MASS LOAD ESTIMATION ERRORS UTILIZING GRAB SAMPLING STRATEGIES IN A KARST WATERSHED1

ABSTRACT: Developing a mass load estimation method appropriate for a given stream and constituent is difficult due to inconsistencies in hydrologic and constituent characteristics. The difficulty may be increased in flashy flow conditions such as karst. Many projects undertaken are constrained by budget and manpower and do not have the luxury of sophisticated sampling strategies. The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine two grab sampling strategies with varying sampling intervals and determine the error in mass load estimates, and (2) determine the error that can be expected when a grab sample is collected at a time of day when the diurnal variation is most divergent from the daily mean. Results show grab sampling with continuous flow to be a viable data collection method for estimating mass load in the study watershed. Comparing weekly, biweekly, and monthly grab sampling, monthly sampling produces the best results with this method. However, the time of day the sample is collected is important. Failure to account for diurnal variability when collecting a grab sample may produce unacceptable error in mass load estimates. The best time to collect a sample is when the diurnal cycle is nearest the daily mean.     

Identification of river water quality using the fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach.

Proper identification of water quality conditions in a river system based on limited observations is an essential task for meeting the goals of environmental management. Various classification methods have been used for estimating the changing status and usability of surface water in river basins. However, a discrepancy frequently arises from the lack of a clear distinction between each water utilisation mode, the uncertainty in the quality criteria employed and the vagueness or fuzziness embedded in the decision-making output values. Owing to inherent imprecision, difficulties always exist in some conventional methodologies when describing integrated water quality conditions with respect to various chemical constituents, biological aspects, nutrients, and aesthetic qualities. This paper presents a comparative study using three fuzzy synthetic evaluation techniques to assess water quality conditions in comparison to the outputs generated by conventional procedures such as the Water Quality Index (WQI). Based on a set of data collected at seven sampling stations, a case study for the Tseng-Wen River system in Taiwan was used to demonstrate their application potential. The findings clearly indicate that the techniques may successfully harmonise inherent discrepancies and interpret complex conditions. A further, newly developed fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach described in this paper might also be useful for verifying water quality conditions for the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program and be helpful for constructing an effective water quality management strategy.     

INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT TEMPORAL SAMPLING STRATEGIES ON ESTIMATING TOTAL PHOSPHORUS AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION AND TRANSPORT IN SMALL STREAMS1

ABSTRACT: Various temporal sampling strategies are used to monitor water quality in small streams. To determine how various strategies influence the estimated water quality, frequently collected water quality data from eight small streams (14 to 110 km²) in Wisconsin were systematically subsampled to simulate typically used strategies. These subsets of data were then used to estimate mean, median, and maximum concentrations, and with continuous daily flows used to estimate annual loads (using the regression method) and volumetrically weighted mean concentrations. For each strategy, accuracy and precision in each summary statistic were evaluated by comparison with concentrations and loads of total phosphorus and suspended sediment estimated from all available data. The most effective sampling strategy depends on the statistic of interest and study duration. For mean and median concentrations, the most frequent fixed period sampling economically feasible is best. For maximum concentrations, any strategy with samples at or prior to peak flow is best. The best sampling strategy to estimate loads depends on the study duration. For one‐year studies, fixed period monthly sampling supplemented with storm chasing was best, even though loads were overestimated by 25 to 50 percent. For two to three‐year load studies and estimating volumetrically weighted mean concentrations, fixed period semimonthly sampling was best.     

