Je. Bollinger et al., Nutrient load characterization from integrated source data for the lower Mississippi River, J AM WAT RE, 36(6), 2000, pp. 1375-1390
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
Nutrient data from all available sources for the lower Mississippi River we
re examined for potential differences among sampling agencies and geographi
c locations for the period between 1960 and 1998. Monthly means grouped by
parameter, sampling location and agency, were calculated and compared as pa
ired sets, excluding those months where data were not available for both se
ts. Some significant differences were found between various agencies collec
ting nutrient data on the river, as well as between various stretches of ri
ver, especially in the case of phosphorus nutrient data. Results were used
to synthesize data sets from which a history of nutrient loading in the Mis
sissippi River was determined. General trends in nitrate+nitrite, total Kje
ldahl nitrogen, orthophosphate, total phosphorus and silica loads, as well
as changes in nutrient proportions and the specific limiting nutrient (by m
onth) are reported. This study provides a useful summary of contemporary an
d historical nutrient data that may assist in the evaluation of Mississippi
River water quality and its potential effect on the Gulf of Mexico.