Date of Award

Spring 2010

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Civil Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Robert M Roseen

Abstract

This study presents the examination of 4 years of monitoring of runoff temperature for a range of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in relation to established environmental indicators for a study in Durham, NH. Stormwater BMPs examined include conventional, Low Impact Development, and manufactured treatment designs. Surface systems that are exposed to direct sunlight have been shown to increase already elevated summer runoff temperatures, while other systems that provide treatment by infiltration and filtration can moderate runoff temperatures by thermal exchange with cool subsurface materials. The storm sewer system saw an annual average event mean temperature (EMT) greater than the mean groundwater temperature of 47°F that commonly feeds coldwater streams (Heath, 1983). The examination of BMPs indicates that outflow from the larger surface systems exhibit greater thermal variations and the larger subsurface systems exhibit greater thermal buffering, with outflows consistently nearly equivalent to groundwater temperatures.

Download

Share

COinS