| Project Title |  |
| Project
B3: Quantification and modelling of metal mobility in lakes and watersheds.
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| Research Team | |
| L. Evans, Univ.
of Guelph. Email: levans@lrs.uoguelph.ca Tel: 519-824-4120 X 3017 Co-Investigators:
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| Project Summary | |
| Metal mobility in the environment
is controlled by the various forms of the element in aqueous phases (speciation); by the
physical and chemical characteristics of the pools, or sinks, in which the metal resides
(adsorption); and by the rate of movement from one phase or compartment to another
(transportation). One of the major challenges in understanding metal movement in the
environment is the development of mathematical models that can predict the long-term fate
of metals. These models need to be mechanistically based; be generally applicable and yet
be able to account for site-specific conditions. The model to be developed as part of the MITE project has two major phases. Firstly, research will be conducted to improve and test the speciation/adsorption model by including metal-organic matter partitioning in both soluble and colloid forms. This will involve laboratory studies in which metal-organic matter partition coefficients will be determined using potentiometric titration techniques. Secondly, this speciation/adsorption model will be integrated with the QWASI fugacity/ aquivalence model for lakes. This model estimates the fate of chemicals that can occur species interconversion. The model will be extended to estimate metal fate at the watershed scale by using a hydrologic model, such as TOPMODEL, to provide the main transport forcing function. The lake and watershed models will be applied and tested using data currently being collected for Ross Lake, Flin Flon, Manitoba.
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