Rapid Calculation of Oxygen in Streams: Approximate Delta Method
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 3
Abstract
The “approximate delta method” is a simple procedure for simultaneous calculation of the stream reaeration coefficient, primary production rate, and respiration rate from a single-station stream diurnal profile of dissolved oxygen (DO). It approximates the exact graphs of results for the “delta method” reported in 1991 by Chapra and Di Toro by means of simple logistic curve-fitting approximations. The necessity of reading graphs or of obtaining numerical solutions is thereby avoided, so making it suitable for inclusion in a decision support system, particularly for streams reaeration coefficients less than and for moderate photoperiods . Worked examples are given for streams in the USA and in New Zealand. Results are used to show that the constellation of parameters for the three fundamental processes is much more important than their individual values in calculating diurnal DO profiles. Independent measurement of the reaeration coefficient enhances the utility of the method, by enabling separate calculation of production and respiration rates.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
Development work was partly funded through the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (Contract No. C01X0307). Funding for testing and incorporation of the ADM into the WAIORA Low Flow Decision Support System was jointly provided the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment (Sustainable Management Fund, Project No. 2204) and the Auckland Regional Council. Other Regional Councils have also funded the collection of testing data. One of the writers (S.C.) received partial support from NIWA’s Visiting Scientist Program. Two anonymous referees gave helpful comments.
References
Chapra, S. C. (1997). Surface water-quality modeling, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Chapra, S. C., and Di Toro, D. M. (1991). “Delta method for estimating primary production, respiration, and reaeration in streams.” J. Environ. Eng., 117(5), 640–655.
Elmore, H. L., and West, W. F. (1961). “Effect of water temperature on stream reaeration.” J. Sanit. Eng. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng., 87(6), 59–71.
McBride, G. B. (2002). “Calculating stream reaeration coefficients from oxygen profiles.” J. Environ. Eng., 128(4), 384–387.
Wang, H., Hondzo, M., Xu, C., Poole, V., and Spacie, A. (2003). “Dissolved oxygen dynamics of streams draining an urbanized and an agricultural catchment.” Ecol. Modell., 160(1), 145–161.
Wilcock, R. J. (1988). “Study of river reaeration at different flow rates.” J. Environ. Eng., 114(1), 91–105.
Wilcock, R. J., McBride, G. B., Nagels, J. W., and Northcott, G. L. (1995). “Water quality in a polluted lowland stream with chronically depressed dissolved oxygen: Causes and effects.” New Zealand J. Marine Freshwater Res., 29, 277–288.
Wilcock, R. J., et al. (1998). “Characterization of lowland streams using a single-station diurnal curve analysis model with continuous monitoring data for dissolved oxygen and temperature.” New Zealand J. Marine Freshwater Res., 32, 67–79.
Young, R. G., and Huryn, A. D. (1999). “Effects of land use on stream metabolism and organic matter turnover.” Ecol. Appl., 9(4), 1359–1376.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 3 • March 2005
Pages: 336 - 342
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 3, 2003
Accepted: Mar 15, 2004
Published online: Mar 1, 2005
Published in print: Mar 2005
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.