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Title: TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT FOR MODELING DENITRIFICATION IN SURFACE WATER SEDIMENTS USING THE MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

Author
item Appelboom, Timothy
item CHESCHEIR, GEORGE - N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY
item SKAGGS, WAYNE - N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY
item GILLIAM, WENDEL - N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY
item AMATYA, DAVENDRA - U.S. FOREST SERVICE

Submitted to: American Society of Agri Engineers Special Meetings and Conferences Papers
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2006
Publication Date: 4/12/2006
Citation: Appelboom, T.W., Chescheir, G.M., Skaggs, W.R., Gilliam, W.J., Amatya, D. 2006. Temperature coefficient for modeling denitrification in surface water sediments using the mass transfer coefficient. American Society of Agri Engineers Special Meetings and Conferences Papers, pp. 199-207.

Interpretive Summary: Watershed scale research is very expensive, usually to the point of being prohibitive. Mathematical models can be used to study the effect naturally occurring processes such as in-stream denitrification has on water quality at the watershed scale. These mathematical models are only as good as the equations used to describe the processes. The objective of this study was to improve the equation describing in-stream denitrification by including a temperature coefficient in the equation. The modified equation was tested by comparing measured data nitrate concentrations over time from in-stream denitrification tanks with varying temperatures to predicted concentrations. Results show that the modified equation increased the accuracy of predicting nitrate removal through denitrification from sediment in drainage networks.

Technical Abstract: With the cost of water quality research at the watershed level, modeling has become an important tool for researchers. When modeling nitrate transport within drainage networks, denitrification within the sediments needs to be accounted for. Birgand et al. developed an equation using a term called a mass transfer coefficient to mathematically describe sediment denitrification. This equation takes into account the effect that water column nitrate concentration and flow depth have on sediment denitrification. Factors such as water column temperature also have a marked effect on the rate of denitrification in sediment. A relationship of temperature to denitrification rates was developed using information presented by Dawson and Murphy. This relationship was inserted into the mathematical relationship developed by Birgand et al. in an attempt to improve its’ ability to predict nitrate removal due to denitrification within drainage networks. The modified equation was tested by comparing measured nitrate concentrations over time from denitrification tanks with varying temperatures to predict concentrations. Results show that the modified equation increased the accuracy of predicting nitrate removal through denitrification from sediment in drainage networks.