Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS31 Integrated Approaches to Drainage Basin Nutrient Inputs and Inland/Coastal Eutrophication (Science and Society Connections)

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001, Time: 10:15:00 AM

Location: Cimarron

Garnier, J, , Univ. P. & M. Curie, Paris, France, jgarnier@biogeodis.jussieu.fr

Billen, G, , Univ. P. & M. Curie, Paris, France, gbillen@biogeodis.jussieu.fr

COASTAL EUTROPHICATION AND WATERSHED PROCESSES: MODELLING THE RESPONSE TO LAND USE CHANGES AND WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE DRAINAGE BASINS.

A modelling approach was developed for a sample of river systems with contrasting watershed areas, population densities and hydrological conditions (European Atlantic rivers: Seine, Loire and Scheldt Rivers; rainfall and snowmelt regime of Central Europe: Danube River; a monsoon tropical system: the Red River). This integrated approach involves a complete understanding of nutrient dynamics (N, P, Si) in the drainage network and a quantification of the flux deliveries to the coastal zone. The way by which the coastal zone is affected by the biogeochemical functioning of the whole continuum of continental aquatic systems is studied by coupling the drainage network model to a simple, idealized model of coastal system. Depending of the socio-economical situation in the riverine countries, the model allows to calculate the conditions for coastal zone eutrophication under different hydrological regimes. Tested scenarios show how coastal eutrophication can derive from changes in the watershed, including the land use, and waste water management modifications.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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