Identifying the Correlation between Water Quality Data and LOADEST Model Behavior in Annual Sediment Load Estimations

Water

Bernie A. Engel¹  Youn Shik Park² 

[1] Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, 225 South University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2093, USA;Department of Rural Construction Engineering, Kongju National University, 54 Daehak-ro, Yesan-gun 32439, Chuncheongnam-do, Korea;

关键词: annual sediment load;    LOADEST;    regression model;    water quality sampling;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w8090368

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Water quality samples are typically collected less frequently than flow since water quality sampling is costly. Load Estimator (LOADEST), provided by the United States Geological Survey, is used to predict water quality concentration (or load) on days when flow data are measured so that the water quality data are sufficient for annual pollutant load estimation. However, there is a need to identify water quality data requirements for accurate pollutant load estimation. Measured daily sediment data were collected from 211 streams. Estimated annual sediment loads from LOADEST and subsampled data were compared to the measured annual sediment loads (true load). The means of flow for calibration data were correlated to model behavior. A regression equation was developed to compute the required mean of flow in calibration data to best calibrate the LOADEST regression model coefficients. LOADEST runs were performed to investigate the correlation between the mean flow in calibration data and model behaviors as daily water quality data were subsampled. LOADEST calibration data used sediment concentration data for flows suggested by the regression equation. Using the mean flow calibrated by the regression equation reduced errors in annual sediment load estimation from −39.7% to −10.8% compared to using all available data.

【 授权许可】

Unknown