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Forty-year trends in the flux and concentration of phosphorus in British rivers

Civan, Aylin; Worrall, Fred; Jarvie, Helen P.; Howden, Nicholas J.K.; Burt, Tim P.

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Authors

Aylin Civan

Helen P. Jarvie

Nicholas J.K. Howden

Tim P. Burt



Abstract

Given the importance of phosphorus (P) in the eutrophication of natural waters, this study considered the long-term time series of total phosphorus (TP) and total reactive phosphorus (TRP) in British rivers from 1974 to 2012. The approach included not only trend analysis of fluxes and concentrations but also change point analysis. TP and TRP concentrations and fluxes in British rivers have declined since the mid-1980s. Over the last decade of the record the majority of individual sites did show significant downward trends in TP and TRP concentrations but, in 28% of cases for TRP concentration and 14% of cases for TP concentration, the decadal trend was a significant increase. Out of 230 sites, 136 showed a significant step decrease in TRP concentration; no sites showed a significant step increase. The modal year for the step changes for both TRP concentration and flux was 1997. Step changes are likely associated with improvements made at sewage treatment works to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The decrease in TRP concentration due to the step change were in the range of 0.68% and 89% with a geometric mean of 22%, with the rest of the decrease accounted by long-term, persistent downward trend.

Citation

Civan, A., Worrall, F., Jarvie, H. P., Howden, N. J., & Burt, T. P. (2018). Forty-year trends in the flux and concentration of phosphorus in British rivers. Journal of Hydrology, 558, 314-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.046

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 22, 2018
Online Publication Date Feb 3, 2018
Publication Date Mar 1, 2018
Deposit Date Jun 14, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Hydrology
Print ISSN 0022-1694
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 558
Pages 314-327
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.046

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