Thursday, June 7, 2007 - 8:30 AM
357

Numerical investigations into the relationships between transient storage and stream solute uptake lengths

Timothy J. Cox, Ph.D., P.E., CDM, 1331 17th Street, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202

The impacts of transient storage zones (TSZs) on stream solute uptake lengths (SW) have been widely investigated using primarily empirical methods. Results of these studies have been variable and, at times, contradictory. A clear conceptual model describing the relationships between TSZ parameters and SW appears to be lacking. The objective of the work presented here is to contribute to the formulation of such a model using simple numerical investigations. Two sets of analyses are presented: one which assumes the kinetics of the TSZ and main channel to be equivalent, such as in a stream dominated by periphyton in both the main channel and side pools; and a second which assumes kinetics to be dominated by processes within the TSZ, such as in a stream dominated by marginal macrophytes. For the first set of analyses, simple algebraic calculations demonstrate a theoretical negative linear relationship between SW and TSZ size and no relationship between SW and TSZ exchange rates (α). For the second set of analyses, important transport limitation concepts are illustrated and a non-linear negative relationship between SW and α is generated. Finally, implications of this analysis for interpreting empirical data are discussed.

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