title: A novel use of the caesium-137 technique to estimate human interference and historical water level in a Mediterranean Temporary Pond.
abstract: The sustainability of, and the effects of human pressures on, Omalos Mediterranean Temporary Pond (MTP), Chanea, Greece was assessed. The (137)Cs technique was used to identify alleged anthropogenic interference (excavation) in the studied area. It was found that about one third of the ponds bed surface material had been removed and disposed of on the northeast edge, confirming unplanned excavations that took place in the MTP area some years ago. Nonetheless, five years after the excavation, the MTP's ecosystem (flora and fauna) had recovered, which indicates that these small ecosystems are resilient to direct human pressures, like excavations. Moreover, with the (137)Cs technique it was possible to identify the historical water level of Omalos MTP, when the fallout from the Chernobyl accident reached this area, in May of 1986. Therefore, the (137)Cs technique can be useful in the identification of the historical water level of small MTPs and other ephemeral water bodies. Applications include the verification and validation of hydrological models.
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Crete, Department of Environmental Engineering, University Campus, GR-73100 Chania, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foteinis
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mpizoura
authors.forename: Giorgos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panagopoulos
authors.forename: Efthalia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chatzisymeon
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kallithrakas-Kontos
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manutsoglu
mesh_terms: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006115:Greece; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D061005:Ponds; D012987:Soil; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive
keywords: Caesium-137; Gamma ray spectrometry; Historical water level; Mediterranean Temporary Pond; Soil erosion