title: Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to nitrates from agricultural sources using a GIS-compatible logic multicriteria model.
abstract: In the present study an overlay method to assess groundwater vulnerability is proposed. This new method based on multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) was developed and validated using an appropriate case study in Aragon area (NE Spain). The Vulnerability Index to Nitrates from Agricultural Sources (VINAS) incorporates a novel Logic Scoring of Preferences (LSP) approach, and it has been developed using public geographic information from the European Union. VINAS-LSP identifies areas with five categories of vulnerability, taking into account the hydrogeological and environmental characteristics of the territory as a whole. The resulting LSP map is a regional screening tool that can provide guidance on the potential risk of nitrate pollution, as well as highlight areas where specific research and farming planning policies are required.
authors.affiliation: Center of Research for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), C/Mariano Esquillor Gómez 15, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: brebolle@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rebolledo
authors.affiliation: Center of Research for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), C/Mariano Esquillor Gómez 15, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC, Department of Agrifood Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, BarcelonaTECH, Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnología, Building D4, E-08860, Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Flotats
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Área de Geodinámica, Edificio de Geológicas Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: José Ángel
authors.initials: JÁ
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis*; D008128:Logic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Aragon (Spain); Groundwater vulnerability; Logic Scoring of Preferences (LSP); Nitrate pollution; Risk mapping