Soil Datasets > Data > Soil Threats Data > Heavy Metals in topsoils
Heavy metals in European soils: a geostatistical analysis of the FOREGS Geochemical database
Summary: The paper presents results of mapping concentrations
of eight critical heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury,
nickel, lead and zinc) using the 1588 georeferenced
topsoil samples from the FOREGS Geochemical database. The concentrations
were interpolated using block regression-kriging over the 26 European countries
that contributed to the database. Fully-automated techniques were used to
estimate the regression model, fit the variograms and run the predictions.
The original concentrations were transformed to logits to improve their normality
and avoid making predictions outside physical range. A large amount of auxiliary
raster maps was used to improve the predictions: DEM-parameters, MODIS NDVI
time series, night light image, geological and land cover maps, cumulative
earthquake magnitude map. These were first converted to 36 principal components
and then used to explain spatial distribution of heavy metals. The study revealed
that the FOREGS Geochemical database is suitable for geostatistical analyses:
the predictors explained from 21% (Cr) up to 36% (Pb) of variability; the
residuals showed clear auto-correlation structure. High concentrations of
Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn can be linked with human activities, i.e. industrialization
and intensive agriculture. A significant correlation between the contents
of Ni (r=0.40) and Cr (r=0.29) and the magnitude of earthquakes was also observed.
The PCA of the mapped heavy metals revealed that the administrative units
(NUTS level3) with highest overall concentrations are: (1) Liege (Arrondissement)
(BE), Attiki (GR), Darlington (UK), Coventry (UK), Sunderland (UK), Kozani
(GR), Grevena (GR), Hartlepool & Stockton (UK), Huy (BE), Aachen (DE)
(As, Cd, Hg and Pb) and (2) central Greece and Liguria region in Italy (Cr,
Cu and Ni). Automation of the geostatistical mapping and use of auxiliary
spatial layers opens a possibility to develop mapping systems that can automatically
update outputs by including new field observations and higher quality auxiliary
maps. This approach also demonstrates the benefits of organizing joint European
monitoring projects, in comparison to merging of national monitoring projects.
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Click on the icons to view the maps in Google Earth:
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The maps are applicable only for pan-european studies. All values expressed in [mg / kg].
For more detail, please request a preprint of the complete document.
DOWNLOAD (ArcInfo ASCII maps*):
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R Script to interpolate heavy metals from the FOREGS Geochemical database |
(5.4 MB) |
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Output maps (5 km resolution) for 8 heavy metal concentrations [mg / kg] |
(2.2 MB) |
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Water/ice mask at 5 km resolution [0/1] |
(0.5 MB) |
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The ligths at night (nlight) image obtained from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program [-] |
(2.1 MB) |
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MODIS EVI Principal Components 1,2 and 3 for years 2005-2006 [-] |
(24 MB) |
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Digital Elevation Model of Europe, 1 km resolution [m] |
(16.8 MB) |
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SAGA Topographic Wetness Index [-] |
(6.4 MB) |
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Total direct solar insolation derived in SAGA [kWh/m^2] |
(8.9 MB) |
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The cumulative earthquake magnitude density image (10 km grid) derived from the World Data Center for Seismology point database [magnitude] |
(0.05 MB) |
Please cite as:
Rodriguez Lado, L., Hengl, T., Reuter, H.I., 2007? Heavy metals in European soils: a geostatistical analysis of the FOREGS Geochemical database. Geoderma, in review. [request a preprint]
Contact:
Luis Rodriguez
Lado
Mail: TP 280, JRC Via E. Fermi 1, I-21020 Ispra (VA), Italy
Tel. +39 0332 789977 Fax +39 0332 786394
Links:
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