Environmental Earth Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Assessing phreatic and confined water quality in the Guanzhong Basin, China: a novel integrated-weight water quality index approach","authors":"Abel Nsabimana,&nbsp;Peiyue Li,&nbsp;S. M. Khorshed Alam,&nbsp;Misbah Fida","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12249-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12249-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Distinction between phreatic and confined water provide a better understanding of groundwater quality for drinking purposes. This study assessed groundwater quality in the Guanzhong Basin, China, using a novel integrated-weight water quality index (IWQI) designed to address limitations in previous parameter weighting methods. Based on 163 groundwater samples, thirteen health-related water quality parameters were analyzed, including major ions, nitrogen contaminants, As, and I⁻. Results show that groundwater quality was primarily influenced by TDS, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, Na⁺, TH, and NH₄⁺, with SO₄²⁻ and Na⁺ as dominant ions contributing to elevated TDS and Cl⁻ levels. Confined groundwater has better quality than phreatic groundwater. The lower percentage of excellent confined water quality was linked to agricultural pollution in the central and northeastern basin, particularly in the ancient irrigation district. Moreover, some of the deep wells are very old, indicating a probable gradually slow contamination of groundwater. The IWQI approach was found to be a solution to the overweighting of some chemical parameters such as COD_Mn, NO₂–N, As, and I⁻, NH₄–N, and As noticed in traditional EWQI. These chemicals had concentrations under the detection limit for the majority of samples, which means that they should not greatly affect the comprehensive groundwater quality for the entire basin. These findings can support groundwater management decisions, while the IWQI method offers a valuable tool for similar global assessments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143913923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting macro-mechanical properties of loess from basic physical properties using various machine learning methods","authors":"Yongfeng Zhu,&nbsp;Wei Xiong,&nbsp;Wen Fan,&nbsp;Changshun Wu","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12257-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12257-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The cohesion and internal friction angle of loess are important macro-mechanical parameters for evaluating the safety and stability of engineering construction. Traditional laboratory measurement methods are time-consuming and difficult to conduct on-site. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of five Machine Learning (ML) methods, namely Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), BPNN optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO-BPNN) and BPNN optimized by Genetic Algorithm (GA-BPNN), in predicting the macro-mechanical properties of loess. To this end, the study collected data from 89 undisturbed loess samples and 229 remolded loess samples to construct training and testing datasets, and used three correlation analysis methods to analyze the influence of physical parameters on mechanical properties. The study found that the water content has the most significant impact on the mechanical properties of loess. In terms of prediction ability, SVM performs the best among the ML methods used, and the determination coefficient for cohesion of undisturbed loess reaches 0.857. Although the training data is limited, the prediction performance of BPNN is significantly improved after being optimized by PSO or GA. The research results show that ML provides an effective way to study the complex mechanical behavior of loess.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143913929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk assessment of soil erosion with RUSLE using geographic information system and organic carbon and total nitrogen loadings of suspended sediment in Sogutlu Stream Watershed of Trabzon, Turkey","authors":"Necla KORALAY,&nbsp;Ömer KARA","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12271-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12271-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Erosion is a global problem that negatively affects the land structure, soil and crop productivity, water quality, and socio-economic stability of watersheds. Assessing the amount of soil loss and sediment delivery ratio (SDR) in a watershed is important for planning soil and water conservation efforts, as this information assists in evaluating erosion risk. In this study, soil loss and SDR values were determined in the Söğütlü Stream Watershed, and an erosion risk map was created. Using the RUSLE method in the ArcGIS program, the transported soil amount and SDR were calculated. Soil samples from the top 0–30 cm layer were collected from 123 points to calculate RUSLE-K. Annual suspended sediment (SS), organic carbon (C), and total nitrogen (TN) in SS were directly measured. Monthly water samples were collected from August 2019 to July 2020. The results showed an average soil loss of 1.91 tonsha⁻¹ year⁻¹,annual soil loss of 52,209.01 tonsyear⁻¹, an SDR of 0.43, and a sediment yield of 0.82. The estimated sediment reaching the streams was 22,449.87 tonsyear⁻¹, with C and TN calculated at 312.95 and 41.936 tonsyear⁻¹. The measured sediment was lower at 12,549.82 tonsyear⁻¹, with C and TN at 174.96 and 23.44 tonsyear⁻¹. The findings of this study hold significant suggestions for future studies on soil and water conservation using ARCGIS, offering guidance to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12665-025-12271-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143913930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into