Project Page Views: [ 706 ]
Project Metadata Element | Details |
Project Title | DiffuseTools: Catchment Models and Management Tools for Diffuse Contaminants (Sediment, Phosphorus and Pesticides) |
Research Area | Water |
Project Acronym | |
Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Michael Bruen |
Lead Institution or Organisation | University College Dublin (UCD) |
Lead Country | Ireland |
Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 53.3053471,-6.2228426 |
Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
Approximate Project Start Date | 31/03/2017 |
Approximate Project Finishing Date | 30/03/2019 |
Project Website (if any) | |
Links to other Web-based resources | Not Applicable |
Project Keywords | Understanding, managing and conserving our water resources; catchment model; water quality; source-pathway-receptor; pollution source; critical source areas; connectivity; sediment; nutrients; pesticides; mapping; |
Project Abstract | The proposed research will develop catchment models to improve understanding and enhance the evaluation of water quality, building on previous Irish and international research. The models will follow the Source-Pathway-Receptor (S-P-R) concepts to inform catchment managers about potential sources of pollution within a catchment, including identifying critical source areas (CSAs) relating to connectivity, sediment, nutrients and pesticides. It will (a) Review tools to Support Catchment Management, (b) produce a connectivity national map, (c) Improve modelling of sediment and nutrients, (d) map pesticides susceptibility (e) involve international expertise in focused workshops.Particular attention will be paid to1. Addressing knowledge gaps: Where the initial review highlights a gap in the understanding of the pressures or processes relating to the S-P-R relationships, catchments will be further characterised to quantify the flows along hydrological flow paths and determine the fluxes of sediment, nutrients or other contaminants.2. Learning from Models: The project will identify the state-of-the-art methods and models that are most applicable to Irish conditions and management challenges. All styles and scales of modelling considered useful for water resources management are relevant to this project and a balance of technical sophistication and operational practicalities will be the ultimate goal. |