Integrated analysis of water quality in a mesoscale lowland basin

Abstract

Abstract. This article describes a modelling study on nitrogen transport from diffuse sources in the Nuthe catchment, representing a typical lowland region in the north-eastern Germany. Building on a hydrological validation performed in advance using the ecohydrological model SWIM, the nitrogen flows were simulated over a 20-year period (1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000). The relatively good quality of the input data, particularly for the years from 1993 to 2000, enabled the nitrogen flows to be reproduced sufficiently well, although modelling nutrient flows is always associated with a great deal of uncertainty. Subsequently, scenario calculations were carried out in order to investigate how nitrogen transport from the catchment could be further reduced. The selected scenario results with the greatest reduction of nitrogen washoff will briefly be presented in the paper.

Hydrological impact assessment of afforestation and change in tree-species composition – A regional case study for the Federal State of Brandenburg (Germany)

“…All implemented approaches are discussed in detail by Hattermann et al (2004), Hattermann et al (2005), Krysanova and Müller-Wohlfeil (1998) and Wattenbach et al (2005). Table 1 shows a compilation of model results based on previously published studies (Hattermann et al, 2004;Habeck et al, 2005;Hattermann et al, 2006). The catchments represent typical lowland or mixed (lowland/loess) landscapes within or neighbouring the federal state.…”

Comparing model sensitivities of different landscapes using the ecohydrological SWAT model

“…Ecohydrological models have already been used successfully in lowland catchments (e.g. Schmalz et al, 2007;Habeck et al, 2005;Hattermann et al, 2006Hattermann et al, , 2008Hesse et al, 2008;Krause and Bronstert, 2007;Krause et al, 2007a, b).…”

Modelling hydrological processes in mesoscale lowland river basins with SWAT—capabilities and challenges

“…In general, these models can be used as analytical tools for sustainable river basin management and for estimation of nutrient entry pathways. Ecohydrological models have already been used in lowland catchments: Habeck et al (2005) modelled nitrogen transport in the Nuthe lowland catchment in northeastern Germany with SWIM (Krysanova et al, 1998), and reproduced the nitrogen flows sufficiently well. Hattermann et al (2006) incorporated a riparian zone and wetland module into SWIM to consider the effects of riparian zones and wetlands on nutrient transport into surface water of the same lowland catchment.…”