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Nitrates in an environment with limited oxygen can lose their oxygen atoms and be released as nitrogen gas, no longer reducing water quality. This denitrification can be tested in wells and predicted and modelled with covering soils, geology, hydrology. The removing (reduction) and adding of oxygen atoms (oxidation) is known as redox.
The dataset - What is it?
The redox layers of the groundwater is classified throughout New Zealand as
- Oxic - containing oxygen, the upper levels of groundwater where nitrate will remain.
- Mixed
- Reduced - not containing oxygen, in the lower levels of groundwater. This is where denitrification occurs.
Why it's important
Nitrate is a key groundwater contaminant that can affect human health. Redox knowledge may help identify denitrification zones to help target regulations and goals.
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How to use this information safely
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Fitness for purpose / limitations
This table indicates whether the dataset is suitable for different types of questions at different scales.
Note: Users should carefully consider their purpose as this dataset may not be suitable.
Operational
Absolute
Relative
Screening/scoping
Block/farm
Maybe
Maybe
Maybe
Maybe
Multi-farms(5+)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Catchment
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
National/regional
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Caveats
Relatively coarse spatial resolution, and model is based on current data availability.
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Please note:
You can use this information to help with information on understanding predicted groundwater redox state in New Zealand.
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