CALIBRATION OF STORM LOADS IN THE SOUTH PRONG WATERSHED,FLORIDA, USING BASINS/HSPF1

ABSTRACT: The South Prong watershed is a major tributary system of the Sebastian River and adjacent Indian River Lagoon. Continued urbanization of the Sebastian River drainage basin and other watersheds of the Indian River Lagoon is expected to increase runoff and nonpoint source pollutant loads. The St. Johns River Water Management District developed watershed simulation models to estimate potential impacts on the ecological systems of receiving waters and to assist planners in devising strategies to prevent further degradation of water resources. In the South Prong system, a storm water sampling program was carried out to calibrate the water quality components of the watershed model for total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorous (TP), and total nitrogen (TN). During the period of May to November 1999, water quality and flow data were collected at three locations within the watershed. Two of the sampling stations were located at the downstream end of major watercourses. The third station was located at the watershed outlet. Five storm events were sampled and measured at each station. Sampling was conducted at appropriate intervals to represent the rising limb, peak, and recession limb of each storm event. The simulations were handled by HSPF (Hydrologic Simulation Program‐Fortran). Results include calibration of the hydrology and calibration of the individual storm loads. The hydrologic calibration was continuous over the period 1994 through 1999. Simulated storm runoff, storm loads, and event mean concentrations were compared with their corresponding observed values. The hydrologic calibration showed good results. The outcome of the individual storm calibrations was mixed. Overall, however, the simulated storm loads agreed reasonably well with measured loads for a majority of the storms.     

NONPARAMETRIC TEST PERFORMANCE FOR TRENDS IN WATER QUALITY WITH SAMPLING DESIGN APPLICATIONS1

ABSTRACT: In this paper four nonparametric tests for monotonic trend detection are compared with respect to their power and accuracy. The importance of comparing powers at equal empirical significance levels rather than nominal levels is stressed. Therefore, an appropriate graphical method is presented. The effect of the sampling frequency is also assessed using Monte Carlo simulations and a trajectory representation that visualizes the dynamics of the trade-off between the type I and type II errors. These methods are applied to compare four nonparametrical tests (seasonal Mann. Kendall, modified seasonal Mann-Kendall, covariance eigenvalue and covariance inversion) under several conditions. It is concluded with respect to the power that it is not worthwhile for the modified seasonal Mann-Kendall test applied to the AR(1) process considered in this paper to increase the sampling frequency from monthly to biweekly for detecting a monotonic trend of 5 percent, 10 percent, or 15 percent of the process variance. Under these conditions the seasonal Mann-Kendall test is highly liberal, while the covariance inversion and the covariance eigenvalue test are conservative. This research is situated in the development of an efficient sampling design for the Flemish water quality monitoring network.     

Influence of Sampling Frequency on Estimation of Annual Total Phosphorus and Total Suspended Solids Loads1

Abstract: The determination of sediment and nutrient loads is typically based on the collection and analysis of grab samples. The frequency and regularity of traditional sampling may not provide representation of constituent loading, particularly in systems with flashy hydrology. At two sites in the Little Bear River, Utah, continuous, high‐frequency turbidity was used with surrogate relationships to generate estimates of total phosphorus and total suspended solids concentrations, which were paired with discharge to estimate annual loads. The high frequency records were randomly subsampled to represent hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly sampling frequencies and to examine the effects of timing, and resulting annual load estimates were compared to the reference loads. Higher frequency sampling resulted in load estimates that better approximated the reference loads. The degree of bias was greater at the more hydrologically responsive site in the upper watershed, which required a higher sampling frequency than the lower watershed site to achieve the same level of accuracy in estimating the reference load. The hour of day and day of week of sampling impacted load estimation, depending on site and hydrologic conditions. The effects of sampling frequency on the determination of compliance with a water quality criterion were also examined. These techniques can be helpful in determining necessary sampling frequency to meet the objectives of a water quality monitoring program.     

Sequential bioconversion of used paper to sugars by cellulases from Trichoderma reesei and Penicillium funiculosum

Used paper, a potential resource of alternative energy, can be recycled but mostly it forms a significant component of solid waste. Used office paper, foolscap paper, filter paper and newspaper have been treated with cellulase from Trichoderma reesei and Penicillium funiculosum to bioconvert their cellulose component into sugars. Both non-pretreated and pretreated paper was incubated successively with the two cellulases during four consecutive incubation periods of 1 h each. The amount of sugars released during this sequential treatment was compared with the total sugar produced during a 4 h period of continuous incubation with each enzyme system independently. Pre-treatment milling of paper proved to effectively increase the sugar formation under all incubation conditions. Successive incubation with the two enzyme systems of both non-pretreated and pretreated paper materials was more efficient than the corresponding continuous bioconversion. The highest relative sugar yield was experienced during successive treatment of pretreated materials when T. reesei cellulase initiated the degradation. However, maximum bioconversion of pretreated newspaper was obtained when P. funiculosum initiated degradation. Pretreated foolscap paper was the most susceptible substrate with maximum bioconversion when exposed to both forms of successive cellulase treatment.     

