Article
Environmental Sciences
Taylor Roswall, Emileigh Lucas, Yun-Ya Yang, Charles Burgis, Isis S. P. C. Scott, Gurpal S. Toor
Summary: The study suggests that current extraction methods might underestimate the soluble P pool in high or legacy P soils, and recommends using a higher soil-to-water ratio to extract WEP. By increasing the soil-to-water ratio and conducting sequential extractions on eight legacy P soils, it was possible to exhaust the WEP pool, significantly improving the measurement accuracy of WEP.
Article
Environmental Sciences
P. C. Hanson, R. Ladwig, C. Buelo, E. A. Albright, A. D. Delany, C. C. Carey
Summary: Lake water quality is greatly degraded in eutrophic systems due to legacy nutrients. Water quality improvement depends on changes in phosphorus and organic carbon storage, with different variables improving at different rates.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robert D. Sabo, Christopher M. Clark, Jana E. Compton
Summary: Ongoing water quality degradation linked to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution causes economic damage and reduces the recreational value of surface water while also harming fisheries. Progress in reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in surface water has been slow over the past two decades, requiring efficient use of limited resources and prioritization of watersheds for restoration. A small portion of the landscape in the United States, less than 25% of subbasin area, contains 50% of anthropogenic and agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus surplus, highlighting areas where nutrients are being managed inefficiently.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
James N. Carleton, Sylvia S. Lee
Summary: Internal feedback of nutrients may hinder the improvement of lake water quality. A parsimonious and mechanistic framework is proposed to model the lag times of phosphorus-enriched lakes' recovery. The approach considers phosphorus storage in benthic sediments and assumes first-order kinetics in a two-compartment system. Bayesian parameter modeling and sediment phosphorus release rates are used to estimate key parameters. Mean lag times to 50% and 75% declines in water column phosphorus concentration are estimated to be 13.1 and 39.0 years respectively across over 70,000 lentic water bodies in the continental United States.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Yuanying Chen, Georgia Destouni, Romain Goldenberg, Carmen Prieto
Summary: The study quantified the main typological differences in nutrient load behavior versus water discharge for active and legacy sources in catchments draining into the Baltic Sea along the coastline of Sweden. Results showed dominant legacy source contributions to most monitored loads of TN and TP, with legacy concentrations being higher overall and changing more slowly than active or mixed sources. These convergent indications emphasize the need to identify and differentiate strategies targeting each source type for water quality improvement.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Nader Nakhaei, Leon Boegman, Mahyar Mehdizadeh, Mark Loewen
Summary: A three-dimensional coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model was used to study eutrophication in stormwater ponds in Edmonton, Alberta. The model accurately simulated spatial gradients and predicted trophic state, showing potential for improving pond conditions by reducing nutrient loads.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandre Viruela, Stephanie Aparicio, Angel Robles, Luis Borras Falomir, Joaquin Serralta, Aurora Seco, Jose Ferrer
Summary: A kinetic model of autotrophic microalgal growth in sewage was developed to determine the biokinetic processes involved, including carbon-, nitrogen- and phosphorus-limited microalgal growth, dependence on light intensity, temperature and pH, light attenuation and gas exchange to the atmosphere. The model showed great potential in predicting microalgae production and compliance with discharge limits, making it an effective tool for the industry.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joseph L. Domagalski, Eric Morway, Nancy L. Alvarez, Juliet Hutchins, Michael R. Rosen, Robert Coats
Summary: A study of Lake Tahoe found that the lake's water quality is declining due to algae and fine sediment, leading to a decrease in water clarity. To maintain water clarity, wastewater is exported out of the basin. Over the past 25 years, nitrate loads have decreased, while ammonium loads initially decreased and then continued to increase after 2005, and organic phosphate loads showed significant increases between 2000 and 2005.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ziteng Wang, Qingjun Guo, Rongfei Wei
Summary: This study evaluated the variation trends and influencing factors of accumulated phosphorus (P) in the Yangtze River Watershed (YRW) under different economic development periods, and determined the P storage threshold and the time required for the return of legacy P to the baseline level. The results showed that the P storage threshold in the YRW has been surpassed due to intense anthropogenic activities, and the residual P still has a long-term impact on aquatic ecosystems. The dissolved total P loadings are prioritized for better P management goals.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ke Zhao, Hang Fu, Qian Wang, Hai Lu
Summary: This study analyzed the water pollution characteristics of Yitong River in Jilin Province, China and studied the release characteristics of nutrients at the sediment-water interface. The results indicated that the pollution degree of interstitial water in urban areas was much higher than that of the overlying water, with the risk of endogenous nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants diffusing to the overlying water.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kimberly J. Van Meter, Victor O. Schultz, Shuyu Y. Chang
