Storm event impacts on in-stream nitrate concentration and discharge dynamics: A comparison of high resolution in-situ measured data with model simulations

Highlights: • Hysteresis was characterized from frequently measured NO₃⁻-N and discharge (Q) data. • 3 hysteretic indices were evaluated from daily measured data and SWAT simulations. • Hysteresis information was lost when measured data was aggregated (hourly to daily). • The hysteretic indies were well reproduced by SWAT model in 5 of 14 events studied. • Dilution or loop direction was simulated by SWAT in no more than 9 events properly. The relationship between nitrogen and discharge (N-Q) in a stream can be captured with high frequency nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) samplers. In Austria, the Raab catchment (998 km²) has high frequency NO₃⁻-N data measured with a spectrometer probe. This study evaluated if the widely-used and typically calibrated eco-hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) can reproduce the hysteresis loop direction and the dilution or accretion effects of NO₃⁻-N dynamics during storm events in this agricultural catchment. The daily aggregated NO₃⁻-N measurements were compared with the daily SWAT simulated discharge and NO₃⁻-N concentrations of 14 storm events by computing hysteresis indices - loop direction and area (h index), loop direction (HInew) and solute gradient (∆C). Overall, the SWAT model was able to replicate the predominant anticlockwise hysteresis and dilution effect of NO₃⁻-N in the Raab catchment. The loop direction was simulated correctly in 9 and 10 events, for the h and HInew indices, respectively. The hysteresis direction inferred from both indices did not always concur due to the differences in the calculation methods. The dilution or accretion effect was simulated correctly in 9 of the events. However, the SWAT model only correctly simulated the N-Q relationships for all three hysteresis criteria in 5 of the 14 events. Due to the aggregation of measured data to the daily time step, information pertaining to the hysteresis shape was sometimes lost, particularly if the storm event was <4 days in duration. Structural limitations of the SWAT as well as specific relevant basin parameters (parameters that have one value for the entire catchment) may restrict simulating N-Q dynamics. An enhanced calibrated and validated model would possibly improve the results, since the events during the better calibrated period more often reproduced the measured hysteresis indices.