GIS Applications of Deterministic Solute Transport Models for Regional-Scale Assessment of Non-Point Source Pollutants in the Vadose Zone

Abstract

In recent years, worldwide attention has shifted from point source to non-point source (NPS) pollutants, particularly with regard to the pollution of surface and subsurface sources of drinking water. This is due to the widespread occurrence and potential chronic health effects of NPS pollutants. The ubiquitous nature of NPS pollutants poses a complex technical problem. The area1 extent of their contamination increases the complexity and sheer volume of data required for assessment far beyond that of typical point source pollutants. The spatial nature of the NPS pollution problem necessitates the use of a geographic information system (GIS) to manipulate, retrieve, and display the large volumes of spatial data. This chapter provides an overview of the components (i.e., spatial variability, scale dependency, parameter-data estimation and measurement, uncertainty analysis, and others) required to successfully model NPS pollutants with GIS and a review of recent applications of GIS to the modeling of non-point source pollutants in the vadose zone with deterministic solute transport models. The compatibility, strengths, and weaknesses of coupling a GIS to deterministic one-dimensional transport models are discussed. BACKGROUND IN NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS

Groundwater contamination risks from conservative point source pollutants in a future climate

“…In very general terms, pollutants spread from non-point sources typically have lower concentrations and are less toxic compared to pollutants spread from point sources (e.g. Corwin 1996). Examples of point source pollutants are accidental spills of toxic substances, which are generally spread at relatively high concentrations over a limited area during a short period.…”

Impact of spatial rainfall resolution on point-source solute transport modelling

“…accidental spills of toxic substances, are generally spread at relatively high concentrations over a short temporal and spatial scale, whereas nonpoint or diffuse pollutants are spread in lower concentrations over larger temporal and spatial scales (see e.g. Corwin 1996). Numerical models have been shown to be valuable tools in assessing these risks.…”

The Sustainability of Agro-Food and Natural Resource Systems in the Mediterranean Basin

“…The knowledge and information required to address the problem cross several technological and sub-disciplinary lines: spatial statistics, geographic information systems (GIS), hydrology, soil science and remote sensing (Corwin 1996;Corwin et al 1997;Coppola et al 2014). The knowledge and information required to address the problem cross several technological and sub-disciplinary lines: spatial statistics, geographic information systems (GIS), hydrology, soil science and remote sensing (Corwin 1996;Corwin et al 1997;Coppola et al 2014).…”