Relationships between watershed characteristics and stream water quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Robinson RB, Harwell GR, Smoot JL, Shubzda J, Moore SE. 2004. Relationships between watershed characteristics and stream water quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. National Park Service. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Synoptic sampling data from 90 sites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were analyzed by multiple linear regression to find relationships between water quality (pH, conductivity, acid neutralizing capacity, sulfate, chloride, nitrate, sodium, potassium and ammonium) and watershed characteristics (elevation, area, stream order, stream density, average slope, etc., and geology, vegetation, disturbance histories). The resulting models fit the data well (r2 = 0.55 to 0.98). Elevation was a predictor variable for pH and nitrate with lower pH and higher nitrate at higher elevations. Basin slope and stream order were also predictors in the model for pH (r2 = 0.74). Chloride, conductivity, and sulfate models showed no statistically significant elevation trend. Sulfidic geology was a strong predictor for sulfate, but unexpectedly, was not a significant predictor for pH unless the geology had been disturbed and exposed. The percentage of limestone bedrock in a watershed was a strong predictor for ANC (r2 = 0.98).
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Robinson, R; Harwell, Glenn; Smoot, James; Shubzda, John; Moore, Stephen
- Date of Issue
- 2004-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Acid Precipitation, GRSM-00398, Modelling, regression, Surface Water, Water Quality, Watersheds
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry