Modeling Non-Point Pollution and Erosion Into Gulf Coast Bays and Marshes

The University of Mississippi Geoinformatics CenterNASA MRC RPC Review Meeting: 14-15 April 2008

Modeling Non-Point Pollution and Erosion Into Gulf Coast Bays and Marshes

Dr Greg EassonJustin Janaskie

Lynn Francis[The University of Mississippi]

Rapid Prototyping Capability Project

CollaboratorsNOAA Coastal Services Center, Charleston, SC


Outline

Objectives Background Project Overview Expected Impacts Progress Report (April 2008) Upcoming Major Tasks Timeline


Project Objectives

Integrate next generation NASA data into NOAA’s N-SPECT (Non-point Source Pollution and Erosion Comparison Tool model) to generate more accurate model results

Evaluate N-SPECT performance using proxy Global Precipitation Measurements (GPM) data modeled from TRMM data and compare results to precipitation data currently suggested by NOAA

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Study Area: Mississippi Gulf Coast, Bay St Louis and Pascagoula River Watersheds

Rationale:-long history of hydrologic work-extensive infrastructure-long history of hydrologic data


TRMM and PRISM data comparison

PRISM – 4 km resolution Monthly precipitation spatially modeled from stream gauge measurements Sept. 1998

3 hour TRMM 5 km resolution precipitation radar image of Hurricane Georges at landfall – Sept. 28, 1998


Background: N-SPECT N-SPECT – Non-Point Source Pollution and Erosion

Comparison Tool developed by NOAA Coastal Services Center uses spatial elevation data to calculate flow direction and flow accumulation through a watershed. Required inputs:Land cover grid, Digital Elevation Models, Precipitation grid,Pollutant coefficients, andSoils data

The model is a GIS based extension to ESRI’s ArcGIS software package that helps coastal managers predict potential water quality impacts from nonpoint source pollution and erosion


Background: N-SPECT

N-SPECT provides decision makers with the following features:Accumulated runoff, pollutant and sediment load

grids, Pollutant concentration grids, Pollutant assessment grid, which compares the

resulting concentrations in receiving waters to user-specified water-quality standards,

Different land-cover scenarios such as new development can be added to model potential changes


Project Overview

Current N-SPECT input process:Uses point gage precipitation measurements or

modeled spatial data from point measurements such as Oregon State University’s Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM)

Uses the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to calculate erosion

Problem definition:Certain regions have limited stream gauging

stations which can lead to limited and generalized watershed erosion and pollutant estimates


This project will compare data for a large rainfall event over the study area using GPM (modeled from TRMM) to PRISM data. Hurricane Georges hit the US Gulf Coast on September 28,1998 with rainfall of up to 20 to 30 inches locally.

Project Overview


Expected Project Impact:

TThe increase in resolution and quality of erosion and pollutant information will significantly improve the accuracy of predicting non-point source pollution loadings within watersheds, which in turn:

1. WWill improve the design and implementation of watershed conservation programs.

2. WWill provide short and long term improvements in water quality management and improve human health.

The University of Mississippi Geoinformatics CenterNASA MRC RPC – 11 July 2007

Progress Report

April, 2008

Presentation Outline:

Data collectionProcessing & AnalysisResults/outcomesTimeline


Data Collection: complete

Research Application: NASA’s future Global Precipitation Measurement

(GPM scheduled to launch in 2013) mission will improve current N-SPECT precipitation data

The GPM sensors will provide significantly improved resolution over TRMM data

TRMM data processed and resampled to simulate GPM data for this project


Processing & Analysis

NOAA CSC provided data:30 m land cover (NLCD)DEMSoils (SSURGO)PRISM precipitation

Data preparation for use in the N-SPECT model

Completed processing of TRMM data for 1998 Hurricane Georges


Issues

N-SPECT 2.0 BetaEnhanced performance

Resolves issues with watershed, land cover curve numbers and pollutant coefficients


Remaining Major Tasks:

Run N-SPECT models using accepted CSC datasets - PRISM

Run N-SPECT model using simulated GPM generated from TRMM data

Compare results Document results


Project Schedule


Greg Easson, Director UMGC 662 915 5995

[email protected]

Contact Information:

Justin Janaskie UMGC

662 915 6540 [email protected]

Lynn Francis UMGC

228 688-3197 [email protected]

Documents

Modeling Non-Point Pollution and Erosion Into Gulf Coast Bays and Marshes