USGS - science for a changing world

South Atlantic Water Science Center - North Carolina Office

South Atlantic WSC Home Data Projects Publications Drought Floods Media About Us Contact [an error occurred while processing this directive]   Internal

Picture of the main North Carolina Water Science Center office.

PUBLICATIONS

Annual Water Data Report

USGS Publications Warehouse

USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

There is a USGS Water Science Center office in each State. Washington Oregon California Idaho Nevada Montana Wyoming Utah Colorado Arizona New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Texas Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Wisconsin Illinois Mississippi Michigan Indiana Ohio Kentucky Tennessee Alabama Pennsylvania West Virginia Georgia Florida Caribbean Alaska Hawaii New York Vermont New Hampshire Maine Massachusetts South Carolina North Carolina Rhode Island Virginia Connecticut New Jersey Maryland-Delaware-D.C.

Effect of Stream-Network Resolution and Monitoring-Site Density on the Calibration of a Nutrient SPARROW Model for the Southeastern United States

Anne B. Hoos1 and Gerard C. McMahon2

1 U.S. Geological Survey, 640 Grassmere Park, Suite 100, Nashville, Tennessee 37211
2 U.S. Geological Survey, 3916 Sunset Ridge Road, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment Program is compiling surface-water quality data and estimates of nutrient sources (agricultural, atmospheric, urban runoff, and wastewater) from Federal, State, and local water-resource agencies throughout the Southeastern United States to estimate rates of nitrogen and phosphorus transport in surface water and to estimate which sources and watersheds contribute the highest nutrient loads. The SPARROW (SPAtially-Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes) water-quality model is used to quantify the sources of nutrients and the transport of these nutrients to downstream water bodies and coastal areas, providing information that can assist water resource managers in selecting nutrient control strategies. The modeling objectives include investigation of the effect of stream-network resolution and monitoring site density on model calibration and performance. Two separate SPARROW models, one built from the RF1 reach network (Reach File Version 1.0, 1:250,000-scale hydrography) and one built from the NHD reach network (National Hydrography Dataset, 1:100,000-scale hydrography), were calibrated. The smaller calibration set for the RF1-based model was developed from the 600-site calibration set for the NHD-based model as the subset (400) of the monitoring sites that intersected the coarser RF1 network. Aspects of model calibration under investigation include sensitivity to network resolution and monitoring-site selection of: (1) prediction accuracy; (2) allocation of nutrient-mass attenuation to overland and instream transport; (3) standard error associated with model estimation of overland and instream nutrient attenuation; and (4) predicted loads and load distribution among stream size classes.


Citation:

Hoos, Anne, and McMahon Gerard, 2006, Effect of stream-network resolution and monitoring-site density on calibration of a nutrient SPARROW model for the Southeastern U.S.: Proceedings of the National Water-Quality Monitoring Council National Monitoring Conference, May 8-12, 2006, San Jose CA.


USGS Home Water Climate Change Core Science Ecosystems Energy and Minerals Env. Health Hazards

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: https://nc.water.usgs.gov/reports/abstracts/Hoos06Effect.html
Page Contact Information: North Carolina Web Development Team
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 06-Dec-2016 10:42:41 EST