| AN OVERVIEW ON THE QUALITY OF GREEK FRESHWATERS (RIVERS AND LAKES) |
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| by |
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| I.Bertahas, National Centre for Marine Research |
| N.Th. Skoulikidis, National Centre for Marine Research |
| Th. Kousouris, National Centre for Marine Research |
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| JEL classification : Q250 |
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| Abstract |
| The dominant force of chemical weathering in Greek peninsula, the carbonation reaction, the dry climate and humans’ activities are responsible for the high mineralisation of Greek river waters. Based on some pollutant parameters, it is shown that the main part of Greek rivers are considered to be intermediate polluted, while only a few of them show significant human impact. The chemical character of Greek lakes is attributed to anthropogenic influences, climatic and hydrological features, geomorphologic and geologic factors and morphometric characteristics. The main part of the lakes are eutrophic. They show summer thermal stratification, with anoxic hypolimnetic conditions especially the shallow ones. The main part of the lakes are intermediate polluted and are characterised by phosphorus-limited photosynthesis. |
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