| The effectiveness of constructed wetland systems (CWS) for the treatment of agricultural, municipal, and industrial wastewaters is based primarily on their ecology and hydrology. In order for CWS to be effective, hydrologic conditions, in particular water depth, must be at optimum levels to insure adequate treatment efficiency. Recent dry summers in Nova Scotia have caused reduced water levels in CWS, thus affecting their performance. These reduced water levels are primarily attributed to high evapotranspiration (ET) rates. The goal of this study was to measure ET from a CWS and evaluate the effect of various hydro-meteorological factors on ET.; The Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) was used to estimate ET from a CWS in Greenfield, Nova Scotia over two summers (1999 and 2000). Determination of an adequate predictor of ET is not feasible due to the complexity of hydro-meteorologic interactions with ET. Hydro-meteorological factors interactions with each other, as well as ET, combined with outside influences such as advection from the surrounding landscape, makes isolation of individual processes governing ET difficult. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
