Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of Effluent Discharge in Aquatic Habitats

我的博士研究方向是水生栖息地污水排放的时空动态。这项研究最初的重点是将经过处理的城市垃圾从豪登污水处理厂排放到泰恩河下游，泰恩河的特点是动态潮汐模式和高流量条件。使用不同的数据集，包括河流流量、潮汐高度、水质和污水排放，我的博士将研究每天到季节性时间尺度的污水排放，以及在低和高降雨期间的污水排放。这将确定何时污水在泰恩河最普遍。为了评估排放废水的命运，我的研究将把空间分布的模型预测与排放点附近每周测量的观测结果进行比较。通过将水文测量与水质和污水排放数据相结合，本研究旨在增强我们对污水动态的理解，为未来的监测和预测能力提供有价值的见解。研究结果还将为污水降解产生间接排放的可能性提供信息。虽然废水处理行业目前没有义务报告这种排放，但预计在不久的将来会发生变化，本研究的成果将有助于为缓解措施提供信息。在初始阶段的工作之后，这项研究将把研究结果扩展到泰恩河的选定支流，这些支流拥有较小的废水处理厂。这将确定小排量和大排量之间的时空动态差异。

My PhD focuses on the spatial and temporal dynamics of effluent discharge in aquatic habitats. The initial emphasis of the study is the release of treated municipal waste from Howden Sewage Treatment Works into the lower River Tyne, which is characterised by dynamic tidal patterns and high-flow conditions. Using diverse datasets encompassing river flow, tidal height, water quality, and effluent discharge, my PhD will examine effluent discharge across daily to seasonal timescales and during periods of low and high rainfall. This will identify when the effluent will be most prevalent in the River Tyne. To assess the fate of the discharged effluent, my research will compare modelled predictions of spatial distribution with weekly observations measured in the vicinity of the discharge point. By integrating hydrological measurements with water quality and effluent discharge data, this study aims to enhance our understanding of effluent dynamics, providing valuable insights for future monitoring and predictive capabilities. The results will also inform the potential for indirect emissions resulting from effluent degradation. Although the wastewater industry is not currently obligated to report such emissions, this is anticipated to change in the near future and the outputs of this study will help inform mitigation measures. Following the initial phase of work, this study will extend its findings to selected tributaries of the River Tyne that host smaller waste water treatment plants. This will identify how the spatial-temporal dynamics differ between small and large-scale rates of effluent discharge.