Spatial and seasonal variability of sub–daily water temperature dynamics in the lowland agricultural catchment of the Wkra River

Abstract

The paper concentrates on seasonal and spatial variations of sub-daily water temperature dynamics in lowland agricultural streams. Temperature monitoring was carried out in 24 sampling sites distributed along the tributaries of the Wkra River during the hydrological year 2021. Statistical analysis of the obtained data documented the highest water temperature dynamics in the morning, from 5:00 to 9:00 CEST, while the lowest – from 14:00 to 18:00 CEST. Seasonally, greater water dynamics were noted in the winter, expressed by a coefficient of variation reaching up to 100%. Spatially, the highest dynamics occurred in sites with the lowest proportion of riparian vegetation, while the lowest dynamics was related to higher catchment area. In the winter, the minimum daily values were recorded most frequently in the morning hours, while maximum values in the afternoon. A similar pattern was observed in the summer, but with much lower dispersion of the relative frequencies. It was found that in the winter, the dominant influence on temperature dynamics was exerted in the upstream catchment area, while in the summer, a negative relationship with riparian shade was marked. The findings suggest that the presence of riparian vegetation reduces diurnal dynamics of water temperature and is simultaneously extremely important in prolonging the duration of optimum fluctuation, responsible for the proper development of poikilothermic organisms.

Keywords

• river water temperature
• thermal fluctuations
• mazovian
• central poland
• hourly variations
• thermal conditions