photodegradation of antibiotics in aquatic environment considering effects of dissolved organic matter and halide ions","authors":"Chenxuan Zong,&nbsp;Jingshuang Cui,&nbsp;Jiao Qu,&nbsp;Fangyuan Cheng,&nbsp;Ya-nan Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12283-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12283-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The aquatic environment serves as a major reservoir for antibiotics, where photochemical transformation plays a crucial role in their attenuation. In estuarine waters, dissolved organic matter (DOM) and halogen ions are key factors influencing the photodegradation of antibiotics. This study selected five commonly detected antibiotics, metronidazole (MTZ), tinidazole (TNZ), ornidazole (ONZ), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and norfloxacin (NOR), as target pollutants to investigate the individual and combined effects of environmental factors, including DOM, halogen ions, salinity, and pH, on their photochemical degradation. Furthermore, the environmental persistence of these antibiotics in estuarine water was predicted. The observed photolysis rate constants (<i>k</i>_obs) of the five antibiotics varied with salinity and pH, directly affecting their environmental persistence. For nitroimidazole antibiotics, their second-order reaction rate constants with the triplet-excited state of dissolved organic matter (³DOM*) in artificial seawater (ASW) ((0.97–1.19) × 10⁷ M⁻¹ S⁻¹) were lower compared to those in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH = 7) ((1.90–2.40) × 10⁷ M⁻¹ S⁻¹). Similarly, for NOR, its second-order reaction rate constant with singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in ASW (3.35 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ S⁻¹) was lower than in PBS (pH = 7) (11.81 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ S⁻¹). In the presence of DOM, halogen ions exhibited differential effects on the degradation rates of the target antibiotics. Compared to MTZ and TNZ, Cl⁻ and Br⁻ significantly enhanced the photodegradation of CIP and NOR, primarily due to ionic strength and specific halogen ion effects. A predictive model was employed to estimate the <i>k</i>_obs and photolysis half-life (<i>t</i>_1/2) of these antibiotics in the Yellow River estuary. Results indicated that the <i>t</i>_1/2 of nitroimidazole antibiotics in surface water gradually increased as river water transitioned into seawater, whereas the <i>t</i>_1/2 of CIP and NOR decreased due to ionic strength and halogen radical effects. This study underscores the complex interactions among environmental factors governing antibiotic photodegradation and persistence in estuarine systems, providing critical insights into their environmental fate.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143904833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geochemical and geospatial assessment of Tamiraparani river, draining through Kanyakumari, India—the gateway of sunrise and sunset: insights into environmental pollution and sustainability","authors":"A. Krishnakumar,&nbsp;Gayathri Nair,&nbsp;K. Anoop Krishnan,&nbsp;T. M. Vishnu Maya,&nbsp;Olin B. Jose","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12265-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12265-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The study of river basin systems regarding sediment health and contamination is significant considering the interferences of natural and anthropogenic causes. To understand the impact of these interferences in the sediment quality in one of the riverine systems in Southern Western Ghats, the geochemical analysis and pollution load assessment were carried out in the Tamiraparani River Basin in the Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, State of India. This research utilized an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer to analyze major metal oxides and trace elements. The levels of heavy metal contamination in the sediments were evaluated using metrics such as the Contamination Factor (CF), Degree of Contamination (Cd), Geo accumulation Index (I_geo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Enrichment Factor (EF). The observed mean metal concentration was in the descending order of Cu &gt; Ba &gt; Sr &gt; Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Rb &gt; V &gt; La &gt; Ni &gt; Y &gt; Ga. The average concentration of Cr (142.94 ppm), Cu (171.06 ppm), and Zn (139.61 ppm) was found to be greater than the World Average Shale Values in the river. The analysis showed moderate pollution levels for Cr and Zn in certain locations and a high pollution level for Cu in two sampling locations. Cu and Cr are likely to be toxic to organisms inhabiting sediments when evaluated against Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs). Based on the PLI value, the study area can be classified as not polluted. This study offers a thorough insight into metal pollution in river sediments across the Tamiraparani River, a very dependent riverine system in the Southern Western Ghats, having direct implications for the quality of life of the people in the area. The data generated will serve as a valuable reference for managing pollutant discharge in riverine systems of similar types.