A Generalized Additive Model approach to evaluating water quality: Chesapeake Bay Case Study

Environmental Modelling & Software
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Abstract

Nutrient-reduction efforts have been undertaken in recent decades to mitigate the impacts of eutrophication in coastal and estuarine systems worldwide. To track progress in response to one of these efforts we use Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to evaluate a diverse suite of water quality constituents over a 32-year period in the Chesapeake Bay, an estuary on the east coast of the United States. Model development included selecting a GAM structure to describe nonlinear seasonally-varying changes over time, incorporating hydrologic variability via either river flow or salinity, and using interventions to model method or laboratory changes suspected to impact data. This approach, transferable to other systems, allows for evaluation of water quality data in a statistically rigorous way, while being suitable for application to many sites and variables. This enables consistent generation of annual updates, while providing a tool for developing insights to a range of management- and research-focused questions.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title A Generalized Additive Model approach to evaluating water quality: Chesapeake Bay Case Study
Series title Environmental Modelling & Software
DOI 10.1016/j.envsoft.2019.03.027
Volume 118
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center
Description 13 p.
Country United States
Other Geospatial Chesapeake Bay
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