Water quality research in the area of the river Kromme Rijn

Summary From 1974 till 1977 research was carried out in the Kromme Rijn area. The aim of this research was to observe nature and quantity of the surface water and the different influences on the surface water (e.g. inflow from Rhine water, waste water, etc.). On the basis of monthly gathered data about discharge, chemistry, phytoplankton and macrofauna evaluation schemes have been developed. The surface water has been classified and qualified. The most important pollutants appeared to be the river Rhine and the sewage treatment plants.Suggestions are made to stop the pollution; the water quality expected after these measures is shown.The group consists basically of the physical geographer W. Bleuten, the botanist P. R. M. Maas, the agricultural-economist J. van Driel, the hydrobiologist-chemist B. Beltman, the technical assistent A. V. Hendriks and the chemical analyst C. Kalwer.     

Effects of climatic change on chemistry and vegetation of peatlands,with special reference to interaction with atmospheric deposition

This paper summarizes expected changes in hydrology, chemistry and biota of Dutch peatlands (bogs, fens and moorland pools) caused by climatic changes resulting from the Greenhouse Effect. Special attention is paid to the interaction with atmospheric acid deposition. In both bogs and moorland pools prolonged drought periods may cause deleterious effects on biota because of the release of atmospherically-derived reduced sulphur compounds. In fenlands negative changes will be caused by eutrophication due to increased supply of allochtonous water. Long-term water and nutrient budgets are needed, along with better predictions of expected climate changes, to develop models of changes in hydrology, chemistry and biota of peatlands.