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Linking monitoring and modelling for river basin management: Danish experience with combating nutrient loadings to the aquatic environment from point and non-point sources

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Abstract

Nationwide monitoring of the aquatic environment was initiated in 1988 in Denmark as a means to follow the outcome of the Action Plans for nutrient pollution of the aquatic environment. Five Action Plans have been adopted by the Danish Parliament since 1985 and the nationwide monitoring programme can be used to quantify the outcome as shown by reductions in nutrient discharges from both point and non-point sources. Moreover, the empirical experience gathered from nearly 20 years of monitoring is assisting the development and calibration of models for simulation of nitrogen leaching, nitrogen removal in groundwater and surface waters and the establishment of a P-index all covering the entire land area of Denmark.

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Correspondence to Brian Kronvang.

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Kronvang, B., Windolf, J., Grant, R. et al. Linking monitoring and modelling for river basin management: Danish experience with combating nutrient loadings to the aquatic environment from point and non-point sources. Sci. China Ser. E-Technol. Sci. 52, 3335–3347 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-009-0368-x

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