Lumped Parameter Models for Predicting Nitrogen Loading From Lower Coastal Plain Watersheds

摘要

In recent years physically based comprehensive distributed watershed scale hydrologic/water quality models have been developed and applied to evaluate cumulative effects of land and water management practices on receiving waters. Although these complex physically based models are capable of simulating the impacts of these changes in large watersheds, they are often prohibitive for regular applications because of excessive input data requirements and because of uncertainties in both the model processes and input data. This task is beyond practical reality for policy makers and managers who need to make decisions about multiple watersheds with limited time and resources. Nevertheless, important decisions need to be made with regard to nutrient and water management practices at the field and watershed scales. Models are needed to make decisions that reflect our current understanding of the system yet require input parameters that can be readily determined with a minimum of uncertainty.