Summary: Increases in nitrogen (N) contamination have occurred due to the application of fertilizer, livestock density, and population growth. The accumulation of nitrogen in groundwater within the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) has been estimated to be approximately 15 Tg. This highlights the significance of considering historical nitrogen when predicting future water quality.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Noah M. Schmadel, Judson W. Harvey, Gregory E. Schwarz
Summary: Nutrients accumulated in small catchments across the northeastern United States are released into river flow in the current season, with a significant portion of mass lagged from catchment storage repositories. A seasonally dynamic approach to large-scale nutrient modeling helps assess the effects of nutrient storage and lagged releases on rivers interacting with seasonally varying nutrient reactivity and societal management actions throughout large river basins.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ellen Wohl
Summary: Beavers, as ecosystem engineers, have historically modified rivers in the northern hemisphere, but their populations have decreased due to commercial trapping and habitat modification by humans, leading to reduced ecosystem services provided by rivers. Efforts to reintroduce beavers and mimic their engineering effects show promise, but further research is needed to determine the extent of restoration efforts required for significant improvements in riverine functions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoyang Shan, Zhiqiang Zhu, Jiyong Ma, Dinghui Fu, Yanwei Song, Qipei Li, Zanhui Huang, Lixin Pei, Hongwei Zhao
Summary: Water quality modeling is essential for managing nutrient flows and pollution in rivers and seas. This paper reviews the development of seven water quality models, discusses their strengths, weaknesses, and future directions. It also addresses practical problems and summarizes the characteristics of these models in China, including temporal and geographical scales, pollution sources, and the main problems they can solve. Understanding these characteristics can help stakeholders globally select appropriate models for resolving nutrient pollution challenges. Recommendations for model enhancement are also provided.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xi Chen, Maryna Strokal, Michelle T. H. van Vliet, Xing Fu, Mengru Wang, Lin Ma, Carolien Kroeze
Summary: Nutrient pollution is a widespread issue in rivers in China. This study aims to quantify the spatial variation in in-stream water quality for nutrients and identify their associated sources. The results show that a certain percentage of rivers are highly polluted, with diffuses sources and point sources contributing differently. It is important to consider nutrient forms in models and monitoring programs.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Idhayachandhiran Ilampooranan, Kimberly J. Van Meter, Nandita B. Basu
Summary: Over a century of land-use changes and intensive agriculture in the Mississippi River Basin has resulted in degradation of soil and water resources. Excess application of fertilizers leading to nitrogen leaching has been linked to algal blooms and 'dead zones'. Water quality is affected not only by current-year inputs but also by legacy nitrogen accumulated over decades. The relationship between legacy nitrogen accumulation and water quality remains unclear.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruchi Bhattacharya, Simon G. M. Lin, Nandita B. Basu
Summary: This study analyzed lakes from multiple countries worldwide and found the linkages between the quantity and spatial patterns of phosphorus accumulation in lake sediments. The results showed that lakes in developed countries had higher sediment phosphorus concentrations during early agricultural intensification, while lakes in developing countries demonstrated a continuous increase. The sediment phosphorus accumulation was influenced by watershed disturbance patterns, anthropogenic drivers, and lake morphology, with shallow lakes experiencing long-term land-use disturbances showing the highest accumulation rates.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Nandita B. Basu, Kimberly J. Van Meter, Danyka K. Byrnes, Philippe Van Cappellen, Roy Brouwer, Brian H. Jacobsen, Jerker Jarsjo, David L. Rudolph, Maria C. Cunha, Natalie Nelson, Ruchi Bhattacharya, Georgia Destouni, Soren Boye Olsen
Summary: Agricultural nitrogen legacies are causing delays in improving water quality, highlighting the need for comprehensive management strategies to address these issues and ensure better environmental outcomes.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Tyler B. Hampton, Nandita B. Basu
Summary: Recent increases in wildfires have necessitated the development of a methodology to quantify the impact of these fires on streamflows. This study developed an annual Budyko decomposition method to detect and separate climate-driven and fire-driven changes in streamflow, as well as estimate the recovery timescales after fire. The study showed that the Budyko framework was successful in detecting changes in highly burned catchments and quantifying the contribution of fire-driven versus climate-driven changes in streamflow.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fanny J. Sarrazin, Rohini Kumar, Nandita B. Basu, Andreas Musolff, Michael Weber, Kimberly J. Van Meter, Sabine Attinger
