Concentration–Duration–Frequency Curves for pH in a Stream in the Great Smoky Mountains
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 12
Abstract
Multiparameter monitors (sondes) were installed at four sites in a stream in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These sondes recorded pH, turbidity, and other parameters every . The data were analyzed to determine the time-connected duration of excursions below various pH levels (pH 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5). The durations for excursions below each pH level were assigned probability quantiles and plotted. This created a concentration–duration–frequency curve similar to precipitation intensity–duration–frequency curves. The pH excursion events appear to follow a Poisson arrival process and were fitted to a corresponding exponential distribution. The mean event duration for each pH level is the fitting parameter, , for the exponential distribution, and followed an exponential trend with pH. The characteristics of the concentration–duration–frequency family of curves capture the information contained in the original data and potentially allow comparisons with toxicity data as well as a temporal and spatial comparison.
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Acknowledgments
This work was partially supported by a National Park Service Cooperative Agreement Grant No. UNSPECIFIED1443-CA-5460-98-006 (Amendment 10). The assistance and counsel of Stephen Moore and Matt Kulp of the GRSM were greatly appreciated.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 12 • December 2006
Pages: 1600 - 1605
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 18, 2005
Accepted: Feb 10, 2006
Published online: Dec 1, 2006
Published in print: Dec 2006
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