185
function are suitable tools in data analysis and clarification. Even more, the
coefficients are weights assigned to interpolation points in kriging. This determined
the influence of the known value on the estimated value with respect to their distance
(Zeigler et al. 2000).
Also, several techniques or variants of the kriging method have been developed
in order to adapt the initial algorithm to the requirements of different data. The most
famous are simple kriging, ordinary kriging and universal kriging. Simple kriging
is based on the assumption that the covariogram is a decreasing function of distance.
This is the result of the assumption about the stationarity of the observed function.
The trend is represented by a constant value that is known in advance. The second
variant of the kriging method, i.e. ordinary kriging, is especially interesting. Namely,
in ordinary kriging, we start from the assumption of quasi-stationarity. It requires
that the increments of the function be stationary, but not the function itself. The
trend is constant and not known, so it should be assessed on the basis of data.
Universal kriging is less restrictive than simple and ordinary kriging, and it assumes
only the stationary increment of the regionalized variable and only in the neighbourhood of the observed point (Zeigler et al. 2000; Li et al. 2005).
6.7 Hunting the Anthropogenic Depositions in Mine
Environs
Atmospheric deposition poses significant ecological concerns. In this work, attic
dust was examined as historical archive of anthropogenic emissions, with the aim of
elucidating the pathways of enrichments associated with exploitation of Cu, Pb and
Zn minerals in the Bregalnica river basin region. Attic dust samples were collected
from 84 settlements. At each location for attic dust sampling, topsoil samples from
the house yards were also collected. Mass spectrometry with inductively coupled
plasma (ICP-MS) was applied as an analytical technique for the determination of
Ag, Bi, Cd, Cu, In, Mn, Pb, Sb, Te, W and Zn. The universal kriging method with
linear variogram interpolation was applied for the construction of spatial distribution maps.
6.7.1 Characterization of Investigated Area
The investigated area includes the basin of the river Bregalnica which is found in the
area of the east planning region of the Republic of Macedonia (N: 41°27′-42°09′
and E: 22°55′-23°01′), covering ~4000 km
2
(Fig. 6.2). The region of the investigated area is geographically composed of several sub-regions. The area is characterized by two valleys – Maleševska and Kočani valleys. The Maleševska valley
represents the upper course of the river Bregalnica where the river source is also
6 Evidence for Atmospheric Depositions Using Attic Dust, Spatial Mapping…
function are suitable tools in data analysis and clarification. Even more, the
coefficients are weights assigned to interpolation points in kriging. This determined
the influence of the known value on the estimated value with respect to their distance
(Zeigler et al. 2000).
Also, several techniques or variants of the kriging method have been developed
in order to adapt the initial algorithm to the requirements of different data. The most
famous are simple kriging, ordinary kriging and universal kriging. Simple kriging
is based on the assumption that the covariogram is a decreasing function of distance.
This is the result of the assumption about the stationarity of the observed function.
The trend is represented by a constant value that is known in advance. The second
variant of the kriging method, i.e. ordinary kriging, is especially interesting. Namely,
in ordinary kriging, we start from the assumption of quasi-stationarity. It requires
that the increments of the function be stationary, but not the function itself. The
trend is constant and not known, so it should be assessed on the basis of data.
Universal kriging is less restrictive than simple and ordinary kriging, and it assumes
only the stationary increment of the regionalized variable and only in the neighbourhood of the observed point (Zeigler et al. 2000; Li et al. 2005).
6.7 Hunting the Anthropogenic Depositions in Mine
Environs
Atmospheric deposition poses significant ecological concerns. In this work, attic
dust was examined as historical archive of anthropogenic emissions, with the aim of
elucidating the pathways of enrichments associated with exploitation of Cu, Pb and
Zn minerals in the Bregalnica river basin region. Attic dust samples were collected
from 84 settlements. At each location for attic dust sampling, topsoil samples from
the house yards were also collected. Mass spectrometry with inductively coupled
plasma (ICP-MS) was applied as an analytical technique for the determination of
Ag, Bi, Cd, Cu, In, Mn, Pb, Sb, Te, W and Zn. The universal kriging method with
linear variogram interpolation was applied for the construction of spatial distribution maps.
6.7.1 Characterization of Investigated Area
The investigated area includes the basin of the river Bregalnica which is found in the
area of the east planning region of the Republic of Macedonia (N: 41°27′-42°09′
and E: 22°55′-23°01′), covering ~4000 km
2
(Fig. 6.2). The region of the investigated area is geographically composed of several sub-regions. The area is characterized by two valleys – Maleševska and Kočani valleys. The Maleševska valley
represents the upper course of the river Bregalnica where the river source is also
6 Evidence for Atmospheric Depositions Using Attic Dust, Spatial Mapping…