AUTOMATIC BOTTLE SEALING MECHANISM FOR SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING OF VOLATILE ORGANICS IN WATER1

ABSTRACT: The design, construction, and evaluation of two automatic bottle sealing mechanisms for the collection of volatile organic compounds in water are described. Manually collected samples were either stored in uncapped bottles or in bottles capped with the automatic bottle sealing mechanisms. After 24 hours' storage, significant losses of volatile compounds from uncapped samples occurred even if the samples were stored at 4°C, but not for the samples capped with the automatic bottle sealing mechanisms. The mechanism for sealing the sample bottles was integrated into a commercial sampler with minor modifications to the sampler. The sampling system was then evaluated under controlled conditions to simulate actual field sampling. The results showed that the system was suitable for taking sequential discrete water samples automatically for 24 hours without significant losses of volatile organic compounds.     

SOIL MOISTURE VARIATION PATTERNS OBSERVED IN HAND COUNTY,SOUTH DAKOTA1

ABSTRACT: Sail moisture data were taken during nine sampling events (1976-1978) at a test site in South Dakota as part of the ground truth used in NASA's aircraft experiments studying the microwave sensing of soil moisture. This portion of the study dealt only with the spatial variability observed with regard to the ground data. Samples were taken over three surface depths at each point, and the data reported as the mean field moisture content within each of three surface horizons. The results shed additional light on the relationship between ground sampling and remote sensing of soil moisture. First, it was found that it is best to partition data of well drained sites from poorly drained areas when attempting to characterize the surface moisture content throughout an area of varying soil and cover conditions. It was also found that the moisture coefficient of variation within a field decreased as the mean field soil moisture increased, and that the standard deviation was at a maximum in the mid-range of observed moisture conditions (15-25 percent). Within field sample variation also decreases as the sample is integrated over a greater surface depth. It was determined that a sampling intensity of 10 samples per kilometer was adequate to characterize the mean field soil moisture at all three depths along a transect in the areas of moderate to good drainage-.     

Behavior of 14C-atrazine in Argentinean topsoils under different cropping managements

Atrazine (6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) behavior was studied in four surface soils during incubations in laboratory conditions. Soils were chosen in relation to their cropping management (tillage and no tillage) and crop rotation system (continuous soybean [Glycine mar (L.) Merr.] and maize (Zea mays L.)-soybean rotation). A natural soil under brushwood was sampled as a reference. Atrazine use in field conditions was associated with maize cropping, thus only one soil received atrazine every other year. Atrazine behavior was characterized through the balance of 14C-U-ring atrazine radioactivity among the mineralized fraction, the extractable fraction, and the nonextractable bound residues. Soil organic matter capacity to form bound residues was characterized using soil size fractionation. Accelerated atrazine mineralization was only observed in the soil receiving atrazine in field conditions. Atrazine application every other year was enough to develop a microflora adapted to triazine ring mineralization. Bound residue formation was rapid and increased with soil organic matter content. The coarsest soil size fractions (2000-200 and 200-50 microm) containing the nonhumified organic matter presented the highest capacity to form bound residues. No effect of tillage system was observed, probably because of the uniform sampling depth at 20 cm, hiding the stratification pattern of soil organic matter in non-tilled soils.     

