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NUTRIENT LOAD CHARACTERIZATION FROM INTEGRATED SOURCE DATA FOR THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RWER 1
Author(s) -
Bollinger James E.,
Steinberg Laura J.,
Englande Andrew J.,
Crews James P.,
Hughes Janet M.,
Velasco Cruz,
Watanabe Karen H.,
Hartley William R.,
Swalm Christopher M.,
Mendler Jeffrey M.,
White LuAnn E.,
George William J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2000.tb05733.x
Subject(s) - nutrient , environmental science , phosphorus , kjeldahl method , sampling (signal processing) , hydrology (agriculture) , nitrate , water quality , limiting , nutrient management , nitrogen , ecology , geology , chemistry , mechanical engineering , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , filter (signal processing) , computer science , engineering , computer vision , biology
Nutrient data from all available sources for the lower Mississippi River were examined for potential differences among sampling agencies and geographic locations for the period between 1960 and 1998. Monthly means grouped by parameter, sampling location and agency, were calculated and compared as paired sets, excluding those months where data were not available for both sets. Some significant differences were found between various agencies collecting nutrient data on the river, as well as between various stretches of river, especially in the case of phosphorus nutrient data. Results were used to synthesize data sets from which a history of nutrient loading in the Mississippi River was determined. General trends in nitrate+nitrite, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, orthophosphate, total phosphorus and silica loads, as well as changes in nutrient proportions and the specific limiting nutrient (by month) are reported. This study provides a useful summary of contemporary and historical nutrient data that may assist in the evaluation of Mississippi River water quality and its potential effect on the Gulf of Mexico.