ARS | Publication request: MULTICOMPONENT CHEMICAL MODELING OF NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS AT FIELD, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SCALES

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 31, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Transport models which contain detailed chemical processes have been applied to simulation of chemical composition at a specific locality, where detailed input information and characterization of hydraulic and chemical parameters has also been undertaken. These models are generally considered research tools with limited real world applicability. Use of the models at field or regional scales has generally been dismissed due to the impracticality of obtaining the detailed input requirements over the desired geographical area, incorporation of unrealistic assumptions in the models and inordinate computation time. This consensus needs to be reevaluated in light of recent advances in all three of the above areas. Recently developed technology is available for rapid collection of data, often remotely, which when combined with geostatistical techniques enables estimation of the spatial distribution of model input variables. Advances in chemical knowledge such as substitution of kinetic models for equilibrium assumptions and representation of adsorption processes with defined surface species rather than site specific empirical parameters should improve prediction. This usually corresponds with substitution of known or readily obtained chemical entities such as organic matter content and cation exchange capacity for hard to measure empirical parameters.