Quantifying the response of nitrogen speciation to hydrology in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed using a multilevel modeling approach
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Abstract
Excessive nitrogen (N) inputs to coastal waters can lead to severe eutrophication and different chemical forms of N exhibit varying levels of effectiveness in fueling primary production. Efforts to mitigate N fluxes from coastal watersheds are often guided by models that predict changes in N loads as a function of changes in land use, management practices, and climate. However, relatively little is known on the impacts of such changes on the relative fractions of different N forms. We leveraged a long-term dataset of N loads from over 100 river stations to investigate how the 
fraction, that is, the ratio of 
to total N (
/TN), changes as a function of spatio-temporal changes in TN loads in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We built a hierarchical model that separates the response of 
to changes in TN load occurring at different scales: Across river stations, where differences in TN loads are largely driven by spatial differences in anthropogenic inputs, and within stations, where inter-annual variability in hydrology is a key driver of changes in TN loads. Results suggest that while increases in TN loads resulting from changes in anthropogenic inputs lead to an increase in the 
fraction, a decrease in the 
fraction may occur when increases in TN loads are driven by increased streamflow. These results are especially relevant in watersheds that may experience changes in N loads due to both management decisions and climate-driven changes in hydrology.
Suggested Citation
Bertani, I., Bhatt, G., Shenk, G.W., and Linker, L.C., 2022, Quantifying the response of nitrogen speciation to hydrology in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed using a multilevel modeling approach: Journal of American Water Resources Association, v. 58, no. 6, p. 792-804, https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12951.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Quantifying the response of nitrogen speciation to hydrology in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed using a multilevel modeling approach |
| Series title | Journal of American Water Resources Association |
| DOI | 10.1111/1752-1688.12951 |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Publication Date | July 26, 2021 |
| Year Published | 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | VA/WV Water Science Center |
| Description | 13 p. |
| First page | 792 |
| Last page | 804 |
| Country | United States |
| Other Geospatial | Chesapeake Bay watershed |