Watershed-specific model for streamflow, sediment, and metal transport

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Journal of Environmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1997)123:1(61)· OSTI ID:419596

Solo-Gabriele, H M ^[1]; Perkins, F E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (United States)
2. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States)

Metal transport for the Aberjona River watershed, a highly urbanized watershed located near Boston, Mass., is strongly influenced by different flow components. These flow components are characterized by different response times, sediment-transport characteristics, and metal concentrations. A series of box models was developed to determine the extent to which streamflow separation was capable of reproducing the observed variability in metal transport. The model includes subunits for sub-basins draining directly toward the Aberjona River, a sub-basin draining a major tributary, a ground-water withdrawal, and channels. The input to the model is precipitation; the outputs include streamflow, suspended sediment, and metal fluxes. For the sub-basins draining directly toward the Aberjona River, streamflow was modeled as the sum of three components: quick storm flow, slow storm flow, and long-term base flow. Sediment inputs were modeled in association with each streamflow component, and metal fluxes (dissolved and particulate) were modeled by assigning a metal concentration to each streamflow and sediment input. The model reproduced most of the variability in the measured data during calibration and verification phases and therefore illustrates that the separate streamflow components play a significant role in determining the total transport of contaminants by the Aberjona River.

• Sponsoring Organization: National Inst. of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States); Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 419596
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 123; ISSN 0733-9372; ISSN JOEEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASSACHUSETTS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
RIVERS
WATER POLLUTION