Assessing the Impact of Climate Change and Land Use Variation on Microbial Transport Using Watershed Scale-modeling

Authors

  • Rory Coffey University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
  • Brian Benham Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
  • Leigh Anne Krometis Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
  • Mary Leigh Wolfe Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
  • Enda Cummins University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v6i1.5044

Abstract

Uncertainty surrounding microbial fate and transport renders the assessment of climate change effects on waterborne pathogens complex and difficult to forecast. The objective of this study is to use watershed modeling to predict the impacts of future climate change and land management scenarios on microbial water quality.  Preliminary findings suggest an increased risk to human health due to direct consequences of climate change. Results of watershed-scale microbial load modeling can inform the adoption of pollution control measures required to protect human health and aid development of new water policy.

Author Biography

Rory Coffey, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Dr. Rory Coffey is currently a visiting Marie Curie postdoctoral research fellow (from the School of Biosystems Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland) at the Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, USA. His current research examines potential climate change impacts on the fate and transport of waterborne pathogens using watershed-scale water quality modeling applications.

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Published

2014-03-03

How to Cite

Coffey, R., Benham, B., Krometis, L. A., Wolfe, M. L., & Cummins, E. (2014). Assessing the Impact of Climate Change and Land Use Variation on Microbial Transport Using Watershed Scale-modeling. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v6i1.5044

Issue

Section

Poster Presentations