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Monitoring spatial and temporal variation of dissolved oxygen and water temperature in the Savannah River using a sensor network

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Abstract

Dissolved oxygen is a critical component of river water quality. This study investigated average weekly dissolved oxygen (AWDO) and average weekly water temperature (AWT) in the Savannah River during 2015 and 2016 using data from the Intelligent River® sensor network. Weekly data and seasonal summary statistics revealed distinct seasonal patterns that impact both AWDO and AWT regardless of location along the river. Within seasons, spatial patterns of AWDO and AWT along the river are also evident. Linear mixed effects models indicate that AWT and low and high river flow conditions had a significant impact on AWDO, but added little predictive information to the models. Low and high river flow conditions had a significant impact on AWT, but also added little predictive information to the models. Spatial linear mixed effects models yielded parameter estimates that were effectively the same as non-spatial linear mixed effects models. However, components of variance from spatial linear mixed effects models indicate that 23–32% of the total variance in AWDO and that 12–18% of total variance in AWT can be apportioned to the effect of spatial covariance. These results indicate that location, week, and flow-directional spatial relationships are critically important considerations for investigating relationships between space- and time-varying water quality metrics.

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Funding

Data and financial support was provided through NSF MRI Award CNS-1541917. Technical Contribution No. 6409 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. This material is based upon work supported by NIFA/USDA, under projects: SC-1700541.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Christopher J. Post, Michael P. Cope, Nicholas M. Masto, Joshua R. Vine, Roxanne Y. Stiglitz, Jillian C. Newman & Elena A. Mikhailova

  2. Department of Mathematical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Patrick D. Gerard

  3. Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA

    Jason O. Hallstrom

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  1. Christopher J. Post
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  9. Elena A. Mikhailova
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Correspondence to Christopher J. Post.

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Post, C.J., Cope, M.P., Gerard, P.D. et al. Monitoring spatial and temporal variation of dissolved oxygen and water temperature in the Savannah River using a sensor network. Environ Monit Assess 190, 272 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6646-y

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