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143900771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A review of the occurrence, fate, and transport of SARS‑CoV‑2 in the aqueous environment, with specific reference to groundwater","authors":"Omed Mustafa,&nbsp;Steven F. Thornton,&nbsp;Domenico Bau,&nbsp;Rebar Mahmmud","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12256-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12256-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to the COVID-19 pandemic, creating significant global health challenges. Primarily, the virus spreads through respiratory droplets, however there is also a notable risk of waterborne transmission due to its presence in the feces and swabs of infected individuals. Groundwater, as part of the aqueous environment, is potentially vulnerable to contamination by SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, understanding the occurrence, fate, and transport of the virus in groundwater is essential for managing risks to human health associated with groundwater contamination by SARS-CoV-2. This paper reviews the sources, fate, and transport mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 in groundwater and the subsurface environment. It identifies existing knowledge gaps and offers recommendations for protection groundwater resources. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in stormwater, sanitary sewer overflows, leaking wastewater pipes, landfill leachates, and non-human animal waste. These possible contamination pathways suggest that stormwater and wastewater may act as environmental reservoirs and transmission routes for SARS-CoV-2. The virus can travel from untreated wastewater, potentially contaminating shallow groundwater systems and subsequently affecting deeper aquifers. The transport of viruses in groundwater is influenced by various physical factors (such as sorption, inactivation, moisture, pH, and temperature), geochemical factors (including suspended solids, organic material, cation and ionic strength), and hydrogeological factors (advection, dispersion, diffusion, porosity, aquifer flow regime, and recharge). This paper proposes the feasibility of using SARS-CoV-2 as a tracer, given appropriate health considerations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12665-025-12256-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143900769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reconstructing urban landscape evolution with historical maps and geophysical techniques: 3D time-sensitive and multi-source geomodelling","authors":"Paolo Ciampi,&nbsp;Leonardo Maria Giannini,&nbsp;Carlo Esposito,&nbsp;Siham Younsi","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12260-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12260-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cadastral maps represent invaluable assets for understanding urban landscapes, yet their integration with modern geospatial and geophysical techniques remains underexplored. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of Civita Castellana's subterranean landscape (a town in central Italy), employing a multi-temporal geomodelling approach to integrate dynamics with stratigraphic and morphometric evidence, and unravel the evolutionary framework of anthropogenic deposits. Leveraging historical cadastral maps, geological boreholes, and dynamic probing (DP) tests, we construct a 3D time-sensitive geological model, to shed light on the geological architecture and geometry of anthropogenic deposits and to understand the morphological evolution of urban landscapes over the past seven decades. Near-surface geophysical techniques, such as multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and horizontal/vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) investigations, are performed to evaluate the robustness and accuracy of our digital geomodelling approach. The 3D multi-source and digital model reveals significant insights into the changes in hydrographic networks, distribution, and evolution in thickness of anthropogenic backfill materials driven by human processes. Geophysical investigations accurately characterize anthropogenic materials and validate the reliability of historical cadastral maps for modeling the geometry and thickness of anthropogenic deposits in urban environments. The 3D advanced multi-temporal modeling unveils previously unknown hidden valleys and elucidates the dynamic evolution of backfill materials. This study not only enhances our understanding of urban geomorphology but also emphasizes the potential of combining historical maps with geophysical techniques to reconstruct and track changes in urban environments, potentially reducing the requirement for invasive and expensive investigations, which are impractical in heavily urbanized areas.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12665-025-12260-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143900770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality for water usage in Sütçüler District, Isparta, Turkey","authors":"Simge Varol,&nbsp;Nedime Güreli,&nbsp;Füsun Kilçik,&nbsp;Mehmet Ulusoy","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12246-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12246-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The present study aims to determine the hydrogeochemical properties, quality, and usage areas of groundwater used by the public, particularly for drinking and utility purposes, in Sütçüler district center of Isparta province. For this purpose, 10 samples were taken from drinking water sources in the region. The physicochemical parameters of these source waters, including major cation and anion compositions, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC) analysis results, were compared to WHO and Turkish drinking water standards (TSI266). The LAWA index was used to evaluate the suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purposes, whereas total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption rate (SAR), sodium percentage (% Na), residual sodium bicarbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI), magnesium hazard (MH), US Salinity diagram and Wilcox diagrams were used to evaluate the suitability for irrigation. In this