PROBABILISTIC METHODS IN STREAM QUALITY MANAGEMENT1

ABSTRACT. Recent advances in water quality modelling have pointed out the need for stochastic models to simulate the probabilistic nature of water quality. However, often all that is needed is an estimate of the uncertainty in predicting water quality variables. First order analysis is a simple method of providing an estimate in the uncertainty in a deterministic model due to uncertain parameters. The method is applied to the simplified Streeter-Phelps equations for DO and BOD; a more complete Monte Carlo simulation is used to check the accuracy of the results. The first order analysis is found to give accurate estimates of means and variances of DO and BOD up to travel times exceeding the critical time. Uncertainty in travel time and the BOD decay constant are found to be most important for small travel times; uncertainty in the reaeration coefficient dominates near the critical time. Uncertainty in temperature was found to be a negligible source of uncertainty in DO for all travel times.     

EVALUATION OF WATER QUALITY SAMPLING LOCATIONS ON THE YUKON RIVER1

ABSTRACT: This paper presents an approach to the evaluation of water quality sampling locations for their potential use for long term monitoring. This approach was applied to four sites on the Yukon River near the Canada-United States boundary. At three of these sites it was difficult to obtain representative samples due to the presence of extensive lateral heterogeneities. These heterogeneities occur because of a lack of mixing between the Yukon River and the major tributaries upstream from Dawson. Only one of the sampling locations is spatially homogeneous enough to provide representative samples. Concentration variations over the annual cycle are very large, often as much as two orders of magnitude. Estimates are made of the frequency and density with which samples must be collected to be able to detect a 10 percent different between annual mean concentrations. The estimated frequencies are so large that such an undertaking would be impractical. More importantly, the assumptions of this analysis are invalid, and time series analysis of fixed frequency samples is proposed as an alternative that is statistically rigorous and requires fewer samples.     

FTF算法应用于扩频信号中BPSK型干扰抑制的探讨

介绍遵循ＬＳ准则的快速横向滤波（ＦＴＦ）算法应用于扩频信号中有附加随机相位ＢＰＳＫ型干扰抑制。模拟结果表明，ＦＴＦ算法比遵循ＬＭＳ准则的可变步长ＬＭＳ（ＶＳＳ）算法有显著的优势。文中给出了模拟结果并进行了分析。     

ESTIMATION OF EPISODIC STREAM ACIDIFICATION BASED ON MONTHLY OR ANNUAL SAMPLING1

ABSTRACT: Programs of monthly or annual stream water sampling will rarely observe the episodic extremes of acidification chemistry that occur during brief, unpredictable runoff events. When viewed in the context of data from several streams, however, baseflow measurements of variables such as acid neutralizing capacity, pH and NO₃· are likely to be highly correlated with the episodic extremes of those variables from the same stream and runoff season. We illustrate these correlations for a water chemistry record, nearly two years in length, obtained from intensive sampling of 13 small Northeastern U.S. streams studied during USEPA's Episodic Response Project. For these streams, simple regression models estimate episodic extremes of acid neutralizing capacity, pH, NO₃·, Ca²⁺, SO₄^2?, and total dissolved Al with good relative accuracy from statistics of monthly or annual index samples. Model performances remain generally stable when episodic extremes in the second year of sampling are predicted from first-year models. Monthly or annual sampling designs, in conjunction with simple empirical models calibrated and maintained through intensive sampling every few years, may estimate episodic extremes of acidification chemistry with economy and reasonable accuracy. Such designs would facilitate sampling a large number of streams, thereby yielding estimates of the prevalence of episodic acidification at regional scales.     

A DIGITAL CONTROLLER FOR DISCRETE STAGE ACTIVATION OF AUTOMATIC PUMPING SAMPLERS1

ABSTRACT: An electronic controller was developed to facilitate water sampling at discrete stage heights in perennial mountain streams of southeast Oklahoma. The controller operates in conjunction with an automatic pumping sampler and a magnetic, relay transducer. In response to changes in stage, the transducer generates an electrical pulse when relays are closed by a magnetic float. The controller monitors these relay closures and signals the sampler to pump a single sample at each desired water level during both rising and falling stages. After a sample is taken, additional switch closures at that stage axe ignored until the relay immediately above or below is closed. Inadvertent switch closures caused by turbulent stage fluctuations are not translated to the sampler thus eliminating duplicate or multiple samples at a given stage. Field testing has proven this device to be a reliable component with a range of applications for improving water quality sampling systems. The controller features battery operation, low power consumption, circuit simplicity and can be easily constructed for less than $100, including parts and labor.     

