1.1 Background
11
• evaluate the spatial extent of acid-base status,
• parameterize interpretive and predictive models, *
• determine sensitivity of resources to potential damage, or
• estimate magnitude of impact on water quality.
Variation in purpose dictates variation in general approach (Table 1.3), which
in turn influences the selection of appropriate protocols.
The management needs that the field study is intended to address will help
determine the type of field study that might be most appropriate. The management needs will lead to a series of questions, which in turn will guide the sampling effort. Such questions might include the following:
• What kinds of sampling are required to support management needs?
• What are the approaches most appropriate for meeting those sampling requirements?
• What are the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to implement
those protocols?
In designing a field study, there are 10 questions that have been identified by
the US EPA that should be considered (Table 1.4). Unless each of these questions
is addressed, there is risk that the sampling program will fail to yield the data
required to meet the program’s needs. This book provides guidance regarding
how to answer such questions.
The most important aspect of any inventory and monitoring plan is specification of the objectives and questions to be answered using the resulting
data. Once the objectives and questions are conceived and refined and some
preliminary data are collected with which to evaluate data variability issues,
it is possible to specify a plan that will have a high probability of success. The
greatest challenge in developing a monitoring or synoptic survey plan is asking
the best questions. It is important to decide what it is that you want to know
and what uncertainty you are willing to accept in your answers. Many fieldsampling programs are destined to fail from the outset because they were not
specific about what questions the program was intended to answer. Specificity
regarding the questions can lead to specificity regarding the sampling design
and result in the collection of data capable of providing answers that will help
in resource management.
Because it is not possible to sample at all locations at all times for all parameters, it is important to consider in advance how to make the best choices
regarding expenditure of limited funds for field sampling. The most important
aspect of sampling design is setting specific objectives and linking these
* To apply a process-based effects model to a particular site, various input data are needed,
depending on the selected model. Such data might include, for example, characterization of
soils, hydrology, vegetation, or historical documentation of land use or atmospheric deposition.
11
• evaluate the spatial extent of acid-base status,
• parameterize interpretive and predictive models, *
• determine sensitivity of resources to potential damage, or
• estimate magnitude of impact on water quality.
Variation in purpose dictates variation in general approach (Table 1.3), which
in turn influences the selection of appropriate protocols.
The management needs that the field study is intended to address will help
determine the type of field study that might be most appropriate. The management needs will lead to a series of questions, which in turn will guide the sampling effort. Such questions might include the following:
• What kinds of sampling are required to support management needs?
• What are the approaches most appropriate for meeting those sampling requirements?
• What are the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to implement
those protocols?
In designing a field study, there are 10 questions that have been identified by
the US EPA that should be considered (Table 1.4). Unless each of these questions
is addressed, there is risk that the sampling program will fail to yield the data
required to meet the program’s needs. This book provides guidance regarding
how to answer such questions.
The most important aspect of any inventory and monitoring plan is specification of the objectives and questions to be answered using the resulting
data. Once the objectives and questions are conceived and refined and some
preliminary data are collected with which to evaluate data variability issues,
it is possible to specify a plan that will have a high probability of success. The
greatest challenge in developing a monitoring or synoptic survey plan is asking
the best questions. It is important to decide what it is that you want to know
and what uncertainty you are willing to accept in your answers. Many fieldsampling programs are destined to fail from the outset because they were not
specific about what questions the program was intended to answer. Specificity
regarding the questions can lead to specificity regarding the sampling design
and result in the collection of data capable of providing answers that will help
in resource management.
Because it is not possible to sample at all locations at all times for all parameters, it is important to consider in advance how to make the best choices
regarding expenditure of limited funds for field sampling. The most important
aspect of sampling design is setting specific objectives and linking these
* To apply a process-based effects model to a particular site, various input data are needed,
depending on the selected model. Such data might include, for example, characterization of
soils, hydrology, vegetation, or historical documentation of land use or atmospheric deposition.