study, it was determined that the groundwater samples are in the Ca-Mg-HCO₃ water facies. Various graphs and multivariate statistical analysis (Pearson correlation analysis and Principal Component Analysis) methods were used to determine the formation of geochemical processes constituting the hydrogeochemical facies. Given the results achieved, the dominant geochemical processes in the water were determined to be ion exchange and mineral disintegration processes originating from rock-water interaction related to limestone, dolomite, and dolomitic limestones spreading over large areas in the study area. In addition, the geochemical modeling approach was used in this study to calculate the saturation level of some selected minerals explaining the dissolution and precipitation reactions occurring in the groundwater. Accordingly, the saturation rate of all groundwater anhydrite, gypsum, and halite minerals was determined to be low. On the other hand, they were found to be oversaturated in terms of aragonite, calcite, and dolomite minerals. Considering the LAWA index, most samples are in the “Lightly polluted” class in terms of NO₃ values. Although the presence of NO₃ pollution in groundwater was reported using this method, it has not exceeded the limit values yet. According to WHO and TSI266, all the water samples are drinkable. Evaluating the usability of groundwater for irrigation purposes, it was determined that the water was suitable for irrigation. As a result, it is thought that this study will form an important basis for the sustainable quality management of groundwater resources in the study area.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12665-025-12246-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143888580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal distribution, source identification and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in sediments along the Alanya/Antalya coastline, Mediterranean Sea","authors":"Erhan Cengiz,&nbsp;Murat Şirin,&nbsp;Cafer Mert Yeşilkanat,&nbsp;Gökhan Apaydın","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12263-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12263-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), ecological risks, and human health effects in sediment samples from 11 points along the Alanya coastline, influenced by industrial, agricultural, and tourism activities. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used for analysis. The mean concentrations of Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, and As were 281, 14, 30, 34, 66, 60, and 12 mg/kg, respectively. The enrichment factor values were ranked as follows: As (3.94), Zn (2.94), Cu (2.83), Cr (2.45), Ni (1.29), and Mn (1.19), indicating moderate enrichment for Cu, Zn, Cr, and As, and minimal enrichment for Ni and Mn. The geo-accumulation index indicated minimal contamination, supporting the conclusion that Alanya is not heavily impacted by the PTEs studied. The contamination factor values were highest for As (0.90) and lowest for Fe (0.30), indicating generally low levels of pollution. Seasonal variation was observed, with the highest degree of contamination in winter (7.09) and the lowest in autumn (5.39). The pollution load index ranged from 0.411 in autumn to 0.622 in winter, with an annual average of 0.468, indicating no pollution. The ecological risk factor values, ranging from 0.30 for Fe to 8.97 for As, did not show a significant ecological risk, with As contributing most to the risk. The potential ecological risk index averaged 15.4, which means a very low ecological risk. Additionally, the study confirmed that the overall potential human health risks remained within acceptable limits.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12665-025-12263-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143888766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on the influence of lead ions on soil fissure development and intelligent prediction model under dry–wet cycle conditions","authors":"Jiaming Li,&nbsp;Beichang Tang,&nbsp;Yan Zhang,&nbsp;Hongbin Chen,&nbsp;Yan Wang","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12240-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12665-025-12240-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the fissure development law of soil contaminated with varying degrees of lead ions under the influence of dry–wet cycles. The effects of different lead ion concentrations on the development of fissures in silty clay, red clay, and expansive soil were systematically investigated through dry–wet cycle tests, and parameters such as fissure area and fractal dimension were precisely quantified and analyzed using image processing techniques. The study’s results indicate that the presence of lead ions significantly promotes the development of fissure areas in three soils. Based on this, four fractal dimension prediction models, namely, bidirectional long short-term memory network (BiLSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and regression by relevance vector machine (RVM), are constructed, among which the RVM model exhibits optimal performance. To further improve the prediction accuracy, the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) and particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) are introduced to optimize the model parameters, and it is found that the SSA- RVM model performs the best, and its mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) metrics are reduced by 3.55%, 6.98%, and 16.79% compared with that of the RVM model, respectively. This study supports the optimization of ecological remediation techniques for contaminated soils and the risk assessment of heavy metal-contaminated sites.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143888563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}