Purpose and Study Design
14
• specific with respect to recommendations for data analysis, reporting,
and flagging, and
• designed to maintain continuity to the extent possible with the existing sampling efforts, especially if trend analyses will be conducted
using the data.
Within the context of characterization and monitoring studies to measure
or document air pollution effects on surface waters, a multitude of questions
TABLE 1.4 TEN BASIC QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER IN DESIGNING WATER
QUALITY CHARACTERIZATION, MONITORING, AND ASSESSMENT
STUDIES
1. Why is the sampling taking place?
2. Who will use the resulting data, and how will that influence the level of quality
assurance that will be required?
3. How will the data be used, and how will the intended use influence data
requirements?
4. What parameters or conditions will be measured?
5. How good do the data need to be in terms of accuracy, representativeness,
completeness, and intrasite and intersite comparability?
6. What methods should be used?
7. Where are the sampling sites?
8. When will the sampling occur?
9. How will the data be managed?
10. How will the program ensure that the data are credible?
TABLE 1.5 EXAMPLE OF ELEMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN
FORMULATING SAMPLING QUESTIONS
Element
Example
Subject
Stream NO 3
− concentration
Location
Spring Creek, 50 m below its confluence with Sparks Creek
Time
During spring snowmelt
Trend
Is stream NO 3
− concentration increasing from year to year
during the spring high-flow period?
Degree
Is it changing by a statistically significant amount or a
biologically meaningful amount?
Population of Interest First- through third-order (at 1:100,000 scale) streams in the
Blue Ridge ecoregion in Virginia
14
• specific with respect to recommendations for data analysis, reporting,
and flagging, and
• designed to maintain continuity to the extent possible with the existing sampling efforts, especially if trend analyses will be conducted
using the data.
Within the context of characterization and monitoring studies to measure
or document air pollution effects on surface waters, a multitude of questions
TABLE 1.4 TEN BASIC QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER IN DESIGNING WATER
QUALITY CHARACTERIZATION, MONITORING, AND ASSESSMENT
STUDIES
1. Why is the sampling taking place?
2. Who will use the resulting data, and how will that influence the level of quality
assurance that will be required?
3. How will the data be used, and how will the intended use influence data
requirements?
4. What parameters or conditions will be measured?
5. How good do the data need to be in terms of accuracy, representativeness,
completeness, and intrasite and intersite comparability?
6. What methods should be used?
7. Where are the sampling sites?
8. When will the sampling occur?
9. How will the data be managed?
10. How will the program ensure that the data are credible?
TABLE 1.5 EXAMPLE OF ELEMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN
FORMULATING SAMPLING QUESTIONS
Element
Example
Subject
Stream NO 3
− concentration
Location
Spring Creek, 50 m below its confluence with Sparks Creek
Time
During spring snowmelt
Trend
Is stream NO 3
− concentration increasing from year to year
during the spring high-flow period?
Degree
Is it changing by a statistically significant amount or a
biologically meaningful amount?
Population of Interest First- through third-order (at 1:100,000 scale) streams in the
Blue Ridge ecoregion in Virginia