TECHNICAL PAPERS
Apr 15, 2003

Robustness of River Basin Water Quality Models

Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 129, Issue 3

Abstract

In this paper the concept of robustness is introduced and applied to a model for the analysis of the impacts of spatially distributed policy measures on the surface water quality on a river basin scale. In this model the influence of precipitation on emissions and resuspension of pollutants in the river sediment are taken into account. The major sources of uncertainty can be found in the transport model and the emission data. The uncertainty in the prediction of future pollutant loads is dominated by the stochastic character of the precipitation. The uncertainty in the spatial representation of the emission sources seems to be of minor importance relative to the other sources of uncertainty. Evaluation of the robustness of the model conclusions on the basis of these results led to useful guidelines about how to improve the model effectively.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

Beven, K., Chatwin, P., and Millbank, J. (1994). Mixing and transport in the environment, Wiley, New York.
Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS). (1989). Algemene milieustatistiek 1989, SDU-Uitgeverij, Den Haag, The Netherlands (in Dutch).
Commissie van de Europese Gemeenschappen (1992). “De toestand van het milieu in de Europese gemeenschap; Overzicht (deel III).” Rep. No. COM (92), Brussels, Belgium (in Dutch).
De Blois, C. J. (1993). “Rhine transport model: Dynamic pollutant transport modeling for policy evaluation in the Rhine basin.” Delft Univ. of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
De Blois, C. J. (2000). “Uncertainty in large-scale models for decision support in water management: an approach to effective and consistent modelling.” PhD thesis, Univ. of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
De Wit, M. J. M. (1999). “Nutrient fluxes in the Rhine and Elbe basin.” PhD thesis, Univ. of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Groot, S., and De Ridder, A. C. (1990). “Instrumentarium beleidsanalyse waterhuishouding PAWN: het stofstromenmodel SSM.” Delft Hydraulics, Delft, The Netherlands (in Dutch).
Inman, R. L., and Helton, J. H. (1985). “A comparison of uncertainty and sensitivity analysis techniques for computer models.” Rep. No. NUREGICR-3904-SAND 841461, Sandia National Laboratories, Alberquerque, N.M.
Internationale Kommission zum Schutze des Rheins gegen Verunreinigung (1978–1989). “Zahlentafeln 1978–1989.” Koblenz, Germany (in German).
Jakeman, A. J., Beckand, M. B., and McAleer, M. J. (1993). Modelling change in environmental systems, Wiley, Chichester, U.K.
Janssen, P. H. M., Slob, W., and Rotmans, J. (1990). “Gevoeligheidsanalyse en onzekerheidsanalyse: een inventarisatie van Ideeën, methoden en technieken.” RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands (in Dutch).
Kundzewicz, Z. W. (1994). “New uncertainty concepts in hydrology and water resources.” International hydrology series, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat (1990). “Basisrapport derde nota Waterhuishouding: Beleidsanalyse Af-en Uitspoeling meststoffen.” Rep. No. 90.050, Den Haag, The Netherlands (in Dutch).
Morgan, M. G., and Henrion, M. (1990). Uncertainty: A guide to dealing with uncertainty in quantitative risk and policy analysis, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (1991). Nationale milieuverkenningen 2: 1990–2010, Samson H.D. Tjeenk Willink bv, Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands (in Dutch).
Statistisches Bundesambt StBA (1990). “Statistisches Jahrbuch 1990.” Rep. No. 900457, Wiesbaden, Germany (in German).
Van der Sluys Veer, L. P. (1992a). “Emissies in het Rijnstroomgebied in MANRIJN: een update van het emissie-en stoftransportmodel.” Informatica Centrum voor Infrastructuur en Milieu, Rijswijk, The Netherlands (in Dutch).
Van der Sluys Veer, L. P. (1992b). “Inventarisatie van emissies, beleid en scenario analyse voor de stoffen lood, stikstof en lindaan in het Rijnstroomgebied.” Informatica Centrum voor Infrastructuur en Milieu, Rijswijk, The Netherlands (in Dutch).

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 129Issue 3May 2003
Pages: 189 - 199

History

Received: Dec 14, 2001
Accepted: Mar 22, 2002
Published online: Apr 15, 2003
Published in print: May 2003

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

C. J. de Blois
Dr. ir. rtd. C. J. de Blois, RIZA, P.O. Box 17, 8200 AA Lelystad, The Netherlands.
H. G. Wind
Prof. Dr. ir. H. G. Wind, Dept. of Water Engineering and Management, Univ. of Twente, Faculty of Engineering, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
J. L. de Kok
Dr. J. L. de Kok, Dept. of Water Engineering and Management, Univ. of Twente, Faculty of Engineering, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
K. Koppeschaar
Ir. K. Koppeschaar, Infram, Postbus 81, 3890 AB Zeewolde, The Netherlands.

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.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share