Modelling the long-term fate of mercury in a lowland tidal river. I. Description of two finite segment models.
Crucial determinants of the potential effects of mercury in aquatic ecosystems are the speciation, partitioning, and cycling of its various species. These processes are affected by site-specific factors, such as water chemistry, sediment transport, and hydrodynamics. This study presents two different approaches to the development of one-dimensional/dynamic-deterministic models for the evaluation and prediction of mercury contamination in a lowland tidal river, the River Yare (Norfolk, UK). The models described here were developed to encompass the entire river system and address the mass balance of mercury in a multicompartment system, including tidal reversal and saline limit. The models were focused on river systems, with the River Yare being used as a case study because previous modelling studies have been centred on lakes and wetlands whilst there is a paucity of information for rivers. Initial comparisons with actual measured water parameters (salinity and suspended solids) indicate that both models exhibit good agreement with the actual values.
Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua XV de Novembro 1299, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
M Cristina B
MC
Braga
Jason W
JW
Birkett
John N
JN
Lester
George
G
Shaw
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D045483:Rivers; D006113:United Kingdom; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D017669:Mercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical