Actions

Characteristic Numbers of Tracer Load (independent of tides)

From BAWiki

Revision as of 16:52, 19 February 2016 by imported>Lang Guenther (→‎Definitions for the tide-independent characteristic numbers of tracer concentration: text for characteristic numbers computed by the program NCANALYSE added to page)

A graphic sketch for the definition of the various characteristic numbers of tracer load is not available. Due to the fact that they are defined in complete analogy to salinity we do refer here to the respective graphical representations of the characteristic numbers of salinity (independent of tides) for further insight.

Motivation

Calculation and graphic display of several tide-independent characteristic numbers of tracer concentration can yield additional insight into tracer concentration related phenomena of natural coastal and/or inland waters. In contrast to the computation of the tidal characteristic numbers of tracer concentration the tide-independent numbers can be preferable used for

  • natural waters which are not dominated by the tides, e.g. like the coastal waters and estuaries along the Baltic Sea coast of Germany, or in
  • extreme situations, like for example periods of high or low fresh water runoff, when tracer concentration may deviate strongly from the average (tide-dominated) conditions, as well as for the
  • determination of characteristic values of tracer concentration for an arbitrary long (or short) period of time.

In particular there are several useful applications possible for this type of data analysis:

  • In addition to informations about the highest and lowest tracer concentration values which occur during an arbitrary period one can calculate also the maximum tracer concentration difference for this time span. This is a good indicator for the natural variability of tracer concentration.
  • Maximum values for the (rate of) increase and (rate of) decrease of tracer concentration are an additional measure for the characterization of e.g. extreme runoff situations.
  • From the computed times for the duration of high tracer concentration and the duration of low tracer concentration one can draw conclusions with respect to the impact of tracer concentration on organisms living in the water or along the beaches.
  • The variance of the time-dependent tracer concentration evolution with respect to mean tracer concentration can be used as an indicator for the dynamics of a natural water system.

An automatic analysis of all tide-independent characteristic numbers of tracer concentration is carried through by the computer programs LZKSF and NCANALYSE.

Definitions for the tide-independent characteristic numbers of tracer concentration

Program NCANALYSE

Maximum Value of Tracer

Highest (local) value of tracer within the period of data analysis.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Minimum Value of Tracer

Lowest (local) value of tracer within the period of data analysis.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Mean Value of Tracer

Mean value of tracer within the period of data analysis.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Maximum Tracer Difference

Difference in tracer between maximum and minimum value within the period of data analysis.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Standard Deviation of Tracer

Standard deviation of tracer within the period of data analysis.
Computed for permanently flooded areas only.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Variance of Tracer

Variance of tracer within the period of data analysis.
Computed for permanently flooded areas only.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Duration of High Tracer

Time span for which tracer lies above a certain threshold within an arbitrary period of time.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Duration of Low Tracer

Time span for which tracer lies below a certain threshold within an arbitrary period of time.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Relative Frequency Distribution of Tracer

Relative frequency of tracer within given tracer intervals.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Cumulative Frequency Distribution of Tracer

Cumulative frequency of tracer within given tracer intervals.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Exceedance Frequency of Tracer Limits

Exceedance frequency of tracer limits within the period of data analysis.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Underflow Frequency of Tracer Limits

Underflow frequency of tracer limits within the period of data analysis.
Data analysis: NCANALYSE.

Quantiles of Tracer

Tracer value of a time series which is not exceeded of a certain percentage of tracer values in the serie.
Computed for permanently flooded areas only.