Data Analytics Needs Scenario Water Quality Earth Science Data Analytics Federal Big Data Working Group May 6, 2014 Joan L. Aron, Ph.D. Aron Environmental.

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Data Analytics Needs ScenarioWater Quality

Earth Science Data AnalyticsFederal Big Data Working Group

May 6, 2014

Joan L. Aron, Ph.D.Aron Environmental Consulting

Columbia, Maryland

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End User of Big DataPerspective of Risk Analysis

• Risk analysis for environmental issues.• Trends (comparisons) across time and space.• Other end user needs may be different. • Example: Emergency response systems need

the latest data, but not historical data.

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End User of Big DataContinuity of Data

• Continuity – Will these data continue?• Continuity – Criterion for usability of Big Data.• Decennial census has constitutional mandate

but mandates are not typical. • Data re-analysis can provide continuity for

multiple sources that may change over time. • NASA has MERRA re-analysis of climate data

supporting research on global climate models that determines spatial and temporal scales.

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End User of Big DataLinkages of Data

• Linkages – Ability to link datasets from different agencies, sectors and/or disciplines.

• Linkages – Criterion for usability of Big Data. • Interagency Council on Climate Preparedness and

Resilience (Co-Chairs: Council on Environmental Quality; Office of Science & Technology Policy; Assistant to President for Homeland Security & Counterterrorism)

• Executive Order 13653 (11/2013) – Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change

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End User of Big DataLinkages: Climate and Water Quality

• Big Data can improve the speed of monitoring to keep up with the identification of problems

• Big Data can improve the accuracy of monitoring to better target interventions

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) periodic reporting on physical science, impacts, adaptation, vulnerability, mitigation http://www.ipcc.ch/

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End User of Big DataLinkages: Climate and Water Quality

• Terrestrial and inland water systems (IPCC WGII Impacts, 2014, Chap. 4) – Increased urbanization and agricultural irrigation– Altered thermal and precipitation regimes

• Coastal systems and low-lying areas (IPCC WGII Impacts, 2014, Chap. 5) – Increased development and pollution (nitrogen,

phosphorus, sediment, dead zones)– Altered sea level, ocean temperature & acidity

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End User of Big DataWater Quality Complexity w/o Climate

• Mississippi River• Lake Erie• Chesapeake Bay• Las Vegas Wash

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End User of Big DataMississippi River – Water Quality

• U.S. largest hypoxic (low oxygen) zone where Mississippi flows into northern Gulf of Mexico

• High nitrate levels in Miss. River cause algal growth that consumes oxygen

• Increasing trend between 1980 and 2010 despite efforts to reduce nitrates (agricultural fertilizers, wastewater treatment)

• Urban sprawl; replacing soy with corn; ???

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End User of Big DataLake Erie – Water Quality

• Smallest and shallowest of Great Lakes• Pollution (esp. phosphorus) causes harmful

algal blooms (HABs)• HABs impact ecosystem, drinking water

supplies, fisheries, recreation, tourism• Municipal sewage treatment 1960s, 1970s• Problem re-emerged 2000s with runoff• HAB toxin shut water plant in Ohio - 2013

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End User of Big DataChesapeake Bay – Water Quality

• Urban and storm-water runoff growing• Chesapeake Bay watershed – new impervious

surface equiv. to Washington DC every 4 years• Nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment plus trash,

fecal bacteria, oil and other petroleum products, pesticides, herbicides, road salt, copper, lead, zinc

• Fish mortality, oyster restrictions, beach closures, nitrate filtration – drinking; dredging

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End User of Big DataLas Vegas Wash – Water Quality

• Drains storm-water runoff and treated effluent from Las Vegas Valley to LV Bay / Lake Mead

• Rapid population growth and development – excess sediment in water

• Plan to control erosion (small dams / weirs), restore wetlands, and limit invasive plants; water intake for tunnel to Lake Mead

• Las Vegas Wash water quality OK since 2004• History of storms and massive erosion leading to loss

of habitat and infrastructure – resilience??

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End User of Big Data

Thanks for background information and helpful discussion from: Brand Niemann (Semantic Community) Bob Hall (USEPA) Dan Heggem (USEPA) John Schnase (NASA) Steve Kempler (NASA)

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End User of Big Data

• Category:– Perspective of Risk Analysis:

• CODATA Integrated Research on Disaster Risk:

– Continuity of Data:• US EPA Air Data:

– Linkages of Data:• Conservation International:

– Linkages of Climate and Water Quality:• US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program:

• Answer Three Questions:– How was the data collected?– Where is the data stored?– What are the data results?

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Perspective of Risk Analysis - CODATA Integrated Research on Disaster Risk: How was the data collected?

http://semanticommunity.info/Data_Science/Big_Data_Science_for_CODATA#Databases_at_a_Glance

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Perspective of Risk Analysis - CODATA Integrated Research on Disaster Risk: Where is the data stored?

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Perspective of Risk Analysis - CODATA Integrated Research on Disaster Risk: What are the data results?

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Continuity of Data - EPA Air Data:How was the data collected?

http://semanticommunity.info/Data_Science/Data_Science_for_EPA_Air_Data

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Continuity of Data - EPA Air Data:Where is the data stored?

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Continuity of Data - EPA Air Data:What are the data results?

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Linkages of Data - Conservation International:How was the data collected?

http://www.teamnetwork.org/protocols

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Linkages of Data - Conservation International:Where is the data stored?

http://www.teamnetwork.org/data/query

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Linkages of Data - Conservation International:What are the data results?

http://www.teamnetwork.org/gridsphere/gridsphere?cid=download http://semanticommunity.info/Data_Science/Earth_Insights_from_Big_Data

My Note: Work in progress.

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Linkages of Climate and Water Quality - US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: How was the data collected?

http://semanticommunity.info/Chesapeake_Bay_Program

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Linkages of Climate and Water Quality - US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: Where is the data stored?

http://semanticommunity.info/Chesapeake_Bay_Program

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Linkages of Climate and Water Quality - US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: What are the data results?

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My Note: The variations in climateexplain why the pollution controlshave not improved water quality!

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Linkages of Climate and Water Quality - US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: What are the data results?

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