Estimating Stream Temperature from Air Temperature: Implications for Future Water Quality
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 1
Abstract
This study examines the air temperature/stream temperature relationship at a geographically diverse set of streams. We evaluate the general temperature relationships (both linear and nonlinear) that apply to these streams, and then examine how changes in stream temperature associated with climate variability or climate warming might affect dissolved oxygen levels. The majority of streams showed an increase in water temperature of about 0.6–0.8°C for every 1°C increase in air temperature, with very few streams displaying a linear 1:1 air/water temperature trend. For most of the streams, a nonlinear model produced a better fit than did a simple linear model. Understanding the relationship between air temperature and water temperature is important if people want to estimate how stream temperatures are likely to respond to anticipated future increases in surface air temperature. Surface water temperature in many streams will likely increase 2 to 3°C as air temperature increases 3 to 5°C. At sites with currently low dissolved oxygen content, an increase in summer stream temperatures could cause the dissolved oxygen levels to fall into a critically low range, threatening the health of many aquatic species.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 1 • January 2005
Pages: 139 - 146
Copyright
© 2004 ASCE.
History
Received: Sep 17, 2002
Accepted: Jan 26, 2004
Published online: Jan 1, 2005
Published in print: Jan 2005
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Mark J. Rood
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