Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Summer 2020
College/Unit
Institute of Water Security and Science
Abstract
Stream water temperature (◦C) is an important physical variable that influences many biological and abiotic water quality processes. The intermingled mosaic of land-use/land-cover (LULC) types and corresponding variability in stream water temperature (Tw) processes in contemporary mixed-land-use watersheds necessitate research to advance management and policy decisions. Water temperature was analyzed from 21 gauging sites using a nested-scale experimental watershed study design. Results showed that forested land use was negatively correlated (α = 0.05) with mean and maximum Tw. Agricultural land use was significantly positively correlated (α = 0.05) with maximum Tw except during the spring season. Mixed development and Tw were significantly correlated (α = 0.05) at quarterly and monthly timescales. Correlation trends in some reaches were reversed between the winter and summer seasons, contradicting previous research. During the winter season, mixed development showed a negative relationship with minimum Tw and mean Tw. During the summer season, higher minimum, maximum, and mean Tw correlations were observed. Advanced understanding generated through this high-resolution investigation improves land managers’ ability to improve conservation strategies in freshwater aquatic ecosystems of contemporary watersheds.
Digital Commons Citation
Horne, Jason P. and Hubbart, Jason A., "A Spatially Distributed Investigation of Stream Water Temperature in a Contemporary Mixed-Land-Use Watershed" (2020). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 2838.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/2838
Source Citation
Horne, J.P.; Hubbart, J.A. A Spatially Distributed Investigation of Stream Water Temperature in a Contemporary Mixed-Land-Use Watershed. Water 2020, 12, 1756. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12061756