Combined use of satellite image analysis, land-use statistics, and land-use-specific export coefficients to predict nutrients in drained peatland catchment

Maintaining and improving surface water quality requires knowledge of nutrient sediment loads due to past future land-use practices, but historical data on land cover its changes are often lacking. In this study, we tested whether land-use-specific export coefficients can be used together with satellite images (Landsat) and/or regional statistics estimate riverine concentrations total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), suspended solids (SS). The study area, Simojoki (3160 km2) in northern Finland, has been intensively drained for peatland forestry since the 1960s. We different approaches at multiple sub-catchment scales simulate TN, TP, SS catchment. uncertainty estimates based specific was quantified (derived from Landsat data), an boundary established each land-use. captured least 60% measured values or concentrations. However, compared ranged 7% 20% 0% 18% 13% 43% catchments. Some discrepancy between predicted expected, as method did not account inter-annual variability hydrological conditions river processes. combining change simple a practical approach evaluating influence such drainage forest establishment.