Nitrogen and phosphorus retention in surface waters: an inter-comparison of predictions by catchment models of different complexity

J. Hejzlar; S. Anthony; B. Arheimer; H. Behrendt; F. Bouraoui; B. Grizzetti; P. Groenendijk; M. H. J. L. Jeuken; H. Johnsson; A. Lo Porto; B. Kronvang; Y. Panagopoulos; C. Siderius; M. Silgram; M. Venohr; J. Žaloudík

doi:10.1039/B901207A

Nitrogen and phosphorus retention in surface waters: an inter-comparison of predictions by catchment models of different complexity†

J. Hejzlar,*^a S. Anthony,^b B. Arheimer,^c H. Behrendt,^d F. Bouraoui,^e B. Grizzetti,^e P. Groenendijk,^f M. H. J. L. Jeuken,^f H. Johnsson,^g A. Lo Porto,^h B. Kronvang,ⁱ Y. Panagopoulos,^j C. Siderius,^f M. Silgram,^b M. Venohr^d and J. Žaloudík^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Biology Centre AS CR, v.v.i, Institute of Hydrobiology, Na Sádkách 7, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
E-mail: hejzlar@hbu.cas.cz

^b ADAS Consulting Ltd, Wolverhampton, UK

^c Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Norrköping, Sweden

^d FV-IGB, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, Germany

^e Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability of Soil and Water Unit, TP460, Ispra, Italy

^f Alterra, Environmental Sciences Group, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen, the Netherlands

^g Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7070, Uppsala, Sweden

^h ISRA-CNR, 5, Via de Francesco de Blasio, Bari, Italy

ⁱ National Environmental Research Institute, Vejlsøvej 25, Silkeborg, Denmark

^j NTUA, Iroon Polytechnioy 5, Zografoy, Greece

Abstract

Nitrogen and phosphorus retention estimates in streams and standing water bodies were compared for four European catchments by a series of catchment-scale modelling tools of different complexity, ranging from a simple, equilibrium input–output type to dynamic, physical-based models: source apportionment, MONERIS, EveNFlow, TRK, SWAT, and NL-CAT. The four catchments represent diverse climate, hydrology, and nutrient loads from diffuse and point sources in Norway, the UK, Italy, and the Czech Republic. The models' retention values varied largely, with tendencies towards higher scatters for phosphorus than for nitrogen, and for catchments with lakes (Vansjø-Hobøl, Želivka) compared to mostly or entirely lakeless catchments (Ouse or Enza, respectively). A comparison of retention values with the size of nutrient sources showed that the modelled nutrient export from diffuse sources was directly proportional to retention estimates, hence implying that the uncertainty in quantification of diffuse catchment sources of nutrients was also related to the uncertainty in nutrient retention determination. This study demonstrates that realistic modelling of nutrient export from large catchments is very difficult without a certain level of measured data. In particular, even complex process oriented models require information on the retention capabilities of water bodies within the receiving surface water system and on the nutrient export from micro-catchments representing the major types of diffuse sources to surface waters.

Journal of Environmental Monitoring

Nitrogen and phosphorus retention in surface waters: an inter-comparison of predictions by catchment models of different complexity†

Abstract

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Nitrogen and phosphorus retention in surface waters: an inter-comparison of predictions by catchment models of different complexity

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