabilities,...

Heavy metal pollution, particularly lead contamination, poses significant environmental and public health risks in urban areas. This study investigates the spatial distribution of lead in snowmelt within Jelgava, Latvia, to identify pollution sources, assess potential environmental impacts, and provide insights into urban pollution management. From 2020 to 2024, snow samples were collected from diverse urban locations, including highways, railway-adjacent zones, industrial districts, and residential areas. Inducti...

The research was carried out to examine the influence of tributary inflows on the hydrochemical properties of the Svete River, which traverses intensive agricultural regions. Sixteen monitoring sites were selected along the main channel and at major tributary junctions. Water samples were collected monthly from surface layers (0 5 cm) over a one-year period, and concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and selected metals were evaluated. A multi-parameter probe and an inductively coupled plasma optical ...

Lake Liepaja, a shallow lagoon-type lake located in the temperate climate zone, is affected by persistent ecological pressures, including nutrient enrichment, sediment contamination, and climate variability. This study presents an overview of long-term water quality dynamics based on monitoring data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (2001-2023), interpreting key physical and chemical indicators as evidence of broader ecological trends. Multi-year records of physicochemical parameters wer...

Peatlands are crucial carbon sinks, but their degradation through extraction and drainage results in substantial greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem disruption. This study investigates groundwater level dynamics in a 16.4-hectare extracted peatland in Central Latvia to assess hydrological conditions relevant for restoration. Groundwater levels were monitored from May 2023 to May 2024 using TD-Diver loggers installed in six wells. The data reveal pronounced spatial and seasonal variability, with precipitation an...

Urbanization and increasing traffic intensity contribute significantly to heavy metal pollution in urban environments, posing potential risks to public health and ecosystems. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations of zinc concentrations in snow water within Jelgava, Latvia, from 2020 to 2024. A total of 59 sampling sites in Jelgava and an additional site in Mezciems were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine zinc concentrations and identify potential pollu...

Snow water pollution, especially from heavy metals, is a growing global environmental concern, as urbanization and industrial activities increasingly contribute to the contamination of precipitation. Snow, acting as a natural filter, accumulates atmospheric pollutants, which are subsequently released during snowmelt, entering stormwater systems and surface water bodies. This issue has been observed across Europe, North America, and other industrialized regions, where heavy metals such as nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu...

The increasing flow of traffic passing through cities on a daily basis, especially those cities that have a difficult situation with bypass, raises concerns about the air quality in sections of the transport corridors, as well as in the city as a whole. Heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental concern, especially in urban and suburban areas where vehicle emissions contribute to air and soil pollution. The aim of the study is to assess the extent of heavy metal contamination in snow samples collected at dif...

In urban environments, human health is increasingly affected by air quality, particularly air pollution with particulate matter (PM), which contains various toxic chemical elements. Car traffic is one of the main sources of air pollution in urban areas, which not only raises dust from roadways but also emits micro particles from diesel engines and tire wear containing heavy metals. The aim of the study is to evaluate the ability of the lichen species Xanthoria parietina, commonly found in Latvia, to biomonitor and...

The increased importance and availability of digital tool leaves an impact on shaping the digitalization of countries and their economies. Links between the digitalization and economic sector productivity and climate change risk adaptation and/or mitigation increase trough different streams have also been found. The use of digital tools can also help in decision making process in terms of climate change including the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The aim of this study is to develop a base framework ...

Well-aerated soils are essential for methane (CH4) uptake from the atmosphere, acting as significant sinks for this greenhouse gas, which has a global warming potential 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2). These soils contain methanotrophic bacteria, which oxidize CH4 and thereby reduce atmospheric methane concentrations. The potential of soils to assimilate CH4 depends on factors such as soil type and moisture regime. This study investigates the ability of clay soil Cambic Calcisol to assimilate CH...

Soil moisture, soil temperature, nutrient availability, and land use practices affect the GHG emissions from soils. In this study, the aim is to determine and analyse GHG emissions from agricultural soils in five monitoring sites. The mobile spectrophotometer Picarro G2508 is used for the quantification of N2O, CH4, and CO2 soil flux across five monitoring sites used for agricultural production during the growing seasons from 2017 to 2023. Findings reveal significant variations in GHG emissions across the monitori...

Excessive input of nitrogen and phosphorus into water systems causes eutrophication. Efforts to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agriculture in the Baltic Sea region are crucial. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of nitrogen application rates in the form of mineral fertilizer on concentrations of Ntot, NO3-N, Ptot, and PO4-P (mg L-1) in runoff at the level of experimental fields. This study analyzed data from October 2014 to April 2022 collected from the Mellupite monitoring station, where exp...

