Can sediment data be used to predict alkalinity and base cation chemistry of surface waters?

Abstract

We hypothesise that stream sediment elemental composition can predict mean and minimum concentrations of alkalinity, Ca and Mg in the river water throughout a river network. We tested this hypothesis for the River Derwent catchment in North Yorkshire, England, by using 6 years of water chemistry data from the Environment Agency and a digital elevation model to flow pathweight British Geological Survey (BGS) sediment element concentration data.The predictive models for mean concentrations were excellent for Ca and alkalinity, but less good for Mg, and did not require land use data inputs as stream water sediment composition seems to reflect all aspects of the riparian zone soil system. Predictive model forms were linear. Attempts to predict minimum values for Ca and alkalinity also were less satisfactory. This probably is due to variations in hydrological response times to individual precipitation events across the catchment.

Anomalous enrichment of molybdenum and associated metals in Lower Jurassic (Lias Group) black shales of central England, as revealed by systematic geochemical surveys

“…When sampling commenced in the late 1960s the work was stimulated by, and oriented towards, mineral exploration, but this high-resolution survey has evolved continuously and now has many environmental applications. The geochemical mapping, originally based on the collection of wet-sieved drainage sediments (sub-150 µm fraction) at a target sampling density of one stream sediment sample per square kilometre, has expanded to include the sampling and analysis of stream waters and soils (sub-2 mm fraction) and now also includes the systematic high-resolution sampling of urban soils (Fordyce et al, 2005) publications have shown how widely these regional geochemical data can be used: to interpret subtle geological changes (Stone et al, 2004;Breward et al, 2011); to demonstrate the relationships between soils, heavy metal pollution and parent material (Breward, 2003, 2007, Johnson et al, 2011and Rawlins et al, 2003; glaciation studies (Scheib et al, 2011); in bioaccessibility studies (Palumbo-Roe et al, 2005); in archaeology (Chenery et al, 2001); environmental radioactivity (Jones et al, 2009); surface water quality research (Begum et al, 2010); and to better inform legislation such as defining normal levels of contaminants in soils for the UK Part 2A contaminated land Statutory Guidance (Johnson et al, 2012).…”

Combined Multivariate Statistical Techniques and Water Quality Index (WQI) to Evaluate Spatial Variation in Water Quality

“…The spatial and seasonal water quality variations in the context of chemical properties are influenced at regional scales because of many factors ( Begum et al . 2010 ; Rothwell et al .…”

“…The spatial and seasonal water quality variations in the context of chemical properties are influenced at regional scales because of many factors (Begum et al 2010;Rothwell et al 2010;Wang et al 2015). The water quality is significantly affected by inorganic pollutants like acids, salts, toxic metals; biological pollutants like protozoans, viruses and bacteria; various anions and cations like sulphates, phosphates, nitrates, calcium, magnesium and fluoride; and water-soluble substances emitting radiations (radioactive material).…”