Water Quality in Slovenia - Agencija RS za okolje

70
6
W A T E R Q U A L I T Y I N S L O V E N I A
Glossary of terms
AOX Adsorbable organic halogen compounds; summary
parameter indicative for the content of organically bound
halogens (chlorine, bromine, iodine), calculated as chloride.
Anthropogenic pressure Impact of human activity.
Aquifer A subsurface layer or layers of rock or other geological
strata of sufficient porosity and permeability to allow
either a significant flow of groundwater or the abstraction
of significant quantities of groundwater.
Atrazine An organic compound, the herbicide used for the control
of broadleaf weeds.
Benthic diatom Unicellular algae with the cell wall made of silicon dioxide,
living at the bottom of a river bed, lake or sea.
Benthic invertebrate fauna Animals living at the bottom of a riverbed, lake or sea
and are of different sizes; organisms larger than 1 mm are
called macro benthic invertebrates, organisms smaller
than 1 mm belong to mesobenthic invertebrates and
organisms smaller than 0.5 mm belong to microbenthic
invertebrates.
Biodiversity Species diversity or diversity of living organisms, which
comprises various levels of life: species , genetic and
ecosystem diversity.
Biogenious element A chemical element which is in extremely low
concentrations necessary for normal metabolism.
Catchment area The area from which water naturally drains into a river or
into a specific point.
Determination level A classification level of organisms into systematic
categories.
Ecological potential Ecological potential is a status of a heavily modified or an
artificial body of water.
EOX Extractable organic halogen compounds.
Eutrophication Enrichment of water with nutrients, especially nitrogen
and phosphorus compounds, which results in an
excessive growth of planktonic algae and higher aquatic
plants; the consequence is a disturbance in the balance
and deterioration of water quality.
Groundwater body A distinct volume of groundwater within an aquifer or
aquifers.
Heavily modified water body A surface water body, which is substantially changed as a
result of physical alterations by human activity.