Comparison of sampling methodologies for nutrient monitoring in streams: Uncertainties, costs and implications for mitigation
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Comparison of sampling methodologies for nutrient monitoring in streams : Uncertainties, costs and implications for mitigation. / Audet, J.; Martinsen, L.; Hasler, B.; De Jonge, H.; Karydi, E.; Ovesen, N. B.; Kronvang, B.
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, Vol. 18, No. 11, 28.11.2014, p. 4721-4731.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of sampling methodologies for nutrient monitoring in streams
T2 - Uncertainties, costs and implications for mitigation
AU - Audet, J.
AU - Martinsen, L.
AU - Hasler, B.
AU - De Jonge, H.
AU - Karydi, E.
AU - Ovesen, N. B.
AU - Kronvang, B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) 2014.
PY - 2014/11/28
Y1 - 2014/11/28
N2 - Eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems caused by excess concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus may have harmful consequences for biodiversity and poses a health risk to humans via water supplies. Reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus losses to aquatic ecosystems involves implementation of costly measures, and reliable monitoring methods are therefore essential to select appropriate mitigation strategies and to evaluate their effects. Here, we compare the performances and costs of three methodologies for the monitoring of nutrients in rivers: grab sampling; time-proportional sampling; and passive sampling using flow-proportional samplers. Assuming hourly time-proportional sampling to be the best estimate of the "true" nutrient load, our results showed that the risk of obtaining wrong total nutrient load estimates by passive samplers is high despite similar costs as the time-proportional sampling. Our conclusion is that for passive samplers to provide a reliable monitoring alternative, further development is needed. Grab sampling was the cheapest of the three methods and was more precise and accurate than passive sampling. We conclude that although monitoring employing time-proportional sampling is costly, its reliability precludes unnecessarily high implementation expenses.
AB - Eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems caused by excess concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus may have harmful consequences for biodiversity and poses a health risk to humans via water supplies. Reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus losses to aquatic ecosystems involves implementation of costly measures, and reliable monitoring methods are therefore essential to select appropriate mitigation strategies and to evaluate their effects. Here, we compare the performances and costs of three methodologies for the monitoring of nutrients in rivers: grab sampling; time-proportional sampling; and passive sampling using flow-proportional samplers. Assuming hourly time-proportional sampling to be the best estimate of the "true" nutrient load, our results showed that the risk of obtaining wrong total nutrient load estimates by passive samplers is high despite similar costs as the time-proportional sampling. Our conclusion is that for passive samplers to provide a reliable monitoring alternative, further development is needed. Grab sampling was the cheapest of the three methods and was more precise and accurate than passive sampling. We conclude that although monitoring employing time-proportional sampling is costly, its reliability precludes unnecessarily high implementation expenses.
U2 - 10.5194/hess-18-4721-2014
DO - 10.5194/hess-18-4721-2014
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84919360636
VL - 18
SP - 4721
EP - 4731
JO - Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
JF - Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
SN - 1027-5606
IS - 11
ER -
ID: 324692321