The statistical and geostatistical analysis of the possibility of use of the magnetometric method for prescreening of soil pollution by industrial and urban dusts

Aim of project
The Aim of project is statistical and geostatistical analysis of the possibility of use of the magnetometric method for pre-screening of soil pollution by industrial and urban dusts. They are produced during high temperature technological processes or combustion of fossil fuels and contain a considerable amount of ferromagnetic iron oxides and heavy metals collocated with the magnetic phase. Dust deposition on soil surface results in enhancement of magnetic susceptibility of uppermost soil horizon. The relations between soil magnetic susceptibility and content of heavy metals in soil made it possible to use field magnetometry as a fast and cost-effective method of polluted areas detection. However, a variety of technological processes and environmental factors causes that relations linking soil magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals content are complex and difficult to determine exactly.

The use of advanced geostatistical analysis allows better insight into these relations and contributes to working out detailed criteria for applying field magnetometry, taking into account different factors affecting measurements. This makes it possible to use field magnetometry more effectively for environmental monitoring. Geostatistical methods allow the integration of different types of measurements, e.g. geochemical with geophysical (magnetic susceptibility) as well as precise assessment of estimation errors. In particular, the purpose of the grant was to cut down the costs of soil contamination studies by abandoning expensive geochemical measurements, or at least to reduce the number of them.

Expected results
Scientific papers