HS2.3.1 | Mechanisms of water quality dynamics at the catchment scale and innovative measures for monitoring, modelling and mitigation
EDI
Mechanisms of water quality dynamics at the catchment scale and innovative measures for monitoring, modelling and mitigation
Convener: Carolin WinterECSECS | Co-conveners: Iñigo BarberenaECSECS, Inge van DriezumECSECS, Camille VautierECSECS, Javier Casalí, Daniel Graeber, Andreas Musolff

Maintaining good water quality is essential for preserving the ecological, recreational, and industrial functions of our water resources. Water quality is mainly controlled by the catchment properties and hydro-meteorological conditions, with land use and climate change significantly altering the quantities and dynamics of particulate and solute concentrations at the outlet of catchments worldwide. This is especially true for agricultural catchments exposed to fertilization and increased erosion. However, catchments with other land use types are also prone to (negative) changes in water quality, for example, due to wastewater and road salt from urban areas or brownification in boreal forests. To address these diverse influences, water quality is typically monitored and assessed at the catchment scale. However, effective measures to prevent or reduce water quality deterioration are still hindered by our limited understanding of the underlying processes and causal relationships resulting from the complex interplay of hydrological, biogeochemical, and temporal factors.
Data-driven statistical analyses of discharge and concentration time series observed at catchment outlets (i.e., C-Q relationships) provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms, including process scaling and the effectiveness of measures.
The advantage of technologies and sensors for monitoring high spatiotemporal resolutions and the growing availability of long-term data can inform experimental and modeling studies, allowing us to progress from recognizing patterns to modeling and understanding processes. A profound understanding of solute and particulate mobilization, retention, and export mechanisms ultimately allows us to develop local or catchment-scale solutions to mitigate negative impacts on water quality and enhance sustainable land use management.

This session brings together contributions focused on analyzing or modelling solute and particulate export dynamics at the catchment scale with those focused on innovative monitoring techniques and the development of mitigation measures or other solutions to enhance or protect water quality.