A Comparison of Water Quality Models of the Aerobic Nitrogen Cycle

Harleman, D.R.F. (1978). A Comparison of Water Quality Models of the Aerobic Nitrogen Cycle. IIASA Research Memorandum. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: RM-78-034

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Abstract

The objective is to compare a sequence of biochemical water quality models of increasing complexity and diversity, in order to determine the level of complexity needed for predictive models. Primary consideration will be given to models simulating chemical, bacterial and algal components that can be compared with laboratory data.

The aerobic nitrogen cycle containing seven chemical and biological components of nitrogen is chosen for the comparative study. The nitrogen components can be coupled by various linear and/or non-linear transformation functions representing mineralization and oxidation of organic nitrogen and phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions.

Results of simulation runs for batch systems are compared with the same data. It is concluded that the non-linear couplings, representing bacterially mediated and plankton reactions, have a significant influence on both the system dynamics and the steady state nitrogen concentrations. Future research directions for comparative model studies are indicated.

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