Longitudinal Gradients and Seasonal Dynamics of Nutrients, Organic Matter and Conductivity Along the Main Axis of Han-River

The purpose of the study was to evaluate spatial and temporal dynamics of nutrients (TN, TP), organic pollution (BOD, COD), and ionic dynamics (electrical conductivity, EC) in the North Han-River, South Han-River, and merged downriver using the dataset of $1998{\sim}2007$, obtained from the MEK (Ministry of Environment, Korea). Accord. ing to interannual nutrient analysis, TN varied slightly in the North Han-River and South Han-River, but decreased in the merged downriver along with BOD. Longitudinal analysis in the water quality showed that BOD, COD, and nutrients had linear decreasing trend along the main axis of headwater-to-downriver. Concentrations of TP and TN in the North Han-River averaged $26.97{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, $1.696mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively, which were minimum in the three watersheds, followed by South Han-River and then the merged downriver in order. Ratios of TN:TP in the watersheds were >40 in all the sites, indicating that nitrogen may be enough for periphyton or phytoplankton growth and phosphorus may be limited partially. After the North Han-River water is merged with South Han-River, the concentrations of BOD, COD, TN, and TP were similar to the values of $S6{\sim}S7$, respectively or a little bit higher, but increased abruptly in Site M4 (Fig. 3). Thus, mean values of all the water quality parameters in the reach of $M4{\sim}M7$ sites were greater than any other sites. Seasonal data analysis indicated that BOD and EC in the downstream ($S3{\sim}S7$) was greater in the premonsoon than two seasons of the monsoon and postmonsoon, and no significant differences in BOD between the three seasons were found in the upstream ($S1{\sim}S2$). Empirical models of COD in the merged downriver was predicted ($R^2=0.87$, p>0.01, slope = 0.84, intercept = -1.28) well by EC. These results suggest that EC to be measured easily in the field may be used for estimations of nutrients and organic matter pollutions in the merged downriver and these linear models are cost-effective for the monitoring of the parameters.