On-line measurements provide more accurate estimates of nutrient loading: a case of the Ylneenjoki river basin, southwest Finland

摘要

Automatic on-line measurement stations for water quality components and water level werenequipped with dataloggers and GSM transmitters; the stations were installed at two sites in thenYla¨ neenjoki river basin, SW Finland. Measurements during five seasons in 2006–2007 werenconducted to find out whether the produced data would provide more accurate estimates ofnmaterial and nutrient transport than traditional water sampling. Sensor-based monitoringnestimates for transport of total suspended solids (TSS) were clearly higher (difference -6–61%),ntotal phosphorus also higher, and that of nitrate (NO3-N) somewhat lower (difference (251%–4%),nas compared with manual sampling based estimates. The winter season studied here was mildni.e. winter-type which is becoming more common in Finland with the changing climate.nSensor-based monitoring proved its benefits particularly in such conditions.