Eco-innovation is a crucial factor in the drive towards sustainable development, albeit a knowledge-intensive process that requires a fundamental transformation of the education system. The focus should be on sustainable education, characterized by holistic approaches, strategic planning and transformative change. Key elements are learning experience systems that include cognitive understanding, practical skills, social cohesion and emotional intelligence. As UNESCO points out, eight key competences - systemic thi...

The increasing economic activity reinforces the importance of climate change on a global scale. Together with the development of the economy and the increase in people's well-being, the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) which are released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities, also increase. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the main greenhouse and ozone (O3) depleting gases. Seven percent of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect is nitrous oxide. From a molecular perspective, N2O has a 310-fold greater ...

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of important greenhouse gas (GHG) whose main sources are agricultural soils. N2O forms in soil as a result of microbial processes, reinforced by the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This study will look at how the formation of N2O in soil is affected by soil moisture and soil granulometric composition. Soil N2O isotopes of ?15N? (central nitrogen position) and ?15N? (end nitrogen position) which could help to identify natural and anthropogenic sources of N2O emissions and the invo...

Agricultural activity accounts for two-thirds of the total anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions worldwide. Most of the N2O emissions from agricultural soils come from the use of inorganic fertilizers and/or manure. As agricultural activity intensifies worldwide, N2O emissions are currently increasing by 0.25% per year. In order to investigate the feedback of soil N2O emissions with changes in environmental conditions, an improved understanding based on the wider use of isotopic tracer methods is needed. Th...

Reducing GHG emissions from soil is crucial for mitigating climate change, promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, ensuring food security, and improving public health. The effectiveness of GHG mitigating strategies may vary depending on local conditions, soil type, and agricultural practices. It is recognized that conventional farming practices may lead to increased GHG emissions compared to more sustainable farming systems. Therefore, the aim of this study is to research the GHG...

Decomposition of solid waste in landfills causes global air pollution with methane, the most dangerous of the greenhouse gases. The emission potential of this gas is 28-36 times greater than that of CO2. With the help of methane-reducing Biocover, can find a solution to this problem. In this study, a biocover was developed in the laboratory to reduce methane emissions. When measuring the methane emissions of this biocover, data on the amount of carbon dioxide emissions were also obtained in parallel. The purpose o...

Landfills of municipal waste are important sources of methane emissions. The surface of the landfill area is the interface between the waste layer and the atmosphere. By creating a biocover cover layer, it is possible to reduce methane emissions that would refer to air quality. This innovative biocover technology aims to curtail methane emissions from various sources. The research delves into the effectiveness of this biocover in not only mitigating methane emissions but also its potential influence on nitrous oxi...

Global warming caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a global problem. Solid municipal waste landfills are the third largest source of artificial methane emissions. Methane is one of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The net zero emissions target was set to strike a balance between emissions and anthropogenic GHG disposal by 2050. Methane emissions from active or closed landfills may be reduced by methane oxidation, which is developed as a coating over these landfills. Methane (CH4) is an ...

Every year, cities are becoming more populated and urban traffic more intense. Urban air quality is deteriorating and causes for pollution are being sought and solutions to improve the quality of life in urban areas. Atmospheric deposits, vehicles, traffic and de-icing products are the main sources of snow pollution in cities. Snow, located near roads and streets with intense traffic, is a very useful tool for identifying the risks of traffic-related metals in the environment. In many countries, in winter, they us...

In order to reduce the impact of agricultural activity on global warming and promote sustainable land management, it is necessary to implement management practices that reduce GHG emissions from agriculture. Conventional soil tillage produces favorable conditions for the growth of seeds and plants, but it is an energy and labor-intensive method that alters the soil to an unfavorable condition, while reduced soil tillage decrease the use of energy resources, GHG emissions from the soils, and improves the soil quali...

The number of transport units in cities is increasing every year. This trend contributes to air pollution problems in many rapidly urbanizing countries. Various heavy metals and other chemical elements, including aluminum, have been related to air quality degradation. Poor air quality affects people, especially young children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses, causing health problems and aggravating existing problems. The aim of the research is to find out which parts of the city of Jelgava have the ...

Solid municipal waste landfills are the third largest source of man-made methane emissions. Methane is one of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The capture of methane emissions in the waste sector is addressed by collecting it and using it for energy production. Methane emissions from active or closed landfills can be reduced by methane oxidation, which is developed as a covering over these landfills. It is usually composed of a gas distribution layer that favours micro-organisms that consume me...

In order for life to arise and exist on earth, a number of important processes take place in it, based on various elements. One of these elements is nitrogen (N). Nitrogen is the most common element in the atmosphere approximately 78% of the atmosphere consists of nitrogen gas (N2), but in this way, the majority of the living organisms cannot absorb nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation occurs during the nitrogen cycle and results in a number of complex organic compounds required for living organisms. During the nitrogen li...