Patchy distribution fields: sampling distance unit of a zigzag survey and reconstruction adequacy

A mathematical model was used to examine the effects of choosingvarious units of sampling distance of a zigzag survey on the adequacy of reconstructing patchy distribution fields. The modelsimulates fish or plankton patches (or gaps) of different shapesand spatial orientations, and an acoustic survey by zigzag or parallel transects along which a unit of sampling distance is set. Adequacy of the reconstructed fields to those originally generated is evaluated by calculating their correlations (r). A priori information on the autocorrelation radii for the field in the directions of the survey (R_s) and perpendiculardirection (R_p) allows optimisation of the survey design andthe algorithm of data analysis. A field can be reconstructed properly (r² > 0.70) if the distance between transects D < (1.0–1.5)R_s and the unit of sampling distance d < (1.0–1.5)R_p. A posteriori determination of patchorientation allows reconstruction of the best field attainable onthe basis of the survey data. In cases of field movement, if thedimension of patches in the direction of movement exceeds that ofa surveyed area, a survey in the opposite direction gives bestresults; in contrast, if the dimension of moving patches is smaller than that of a surveyed area, it is reasonable to carryout a survey in the same direction. The criterion remains validwhen a survey is carried out by zigzag transects and a unit ofsampling distance is set along them. The results obtained indicate that, for a fixed transect spacing and a given number of sampling points on each full transect, zigzag pattern allowsless adequate reconstruction of an original distribution field (in cases of both immovable and movable fields) than corresponding parallel pattern.     

For What Applications Can Probability and Non-Probability Sampling Be Used?

Almost any type of sample has some utilitywhen estimating population quantities. The focus inthis paper is to indicate what type or combination oftypes of sampling can be used in various situationsranging from a sample designed to establishcause-effect or legal challenge to one involving asimple subjective judgment. Several of these methodshave little or no utility in the scientific area buteven in the best of circumstances, particularlycomplex ones, both probabilistic and non-probabilisticprocedures have to be used because of lack ofknowledge and cost. We illustrate this with a marbledmurrelet example.     

Comparison of macroinvertebrate sampling methods for nonwadeable streams

Bioassessment of nonwadeable streams in the United States is increasing, but methods for these systems are not as well-developed as for wadeable streams. In this study, we compared six macroinvertebrate field sampling methods for nonwadeable streams adapted from those used by three major programs: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Surface Waters, the U.S. Geological Surveys National Water Quality Assessment Program, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Surface Water Biocriteria Program. We performed all six methods at 60 sites across four rivers and measured water chemistry and physical habitat at each site to assess abiotic conditon. Sites were divided into two groups: those influenced by navigational lock and dam structures (restricted flow, or RF) and those free-flowing or with lowhead dams (run-of-the-river, or ROR). Metrics based on passive Hester-Dendy artificial substrate samplers differed greatly from active sampling methods (i.e., using nets) but represented abiotic conditions well in both ROR and RF sites. Although metric values were similar across certain sampling methods, the metrics significantly correlated with abiotic variables varied among methods and between ROR and RF sites. These results emphasize that methods are not interchangeable, and the ability to detect certain stressors depends on sampling method.The U.S. Governments right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Laboratory-scale chlorination to estimate the levels of halogenated DBPs in full-scale distribution systems

Occurrence of halogenated disinfection by-products (DBPs) (trihalomethanes –THMs– and haloacetic acids –HAAs–) in the waters of two utilities in Quebec City (Canada) was investigated using two approaches: experimental chlorination studies and full-scale sampling within distribution systems. Experimental studies were designed to reproduce treatment plant and distribution system conditions (chlorine dose, water temperature, pH and water residence time). Differences in halogenated DBPs in the two distribution systems under study were significant and comparable to those observed in experimental laboratory studies. For the waters of both utilities, chlorination studies better reproduced the occurrence of halogenated DBPs in points of the distribution system located near the treatment plant (low residence time of water) than in other points. Multivariate regression models for THMs, HAAs and their species were developed using the data from experimental studies in order to predict halogenated DBP levels measured in the distribution system. Models were all statistically significant, but showed low ability to predict full-scale halogenated DBPs, particularly in points located at distribution system extremities. Specifically, experimental chlorination-based models are not able to simulate the decrease of HAA levels. Results of this research suggest that the use of experimental data to predict halogenated DBP levels in full-scale distribution systems – for operational, regulatory and epidemiological purposes – must be done with caution.     

悬浮液进样石墨炉原子吸收法直接测定土壤、底泥中的铅、镓、钴、镍

介绍一种悬浮液进样直接测定土壤、底泥中多种微量金属元素的快速分析方法。基体改进剂的使用，适宜的原子化温度的选择，使用水相标准溶液作校准曲线成为可能．对标准作品的测定证明了此方法的精密度和准确度较好，适合于常规环境样品分析．