Are groundwater nitrate concentrations reaching a turning point in some chalk aquifers?
Smith, J.T.; Clarke, R.T.; Bowes, M.J. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0673-1934.
2010
Are groundwater nitrate concentrations reaching a turning point in some chalk aquifers?
Science of the Total Environment, 408.
4722-4732.
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.001
Abstract/Summary
In past decades, there has been much scientific effort dedicated to the development of models for simulation and prediction of nitrate concentrations in groundwaters, but producing truly predictive models remains a major challenge. A time-series model, based on long-term variations in nitrate fertiliser applications and average rainfall, was calibrated against measured concentrations from five boreholes in the River Frome catchment of Southern England for the period spanning from the mid-1970s to 2003. The model was then used to “blind” predict nitrate concentrations for the period 2003–2008. To our knowledge, this represents the first “blind” test of a model for predicting nitrate concentrations in aquifers. It was found that relatively simple time-series models could explain and predict a significant proportion of the variation in nitrate concentrations in these groundwater abstraction points (R2=0.6–0.9 and mean absolute prediction errors 4.2–8.0%). The study highlighted some important limitations and uncertainties in this, and other modelling approaches, in particular regarding long-term nitrate fertiliser application data. In three of the five groundwater abstraction points (Hooke, Empool and Eagle Lodge), once seasonal variations were accounted for, there was a recent change in the generally upward historical trend in nitrate concentrations. This may be an early indication of a response to levelling-off (and declining) fertiliser application rates since the 1980s. There was no clear indication of trend change at the Forston and Winterbourne Abbas sites nor in the trend of nitrate concentration in the River Frome itself from 1965 to 2008.
| Item Type: | Publication - Article |
|---|---|
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.001 |
| Programmes: | CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems > WA - 1.3 - Model, attribute and predict impacts of climate and land cover change on hydrological and freshwater systems |
| UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: | Acreman |
| ISSN: | 0048-9697 |
| Additional Keywords: | nitrate, fertiliser, groundwater, river, pollution, modelling |
| NORA Subject Terms: | Hydrology Chemistry |
| Date made live: | 06 Dec 2010 12:26 +0 (UTC) |
| URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12502 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
Document Downloads
Downloads for past 30 days
Downloads per month over past year
Tools
Tools