Agricultural activities account for about a third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most of the GHG in the atmosphere are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The aim of this study is to measure N2O isotopes in two differently managed agricultural soils. One soil is with organic farming and the other with conventional. Samples were collected in 32 experimental plots as well as a control plot. The samples are thus weighed in 3 l buckets, each 1.8 kg in total. Two samples were made from each...

One of the largest producers of GHG emissions in agriculture is the dairy and meat livestock sector. Grassland is the main feed base for dairy and meat cattle. Managed grasslands can become a major contributor to and leverage of GHG gas exchange. High quality information with studies on the flow of the three main GHG gases and concentration linked to different management strategies is important for the development of good management practices, as well as for the development of climateresilient landscapes and the r...

Crop cultivation is beneficial for reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss, but there is conflicting information on how crop cultivation affects emissions of nitrogen dioxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. Judicious selection of the cultivated crop in a plant succession is considered an effective approach to maintaining crop productivity. In this paper, we investigated the effects of cultivated crops on soil N2O emissions. Eight crops were used in this study: barley, buckwheat, clover, oats, potatoes, spring whea...

The development of sustainable ecosystem services worldwide is one of the priority issues in the context of environmental protection. Sustainable use of ecosystem services ensures the conservation of natural resources for future generations. In the cold climate of the lowland river, there is a highly seasonal hydrological regime affecting the use of ecosystem services. Biodiversity in flood meadows depends directly on seasonal variations in water levels. Balanced hydro generation and water regulation can pose risk...

The oversupply of water during the floods and the low soil surface levels determine the difficult ecological, economic, and demographic conditions. It then leads to using agricultural land of different types and intensities and various methods of regulating the water regime: summer polders. Human activity has significantly impacted the ecological processes of the floodplains of the Svete floodplain with extensive amelioration works that have significantly altered the appearance of a natural park. The total area of...

Landfill and dump remediation and waste recovery are often needed as circular economy approach is more and more demanding. Complicated solutions are needed to conserve the landfill space as well as overall reduction of the amount of landfilled material is not an easy task because of the different content of contaminants. Primitive soil excavating and transporting to hazardous waste landfills is not the best solution anymore. Series of experiments using landfill mined fine fraction of waste considering complex form...

The harmful effects of various air pollutants on human health, living in a polluted air environment, are relatively well proven: the morbidity of the population is increasing, life expectancy is decreasing. Suspended particulates are one of the generally recognized air pollutants. The most dangerous solid particles are released during primary combustion processes, they contain heavy metals (zinc, copper, iron, lead). Heavy metals are known to be persistent in the human body and remain for decades. Heavy metals can...

To achieve implementation of sustainable agriculture practices and implement circular bioeconomy in farms, agricultural waste and residuals commonly are used as feedstock for biogas production that is in line with European Union strategy to reduce methane emissions. Anaerobic digestion of feedstock results in production of the digestate. Digestate, on the one hand, is valuable fertilizer that can substitute synthetic fertilizers. On the other hand, it is associated with methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3) emissions and n...

Particulate air pollution from transport in cities, especially from cars, involves a variety of harmful compounds, including fine iron and heavy metals, which can persist in the air for long periods of time, increasing harmful effects on human health and creating a risk of environmental pollution. In Europe, more and more attention is being given to the chemical composition of dust not only their concentration in cities. The aim of the study was to determine which parts of the Jelgava city have the highest polluti...

Reducing emissions of nitrous oxides in the agricultural sector is one of the mainchallenges. Stable isotopes are one of the tools that record information on changes ingreenhouse gas production, transportation and emissions. The relationship between theprocesses in soil and emissions entering the atmosphere. Stable isotopes, which are directisotopes of nitrous oxide emissions from soil, are already recognised as a promising toolfor tracking atmospheric nitrous oxide emissions from various studies. The purpose ofth...

Increasing the number of cars in urban areas and the development of a variety of production technologies involving the use of fossil fuels in the urban environment are leading to a significant increase in air pollution. As air pollution with heavy metals and other chemical elements increases, air quality is deteriorating. Poor air quality, in turn, causes a number of different problems for human health, causes poor feeling and reduces life quality in total. The method of analysis of snow samples is one of the meth...

Air pollution is a problem today, and it is essential to know how high it is. By increasingpeople's standard of living, increasing the number of factories, cars and citizens, it ishelpful to know how much pollution is distributed and whether it does not exceed thestandards allowed for pollution. It is necessary to investigate air pollution with heavymetals in Jelgava by identifying data from areas. In preparing the analysis, it is possibleto assess whether air quality is adequate and does not exceed pollution stan...

