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Using water quality variables to predict light attenuation coefficient: case study in Shihmen Reservoir

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Abstract

The amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in the water column is of fundamental importance in determining the growth of aquatic plant and aquatic primary production. Light attenuation in aquatic ecosystems has important ecological implication and water quality applications. In the present study, the light attenuation through the water column in the Shihmen Reservoir, Taiwan was measured. A light attenuation coefficient (K e) can be derived from the PAR measurements at each stations. The linear regression analysis reveals that Secchi disk depth is a sample alternative measure of light transmitability and provides a reasonable estimate of the light attenuation coefficient in the Shihmen Reservoir. We conducted multiple-regression analysis for the K e, chlorophyll a, and total suspended solids (TSS). Because the concentration of chlorophyll a is roughly <5 µg/L in the Shihmen Reservoir, the chlorophyll contribution to the attenuation coefficient will be <0.1 m−1, which is negligible. K e correlated with TSS concentration yields a good correlation, indicating the TSS should be a good water quality variable for predicting water column light attenuation coefficient in the Shihmen Reservoir.

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Acknowledgments

The field measurements were supported by the Northern Region Water Resources Bureau, Water Resources Agency, Taiwan. The assistances of Mr. Wen-Hsiung Hsieh and Dr. Chi-Ray Wu in the field measurement and analysis of water samples are acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Disaster Prevention Engineering, National United University, Miao-Li, 36003, Taiwan

    Wen-Cheng Liu

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, National Central University, Jung-Li, 320, Taiwan

    Ray-Shyan Wu

  3. Department of Civil and Ecological Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung County, 840, Taiwan

    Edward Ming-Yang Wu

  4. National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction, Sindian City, 23143, Taipei County, Taiwan

    Yu-Pei Chang

  5. Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan

    Wei-Bo Chen

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  1. Wen-Cheng Liu
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  2. Ray-Shyan Wu
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  4. Yu-Pei Chang
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Correspondence to Wen-Cheng Liu.

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Liu, WC., Wu, RS., Wu, E.MY. et al. Using water quality variables to predict light attenuation coefficient: case study in Shihmen Reservoir. Paddy Water Environ 8, 267–275 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-010-0207-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-010-0207-5

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