Summary: Improving the nitrogen status in European water bodies is an urgent issue, and it is not only dependent on current nitrogen inputs but also on past accumulations. Catchment-scale nitrogen models rarely consider the magnitude and dynamics of legacy components. This study aims to investigate the long-term fate of nitrogen inputs and its uncertainties using a legacy-driven nitrogen model in Germany's largest river basin.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nitin K. Singh, Nandita B. Basu
Summary: There is ongoing debate about the impact of human activities on streamflow. While climate is the main driver of annual streamflow trends, human activities can amplify or dampen seasonal trends in managed streamflows in North America. The magnitude of these impacts and their relative contribution are still uncertain. This study compares trends in seasonal flow totals for natural and managed watersheds in North America over a 60-year period. The results show that human activities can amplify or dampen seasonal flow trends in a substantial number of managed watersheds, and the magnitude of these changes varies seasonally. Rainfall, slope, and forest cover are key drivers of seasonal trends in natural watersheds, while canals, impervious areas, and dam storage dominate the responses in managed watersheds. These findings emphasize the importance of developing adaptation strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of human-driven alterations in seasonal flow.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kimberly J. J. Van Meter, Danyka K. K. Byrnes, Nandita B. B. Basu
Summary: Excess nitrogen from intensive agriculture, atmospheric deposition, and urban sources increases nitrate concentrations in streams, leading to eutrophication and ecosystem degradation in coastal waters. Understanding the relationship between anthropogenic nitrogen inputs in watersheds and riverine nitrogen loads is crucial for improving water quality. However, reducing riverine nitrogen through nutrient management practices does not always result in immediate improvements. This study analyzes nitrate data from 478 US watersheds and quantifies the time-varying relationships between nitrogen inputs and riverine nitrogen export, identifying variations and hysteresis effects. The study finds that urban watersheds in the northeastern US show clockwise hysteresis relationships, with water quality improvements achieved through point-source controls, while agricultural watersheds exhibit counterclockwise hysteresis dynamics and time lags between nutrient management practices and water quality improvements. Higher tile-drainage densities are associated with more linear relationships between nitrogen inputs and riverine nitrogen.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew P. Duda, Branaavan Sivarajah, Kathleen M. Ruehland, Andrew M. Paterson, Jennifer L. Barrow, Yuanyu Cheng, Elizabeth J. Favot, Kristopher R. Hadley, Roland I. Hall, Kathryn E. Hargan, Clare Nelligan, Euan D. Reavie, Robin E. Valleau, Petra Werner, Christopher Wilkins, John P. Smol
Summary: This study compiled data from surface-sediment-diatom analyses from over 450 lakes in Ontario, Canada, to determine the ecological responses and environmental adaptability ranges of common diatom taxa. This research provides important references and basis for subsequent ecological assessments.
JOURNAL OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nandita B. Basu, J. Dony, K. J. Van Meter, Samuel J. Johnston, Anita T. Layton
Summary: Excess nutrient inputs from agricultural and urban sources have led to eutrophication and algal blooms in the Great Lakes Basin. Using a random forest machine learning model, we found that land use and management, including agricultural and urban land, tile drainage, and wetland density, are important predictors of nutrient concentrations in the basin. The study highlights the importance of livestock and drainage management, as well as wetland restoration, in addressing eutrophication in intensively managed landscapes.
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Wathiq J. Mohammed, Lauren A. MacDonald, Kathryn E. Thomas, Ian McDonald, Kevin W. Turner, Brent B. Wolfe, Roland Hall
Summary: Shallow waterbodies in Old Crow Flats are vulnerable to climate changes, with increased rainfall affecting water quality and biological communities. The study provides valuable information for local Indigenous communities and resource management agencies to anticipate changes in traditional food sources and plan for adaptation.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Emily A. Ury, Puvaanah Arrumugam, Ellen R. Herbert, Pascal Badiou, Bryan Page, Nandita B. Basu
Summary: Wetland restoration is a common strategy for improving water quality in agricultural catchments, but the ability of wetlands to retain phosphorus varies widely and they can sometimes act as a source of phosphorus. Through meta-analysis, we found that wetlands are often sinks for phosphorus, but the retention efficiency differs depending on the form of phosphorus and the specific wetland. The release of phosphorus from wetlands is influenced by factors such as hydraulic loading rates, influent phosphorus concentration, and soil/sediment phosphorus. Our results emphasize the importance of restoring wetlands for phosphorus retention and suggest strategies for enhancing retention and avoiding release.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kimberly J. Van Meter, Victor O. Schultz, Shuyu Y. Chang
Summary: Increases in nitrogen (N) contamination have occurred due to the application of fertilizer, livestock density, and population growth. The accumulation of nitrogen in groundwater within the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) has been estimated to be approximately 15 Tg. This highlights the significance of considering historical nitrogen when predicting future water quality.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)