The increasing world population demand for bioeconomy products intensify the nitrogen cycle and encourage eutrophication in water bodies. Global climate change and land use transformation have a significant impact on the hydrological cycle. Integrated water management in the catchment area is a sustainable solution for catchment area development and balancing economic and environmental interests. The aim of this study is to develop an optimization model for sustainable lake management. The case study is done in eu...

Commonly the product’s life cycle ends up with waste. Conventionally the remains go to the landfill, earlier times – a dumpsite, the least manageable waste disposal method. To ensure that lost to society materials are treated with high priority, the European Union (EU) has implemented the Circular Economy Action Plan, continuing the monitoring of old dumpsites. The hierarchy of waste management points at preventing raw material use at first sight, but the following steps point at material reuse and recycling. The ...

The research was conducted to find out if lately found on market eco and bio friendly dishwashing products affect commonly known phytoremediation plants less than most poular chemical dishwashing products. There was chosen one - most popular, and four dishwashing products that position themselves in market as extremely eco and bio friendly. Dishwashing products were made in 3 solutions – 1.0ml, 2.5ml and 5.0ml of product in 100ml of water. Three species of known phytoremediation plants were taken – Sinapis sp., Se...

Due to the ever-growing importance of resource conservation and sustainable lifestyle, people are searching for new, alternative solutions that will enable a more sustainable use of resources. Because energy production is one of the most pollution-intensive industries, a major factor is renewable energy, which reduces the amount of industry pollution and facilitates sustainable use of resources. One of the sustainable energy resources are Salix and the wood chips produced from them, which are used in energy produc...

Land reclamation is an improvement of land, which reduces the adverse effects of climate conditions and ensures the sustainable use of natural resources. Latvia is in humid soil area, which means that soils are formed under wet conditions. During the spring and autumn, these soils are wetted and unsuitable for land treatment. The installation of drainage systems shall ensure the reception of excess humidity and its removal from agricultural land, which makes it possible to process the land and to carry out economi...

The mitigation of GHG emissions from anthropogenic ecosystems is one of a challenge for following decades. Successful GHG emission mitigation scenarios can be developed if there are tools to predict GHG emission trends according to climate, soil conditions, farm management practices, and other factors. One of the essential GHG emission sources is managed agricultural soils, and the most important factors are soil conditions, soil moisture, and temperature. The conceptual hydrological model METQ has been created un...

Balanced development of ecosystem services in regions is one way of achieving the UN's sustainable development goals. Ecosystem services are divided into three main groups: First delivery services. Nature supplies us food and drinking water, raw materials and alternative energy sources. Thanks to natural biodiversity, we can grow a variety of vegetables and fruit, gather berries and mushrooms in the woods, and fish in the sea, rivers and lakes. Nature also supplies drinking water, which is the source of life for e...

The pollution, climate changes, loss of biodiversity and other factors have an impact on human health and is one of reasons to develop and try to come closer to the goals of sustainable development. The Agenda 2030 requires innovations and switch from linear economy to resilient and circular economy. To achieve sustainability there is a need for education for sustainable development. This term is actual already for two decades but still integration of education for sustainable development in study programs is a pr...

Changing climate variability and the type of land use are the main factors influencing the hydrological regime. The hydrological regime of the lake has a direct impact on biodiversity and has an impact on socio-economic processes in areas adjacent to the lake. The aim of the study is to predict and assess the impact of climate change and the change in the type of land use on the hydrological regime of Lake Usma. Two linear land-use change scenarios were used for modelling. Twelve climate scenarios were used to mod...

The cycle of nitrogen is an essential, integral process in nature. Since amino acids form an important part of life-building and maintenance, nitrogen and its chemical compounds are an integral nutrient and ingredient for all living organisms. Understanding the processes in soil is essential because it helps both to ensure agricultural productivity, to control various, soil-based, unwanted pests and diseases, and, crucially, to limit climate change-related factors directly related to soil. The nitrogen cycle resea...

The achieving of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is closely linked to sustainable soil management to provide food, fibre, fuel, to avoid land degradation, to promote land restoration, water regulation, nutrient cycling and to ensure habitat for biodiversity. Organic soils can be a carbon sink or a carbon source depending on land use and land use management. Agricultural production on organic soils is considered as an important source of anthropogenic CO2 and N2O emissions. Long-term plans to...

Landfills (dumps) are places where the end of the life cycle of products can be found - useful material is dumped away from the sight creating contaminant flows around. Another problem is huge unexplored potential of resources recycling - we have limited knowledge also on useful elements and materials that are buried. The solution to overcome the limitations that provide remote sensing and traditional geodesy, proximal sensing techniques could be used. ?Near surface geophysics? with operation at or just below the ...