遥感技术在灾害监测中的应用

介绍总结了近年来遥感技术在灾害监测中的应用与进展，以若干应用实例阐明了遥感技术在实现对自然灾害进行宏观、实时、动态、连续监测中不可替代的作用；在对我国灾害遥感的应用现状进行了分析之后，发现灾前预测工作有所不足；指出遥感技术将进一步同地理信息系统技术和全球定位系统技术相结合，在防灾减灾工作中发挥愈来愈重要的作用。     

A statistical study of the quality of surface water intended for human consumption near Valencia (Spain)

Water quality in the European Union is subject to legislation through directives that are applicable in all Member States. The directives specify a set of physical and chemical parameters that should be regularly controlled using a network of sampling points, with sampling based on the intended use of the water. This paper presents the results of a statistical comparison of the quality of water intended for human consumption at two different locations (the Canal de Benagéber and the Canal Júcar-Turia) near the town of Valencia (Spain). These are currently the only canals that could supply Valencia and other nearby towns with drinking water. The parameters considered in this paper are the ones specified in the European directives for determining the quality of water intended for human consumption. These directives specify that the 95th percentile of the distribution of each parameter should be used to assess water quality, so accurate estimation of these percentiles was essential in this paper. We found statistically significant differences among locations in chlorides, sulfates, temperature, coloration, and manganese, but the results varied depending on the statistical tests that we used; parametric methods gave better results than nonparametric methods.     

Automated and continuous redox potential measurements in soil

Redox potential (Eh) describes the electrical state of a matrix. In soils, Eh is an important parameter controlling the persistence of many organic and inorganic compounds. A popular, but also criticized, manual measuring method makes use of a small tip of Pt placed on a copper wire that is placed in the soil; a reference electrode is placed in the same soil at a fixed distance. Fluctuations in redox potential values measured in the soil can be very large and depth-dependent. This will be overlooked when making single-point measurements. We developed the datalogger Hypnos 2.0 for continuous redox potential and temperature measurements at various depths in the soil and without disturbance of the site. Hypnos is field-deployable, relatively cheap, and runs on batteries. The datalogger can use a "sleep mode" between sampling events. In sleep mode, there is no constant voltage on the Pt wire or the reference electrode, but there is only a short pulse during sampling. We did not measure an effect of this short pulse on the measured redox potential. In sandy soils in mesocosms and in a salt marsh soil we measured changes in the Eh as large as from -400 to +100 mV within 4 d, and daily cycles of 200 mV. Both absolute redox potential values and their diurnal variations were depth-dependent. Because single redox measurements are insufficient in describing redox conditions in some soil systems, Hypnos can be a powerful tool when studying the effects of fluctuating redox conditions on metal availability and pollutant degradation.     

QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF WATER QUALITY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: To assure attainment and maintenance of desired water quality levels in our rivers and streams, systematic monitoring must be performed. A preliminary phase of the design of water quality surveillance systems is the specification of sampling frequencies and station locations throughout the basin; that is, the development of an adequate space/time sampling plan. The purpose of this paper is to present some quantitative methods which have been developed to identify candidate sets of sampling frequencies and station locations, and to establish priorities for implementing the different frequencies and locations. These methods are useful in the cost/effectiveness trade-off analyses in surveillance system design, and are based on the surveillance system objective of pollution abatement in which it is desired to detect violations in state-federal water quality standards. A spatial priority measure is developed which is dependent both on the water quality profile in the stream and on the information obtained from monitoring stations located in other reaches. Also, a temporal sampling priority rating is presented which is a measure of the effectiveness of the surveillance system with respect to its ability to detect the violations in the standards. To illustrate the quantitative methods, the procedures are applied to the Wabash River Basin.     

化学需氧量测定方法的改进及研究进展

化学需氧量是综合评价水体污染程度的重要指标,是水质监测的重要水质参数。文章就国标方法的众多改进措施分类进行了探讨,包括消解方法的改进、氧化剂、替代催化剂和酸体系的研究、氯离子干扰的消除以及取样均匀性的改进,然后介绍了相关系数法、分光光度法、连续流动分析法、原子吸收法、电化学法、化学发光分析法、生物法、臭氧氧化法、光催化氧化法等COD测定替代技术,评价了各种方法的优缺点。最后指出,建立灵敏、准确、适应性强、低耗、无二次污染、性价比高COD监测分析方法是COD监测的发展趋势。     

Spatial Variability of Nitrate Concentrations Under Diverse Conditions in Tributaries to a Lake Watershed1

