USDA-ARS: Harmel-2006
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Title
| Cumulative uncertainty in measured streamflow and water quality data for small watersheds |
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Author
| Harmel, R.D., R.J. Cooper, R.M. Slade, R.L. Haney, and J.G. Arnold |
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Abstract/Summary Statement
| Faced with the need for scientifically defensible estimates of data uncertainty to support water resource management, the objectives of this research were to: (1) compile published information on uncertainty related to measured streamflow and water quality data for small watersheds as contributed by four procedural categories (streamflow measurement, sample collection, sample preservation/storage, and laboratory analysis), (2) use a root mean square error propagation method to compare the uncertainty introduced by each procedural category, and (3) use the error propagation method to determine the cumulative probable uncertainty in measured streamflow, sediment, and nutrient data. Best case, typical, and worst case "data quality" scenarios were examined. Averaged across all constituents, the calculated cumulative probable uncertainty (+/-%) contributed under typical scenarios ranged from 6% to 19% for streamflow measurement, from 4% to 48% for sample collection, from 2% to 16% for sample preservation/storage, and from 5% to 21% for laboratory analysis. Under typical conditions, errors in storm loads ranged from 8% to 104% for dissolved nutrients, from 8% to 110% for total N and P, and from 7% to 53% for TSS. |
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Table of Contents
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Citation
| Harmel, R.D., R.J. Cooper, R.M. Slade, R.L. Haney, and J.G. Arnold. 2006b. Cumulative uncertainty in measured streamflow and water quality data for small watersheds. Trans. ASABE 49(3): 689-701. |
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Method Source
| USDA-ARS |
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Source Organization Country
| USA |
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Publication Year
| 2006 |
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Special Notes
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Item Type
| Journal Article |
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Publication Source Type
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Government Agency (Federal, USA) |
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Purpose
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Data analysis Monitoring program design |
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Design or Data Analysis Objectives
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Compare locations Compare treatments Compliance with a threshold Exploring/summarizing data |
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Complexity
| Low |
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Media Emphasized
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Surface Water |
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Media Subcategory
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Special Topics
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Characterizing the uncertainty of an estimated value |
