Phosphorus dynamics in groundwater-fed rivers
Cost: £310k
Duration: 2008 - 2011
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Objectives By monitoring river and hyporheic zone nutrient concentrations at high temporal resolution, this work will improve understanding of variations in nutrient cycling in groundwater-fed rivers.
The project objectives are to:
- Characterise the temporal variation in nitrogen and phosphorus in surface water and the hyporheic zone, and how this variation is effected by flow regime.
- Measure the in situ variation in pore water concentration and fluxes of phosphorus in the hyporheic zone over time.
- Evaluate the importance of instream processes on the bioavailability of phosphorus.
- Evaluate the contingent properties of high resolution nutrient time series using signal processing techniques.
Methodology and Approach:
High temporal resolution sampling of phosphorus and nitrogen species is being carried out by an in situ automated sampling and analysis unit. Sampling frequency can be increased to provide detailed information about hydrological event cycles. Additional information on phosphorus speciation in river water and bed sediment pore water is being gathered through the use of passive sampling (DGT) devices. Periphytometry experiments will be used to evaluate the effects of seasonal variation in nutrient limitation on algal growth.