Event Title
The Effect of Antecedent Soil Moisture Conditions on Green Roof Runoff Water Quality andQuantity
Location
Science Center, Bent Corridor
Start Date
10-2-2015 12:00 PM
End Date
10-2-2015 1:20 PM
Research Program
Ecology Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Kent State University and Holden Arboretum
Poster Number
25
Abstract
This study was conducted at the three year-old green roof on Cleveland Metropark’s Watershed Stewardship Center in Parma, Ohio. The objectives of the study were to (1) determine the amount of runoff and total phosphate, nitrate and ammonium concentrations from the green roof during rain events throughout summer 2015 and (2) relate measurements of antecedent soil moisture conditions to water quality and quantity data. An ISCO water sampler was used to collect sequential water samples during rain event and then the samples were analyzed for nutrient content. Soil moisture data were collected at five-minute intervals using data loggers and opportunistically at 33 locations using handheld probes. Data from four rain events show that phosphate export increases linearly with amount of outflow, while the total exports of ammonium and nitrate do not show clear relationships with amount of outflow. Data from soil moisture measurements show an increase in content after a storm. Spatial data shows a response in the soil to rain events with high variability, but no clear downslope patterns. The green roof acts as a nutrient source for phosphorous and a sink for ammonium. The conversion of concentration data to fluxes requires refinement of outflow water quantity, because for some storms, water quality output exceeds amount of input to the roof. Total phosphate export increases with amount of outflow during a storm event, which is likely due to fertilization of the soil that occurs once a year.
Recommended Citation
Sarazen, Jillian, "The Effect of Antecedent Soil Moisture Conditions on Green Roof Runoff Water Quality andQuantity" (2015). Celebration of Undergraduate Research. 28.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/cour/2015/posters/28
Major
Biology
Project Mentor(s)
Anne Jefferson, Department of Biological Sciences, and Lauren Kinsman-Costello, Department of Geology, Kent State University
Document Type
Poster
The Effect of Antecedent Soil Moisture Conditions on Green Roof Runoff Water Quality andQuantity
Science Center, Bent Corridor
This study was conducted at the three year-old green roof on Cleveland Metropark’s Watershed Stewardship Center in Parma, Ohio. The objectives of the study were to (1) determine the amount of runoff and total phosphate, nitrate and ammonium concentrations from the green roof during rain events throughout summer 2015 and (2) relate measurements of antecedent soil moisture conditions to water quality and quantity data. An ISCO water sampler was used to collect sequential water samples during rain event and then the samples were analyzed for nutrient content. Soil moisture data were collected at five-minute intervals using data loggers and opportunistically at 33 locations using handheld probes. Data from four rain events show that phosphate export increases linearly with amount of outflow, while the total exports of ammonium and nitrate do not show clear relationships with amount of outflow. Data from soil moisture measurements show an increase in content after a storm. Spatial data shows a response in the soil to rain events with high variability, but no clear downslope patterns. The green roof acts as a nutrient source for phosphorous and a sink for ammonium. The conversion of concentration data to fluxes requires refinement of outflow water quantity, because for some storms, water quality output exceeds amount of input to the roof. Total phosphate export increases with amount of outflow during a storm event, which is likely due to fertilization of the soil that occurs once a year.
