Emergent Scaling of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in Freshwater Streams Across Contiguous USA

Abstract

Abstract Dissolved oxygen (DO) indicates the overall stream water quality and ecosystem health. We investigated emergent scaling of DO with the dominant environmental drivers in freshwater (non‐coastal) streams across the contiguous United States. Available data of monthly to quarterly sampling frequencies during 1998–2015 were obtained for 86 U.S. streams. Data analytics indicated water temperature (T w ) and pH (a proxy of carbon dioxide) dominating the key environmental process components of DO concentrations in the freshwater streams. The “climatic” process component (comprising T w and net radiation) had, respectively, ∼3 and ∼9 times stronger control on DO than the “biogeochemical” (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, pH, and specific conductivity) and “hydro‐atmospheric” exchange (stream flow and atmospheric pressure) components. The predominant climatic control on stream DO was linked to the high extent of vegetated land (on average ∼53%) and steep slope (∼10%) in the draining watersheds, despite the notable presence of agricultural land (∼35%). An emergent power law scaling relationship was then developed to acceptably predict DO (mg/l) based on T w (K) and pH, with the approximate exponents of −15/2 and 1/2, respectively (Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiency = 0.72–0.73). The scaling law demonstrated the underlying organizing principles such as the depletion of stream DO due to reduced dissolution and increased metabolic respiration with the increasing temperature and nutrients. The scaling law was persistent across the various U.S. streams, representing gradients in climate, hydrology, biogeochemistry, and land use/cover. The findings would help understand and manage water quality and ecosystem health in freshwater streams across the United States and beyond.