Abstract: Nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N) concentrations in stream water often respond uniquely to changes in inter‐annual conditions (e.g., biological N uptake and precipitation) in individual catchments. In this paper, we assess (1) how the spatial distribution of NO₃‐N concentrations varies across a dense network of nonnested catchments and (2) how relationships between multiple landscape factors [within whole catchments and hydrologically sensitive areas (HSAs) of the catchments] and stream NO₃‐N are expressed under a variety of annual conditions. Stream NO₃‐N data were collected during two synoptic sampling events across >55 tributaries and two synoptic sampling periods with >11 tributaries during summer low flow periods. Sample tributaries drain mixed land cover watersheds ranging in size from 0.150 to 312 km² and outlet directly to Cayuga Lake, New York. Changes in NO₃‐N concentration ratios between each sampling event suggest a high degree of spatial heterogeneity in catchment response across the Cayuga Lake Watershed, ranging from 0.230 to 61.4. Variations in NO₃‐N concentrations within each of the large synoptic sampling events were also high, ranging from 0.040 to 8.7 mg NO₃‐N/l (March) and 0.090 to 15.5 mg NO₃‐N/l (October). Although Pearson correlation coefficients suggest that this variability is related to multiple landscape factors during all four sampling events, partial correlations suggest percentage of row crops in the catchments as the only similar factor in March and October and catchment area as the only factor during summer low flows. Further, the strength of the relationships is typically lower in the HSAs of catchment. Advancing current understanding of such variations and relationships to landscape factors across multiple catchments – and under a variety of biogeochemical and hydrological conditions – is important, as (1) nitrate continues to be employed as an indicator of regional aquatic ecosystem health and services and (2) a unified framework approach for understanding individual catchment processes is a rapidly evolving focus for catchment‐based science and management.     

时域反射仪结合土钻法测定土壤容重

土壤水分是土地持续利用、水资源规划与管理、环境化学、节水农业技术研究的基础。介绍了时域反射仪（TDR）及其测定土壤水分的方法及应用，并利用时域反射仪结合土钻法测定土壤容重，与经典的环刀法测定土壤容重进行了比较，结果表明：两种测定结果存在一定的差异，TDR结合土钻法测定土壤容重能连续测定而且稳定性好。     

FRESH-WATER LENS FORMATION IN AN UNCONFINED BARRIER-ISLAND AQUIFER1

ABSTRACT: Cone-penetrometer testing and computer modeling were utilized to investigate factors controlling fresh-water lens formation at Grand Isle, Louisiana. Measurements of tip resistance, sleeve friction, and electrical conductivity were recorded with depth to permit classification of sediment type and to determine thickness of the fresh-water lens and transition zone. Cone-penetrometer testing provided virtually continuous determinations of change in sediment type and ground-water salinity at a resolution rarely achieved using conventional drilling and water sampling techniques. Three sand bodies are present, each separated by a clay layer. The fresh-water lens is thinner in the center of the island than on the flanks. Fresh-water lens thickness is limited by a clay layer which prohibits downward movement of significant volumes fresh water. The transition zone from fresh water to salt water varies in thickness, being thinnest near the Gulf of Mexico and thickest where silt and clay interfinger with the upper sand. Both the thickness of the fresh-water lens and the shape of the transition zone differ from that predicted by theoretical models. Calibration of STJTRA, a variable-density solute-transport model, indicates that permeability variations are the dominant control on formation of the fresh-water lens.     

An assessment methodology for successional systems. I. Null models and the regulatory framework

Standard procedures for evaluating environmental impact involve comparison between before and after conditions or scenarios or between treatment and control site pairs. In many cases, however, endogenous directional change (natural succession) is expected to occur at a significant rate over the period of concern, particularly for manmade systems such as impoundments. Static evaluations do not provide an adequate approach to such problems. A new evaluation frame is proposed. Nominal system behavior over time is characterized by a stochastic envelope around a nominal trajectory. We show that both the state variance and the sampling variance can change over time. In this context, environmental regulations can be framed as constraints, targets, or conformance to ideal trajectories. Statistical tests for determining noncompliance are explored relative to process variance, sample error, and sample size. Criteria are elucidated for choosing properties to monitor, sample size, and sampling interval.