Modelling streamwater quality under varying hydrological conditions at different spatial scales

Wade, Andrew J.; Neal, Colin; Soulsby, Christopher; Smart, Richard P.; Langan, Simon; Cresser, Malcolm S.

doi:10.1016/s0022-1694(98)00295-9

Cited by 72 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…It effectively distinguishes between low alkalinity high flows derived mainly from acidic, organic soil horizons which generate rapid overland flow or shallow sub-surface storm flow; and higher alkalinity water from lower soil horizons and/or groundwater which dominates base flows (Hill and Neal, 1997;Wade et al, 1999). As a result, Gran alkalinity can be seen to vary predictably with flow in the Feugh and its sub-catchments (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using stable isotope tracers to assess hydrological flow paths, residence times and landscape influences in a nested mesoscale catchment

Rodgers

Soulsby

Waldron

et al. 2005

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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152

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Abstract. δ 18 O measurements in precipitation and stream waters were used to investigate hydrological flow paths and residence times at nested spatial scales in the mesoscale (233 km 2 ) River Feugh catchment in the northeast of Scotland over the 2001-2002 hydrological year. Precipitation δ 18 O exhibited strong seasonal variation, which although significantly damped within the catchment, was reflected in stream water at six sampling sites. This allowed δ 18 O variations to be used to infer the relative influence of soil-derived storm flows with a seasonally variable isotopic signature, and groundwater of apparently more constant isotopic composition. Periodic regression analysis was then used to examine the sub-catchment difference using an exponential flow model to provide indicative estimates of mean stream water residence times, which varied between approximately 3 and 14 months. This showed that the effects of increasing scale on estimated mean stream water residence time was minimal beyond that of the smallest (ca. 1 km 2 ) headwater catchment scale. Instead, the interaction of catchment soil cover and topography appeared to be the dominant controlling influence. Where sub-catchments had extensive peat coverage, responsive hydrological pathways produced seasonally variable δ 18 O signatures in runoff with short mean residence times (ca. 3 months). In contrast, areas dominated by steeper slopes, more freely draining soils and larger groundwater storage in shallow valley-bottom aquifers, deeper flow paths allow for more effective mixing and damping of δ 18 O indicating longer residence times (>12 months). These insights from δ 18 O measurements extend the hydrological understanding of the Feugh catchment gained from previous Correspondence to: P. Rodgers (paul.rodgers@sepa.org.uk) geochemical tracer studies, and demonstrate the utility of isotope tracers in investigating the interaction of hydrological processes and catchment characteristics at larger spatial scales.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using stable isotope tracers to assess hydrological flow paths, residence times and landscape influences in a nested mesoscale catchment

Rodgers

Soulsby

Waldron

et al. 2005

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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152

135

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“…For this analysis, tributaries were included down to a catchment area of 25 km 2 . This is an approximate threshold below which localised influences have more significance and the simplistic groupings of land-use types is insufficient to explain the small scale variations (Wade et al, 1999).…”

Section: Gis Analysis: From Fixed Location To Regional Distributions mentioning

confidence: 99%

GIS-based methodologies for assessing nitrate, nitrite and ammonium distributions across a major UK basin, the Humber

Davies

Neal

2004

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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The distributions of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium at various monitoring sites across the Humber basin (area 24 000 km 2 ) were examined within a Geographical Information System (GIS) framework. This basin contains diverse characteristics, from areas of high population and industry to rural and arable regions. The Humber River is a major provider of nutrient fluxes to the North Sea from the UK. Within the GIS analysis, the distributions of mean and mean flow weighted concentrations, flux and flux per unit area, were investigated. Empirical relationships between land characteristics and water quality for the whole catchment draining to each water quality monitoring site were established. Thirty-eight catchments were chosen for this analysis, with areas ranging from 46 km 2 to 8225 km 2 . These catchments are distributed across the Humber, encompassing the different conditions across the basin, thus allowing relationships between water quality and catchment characteristics to be used to estimate the nitrogen concentrations and flux throughout the basin river network. The main water quality data source was the Land Ocean Interaction Study (LOIS) dataset. The Environment Agency of England and Wales water quality datasets were used to infill areas of sparse LOIS monitoring network density within the Humber. The work shows the feasibility of estimating nitrate and, to a lesser extent, nitrite and ammonium concentrations and fluxes across the river network based on land characteristics, using a GIS methodology. The estimations work particularly well for the main river channels. However, there are local anomalies which are more difficult to predict. Maps showing concentration variations at 500 m intervals along the Humber basin river networks are presented; these are of particular value for environmental managers and socio-economists.

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“…Alkalinity minima correspond to high or highest discharge conditions (Wade et al, 1999), which are likely to be attained at different times during storms across the catchment and along its length. They will also depend upon the spatial variations in the acidity of near-surface soils.…”

Section: Prediction Lowest Ca and Alkalinity Concentrations From Sedimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research by Tetzlaff et al (2007) using fine resolution Gran alkalinity time series data over a hydrological year demonstrated, for the Feugh catchment in Scotland, that there were diverse and subtle changes in stream-water chemistry over the year. When attempting to model stream-water Gran alkalinity at different spatial scales and under different hydrological conditions using end member mixing analysis (EMMA), Wade et al (1999) commented on the problems caused by the very limited amount of high discharge data when rivers were sampled only monthly.…”

Section: Prediction Lowest Ca and Alkalinity Concentrations From Sedimentioning

confidence: 99%

Can sediment data be used to predict alkalinity and base cation chemistry of surface waters?

Begum

McClean

Cresser

et al. 2010

Science of The Total Environment

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We hypothesise that stream sediment elemental composition can predict mean and minimum concentrations of alkalinity, Ca and Mg in the river water throughout a river network. We tested this hypothesis for the River Derwent catchment in North Yorkshire, England, by using 6 years of water chemistry data from the Environment Agency and a digital elevation model to flow pathweight British Geological Survey (BGS) sediment element concentration data.The predictive models for mean concentrations were excellent for Ca and alkalinity, but less good for Mg, and did not require land use data inputs as stream water sediment composition seems to reflect all aspects of the riparian zone soil system. Predictive model forms were linear. Attempts to predict minimum values for Ca and alkalinity also were less satisfactory. This probably is due to variations in hydrological response times to individual precipitation events across the catchment.

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Modelling streamwater quality under varying hydrological conditions at different spatial scales

Cited by 72 publications

References 43 publications

Using stable isotope tracers to assess hydrological flow paths, residence times and landscape influences in a nested mesoscale catchment

Using stable isotope tracers to assess hydrological flow paths, residence times and landscape influences in a nested mesoscale catchment

GIS-based methodologies for assessing nitrate, nitrite and ammonium distributions across a major UK basin, the Humber

Can sediment data be used to predict alkalinity and base cation chemistry of surface waters?

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