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- Title
Weekly water quality monitoring data for the River Thames (UK) and its major tributaries (2009-2013): The Thames Initiative research platform.
- Authors
Bowes, Michael J.; Armstrong, Linda K.; Harman, Sarah A.; Wickham, Heather D.; Scarlett, Peter M.; Roberts, Colin; Jarvie, Helen P.; Old, Gareth; Gozzard, Emma; Bachiller-Janeno, Nuria; Read, Daniel
- Abstract
The River Thames and 15 of its major tributaries have been monitored at weekly intervals since March 2009. Monitored determinands include major nutrient fractions, anions, cations, metals, pH, alkalinity and chlorophyll a., and linked to mean daily river flows at each site. This catchment-wide biogeochemical monitoring platform captures changes in the water quality of the Thames basin during a period of rapid change, related to increasing pressures (due to a rapidly growing human population, increasing water demand and climate change) and improvements in sewage treatment processes and agricultural practises. The platform provides the research community with a valuable data and modelling resource for furthering our understanding of pollution sources and dynamics, and interactions between water quality and aquatic ecology. Comparing Thames Initiative data with previous (non-continuous) monitoring data sets from many common study sites, dating back to 1997, has shown that there have been major reductions is phosphorus concentrations at most sites, occurring at low river flow, and these are principally due to reduced loadings from sewage treatment works. This ongoing monitoring programme will provide the vital underpinning environmental data required to best manage this vital drinking water resource, which is key for the sustainability of the city of London and the wider UK economy.
- Subjects
THAMES River (England); WATER quality; BIOGEOCHEMICAL cycles
- Publication
Earth System Science Data Discussions, 2018, p1
- ISSN
1866-3591
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5194/essd-2017-139