Keywords
chemometrics, deterministic modelling, hydrological modelling, contamination sources, pesticides
Start Date
1-7-2008 12:00 AM
Abstract
Integration of chemometrics and deterministic modelling is proposed as a source for extracting useful information from data sets obtained in environmental monitoring studies. Organic contamination in the Llobregat river basin (Catalonia, NE Spain) was investigated for the period 2003-06. From the application of Multivariate Curve Resolution using Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS), 5 organic contamination sources were identified, explaining 87% of the total data variance. Pollution from chlorinated pesticides and alkylphenols showed a decrease in recent years, while contamination caused by PAHs had a rather constant distribution in space as well as in time. On the other hand, diffuse pollution from a contamination source described by contribution of terbutryn (triazine) and chlorpyrifos (organophosphate insecticide) presented an increase in 2006 with regard to 2005. Dynamics of this increasing identified pollution source was modelled using the system GIBSI. Knowledge about existing cultures, usages of the pesticides defining the contamination source and their application dates and quantities was necessary to be used as input for the model calibration. Therefore, the impact of existing agricultural practices over the basin can be simulated and compared with possible scenarios involving different practices. After watershed modelling, the effects of a proposed measure can be evaluated.
Coupling empirical and deterministic models to assess surface water contamination
Integration of chemometrics and deterministic modelling is proposed as a source for extracting useful information from data sets obtained in environmental monitoring studies. Organic contamination in the Llobregat river basin (Catalonia, NE Spain) was investigated for the period 2003-06. From the application of Multivariate Curve Resolution using Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS), 5 organic contamination sources were identified, explaining 87% of the total data variance. Pollution from chlorinated pesticides and alkylphenols showed a decrease in recent years, while contamination caused by PAHs had a rather constant distribution in space as well as in time. On the other hand, diffuse pollution from a contamination source described by contribution of terbutryn (triazine) and chlorpyrifos (organophosphate insecticide) presented an increase in 2006 with regard to 2005. Dynamics of this increasing identified pollution source was modelled using the system GIBSI. Knowledge about existing cultures, usages of the pesticides defining the contamination source and their application dates and quantities was necessary to be used as input for the model calibration. Therefore, the impact of existing agricultural practices over the basin can be simulated and compared with possible scenarios involving different practices. After watershed modelling, the effects of a proposed measure can be evaluated.
