Effect of basin physical characteristics on solute fluxes in nine alpine/subalpine basins, Colorado, USA

Sueker, Julie K.; Clow, David W.; Ryan, Joseph N.; Jarrett, Robert D.

doi:10.1002/hyp.265

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…For example, Baron et al (1995) reported that although NH 4 + and NO 3 ) contributed to total inorganic N deposition in approximately equal amounts, NH 4 + became rapidly consumed or oxidised to NO 3 ) in the snowpack, in soils or in surface waters. Further, Sueker et al (2001) observed identical artefacts in her study and suggested that either an unaccounted-for source of NO 3 ) was present, or that nitrification was occurring. The latter conclusion was also reached by Tockner et al (2002) in their study of an Alpine glacier basin in Switzerland.…”

Section: Supraglacial Nutrient Transformations: Nh 4 Assimilation Andmentioning

confidence: 60%

The High Arctic glacial ecosystem: new insights from nutrient budgets

et al. 2005

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Abstract. This paper describes detailed budgets of water, Cl ) , dissolved Si and both inorganic and organic forms of nitrogen and phosphorus for two small glacier basins in Arctic Svalbard (Midre Love´nbreen and AustreBrøggerbreen). Rates of nutrient deposition are modest, dominated by inorganic nitrogen and episodically enhanced by extreme events. Hence deposition rates are also variable, ranging from 20 to 72 kg NO 3 -N km )2 a )1 and 10-37 kg NH 4 -N km )2 a )1 over just two consecutive years. Deposition of dissolved organic and particulate forms of nitrogen (DONand PN respectively) also appears significant and therefore requires further investigation (3-8 kg DON-N km )2 and 7-26 kg PN-N km )2 during winter -no summer data are available). Evidence for microbially mediated nutrient cycling within the glacial system is clear in the nutrient budgets, as is the release of large phosphorus, Si and organic/particulate nitrogen fluxes by subglacial erosion. The latter is entirely dependent upon the presence of subglacial drainage, promoting silicate mineral dissolution and the erosion of largely unweathered apatite. The large DON and PN fluxes are surprising and may relate to young organic nitrogen associated with microbial life within the glaciers. This is because wide spread assimilation of NH 4 + and perhaps even nitrification occurs on the glacier surface, most likely within abundant cryoconite holes. Further microbial activity also occurs at the glacier bed, where denitrification and sulphate reduction is now known to take place. Thus a two component 'glacial ecosystem' is proposed that is highly sensitive to climate change.

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Section: Supraglacial Nutrient Transformations: Nh 4 Assimilation Andmentioning

confidence: 60%

The High Arctic glacial ecosystem: new insights from nutrient budgets

et al. 2005

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“…In this study, nitrate was most frequently detected in the Weminuche lakes, which are at higher elevations than lakes in the other two wilderness areas. This may reflect a lower capacity of these watersheds to retain nitrogen because of less soil coverage and steeper slopes, and lower in-lake productivity at higher elevations (Sueker et al 2001;Sickman et al 2002). Four of the Weminuche lakes did have sufficient nitrate data for trend analysis and one of those, White Dome, did show a significant upward trend in nitrate.…”

Section: Effect Of Atmospheric Depositionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Response of lake chemistry to changes in atmospheric deposition and climate in three high-elevation wilderness areas of Colorado

et al. 2010

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Trends in precipitation chemistry and hydrologic and climatic data were examined as drivers of long-term changes in the chemical composition of high-elevation lakes in three wilderness areas in Colorado during 1985-2008. Sulfate concentrations in precipitation decreased at a rate of -0.15 to -0.55 leq/l/year at 10 high-elevation National Atmospheric Deposition Program stations in the state during 1987-2008 reflecting regional reductions in SO 2 emissions. In lakes where sulfate is primarily derived from atmospheric inputs, sulfate concentrations also decreased although the rates generally were less, ranging from -0.12 to -0.27 leq/l/year. The similarity in timing and sulfur isotopic data support the hypothesis that decreases in atmospheric deposition are driving the response of high-elevation lakes in some areas of the state. By contrast, in lakes where sulfate is derived primarily from watershed weathering sources, sulfate concentrations showed sharp increases during 1985-2008. Analysis of long-term climate records indicates that annual air temperatures have increased between 0.45 and 0.93°C per decade throughout most mountainous areas of Colorado, suggesting climate as a factor. Isotopic data reveal that sulfate in these lakes is largely derived from pyrite, which may indicate climate warming is preferentially affecting the rate of pyrite weathering.

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“…Numerous studies have related landscape to water quality especially nutrients using empirical techniques such as correlation analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression models [7], [12]–[15], and indicated that basin physical characteristics such as land use types, morphological characteristics and local geology substantially influence the hydrology and water variables, and consequently mediate fluvial chemical compositions [10], [16], [17]. Their relative impacts on water chemistry depend on geographical scale (e.g., local, regional, national, continental and global) and sampling factors (e.g., random versus geostatistical; high versus low density).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Catchment and Riparian Landscape Setting on Water Chemistry and Seasonal Evolution of Water Quality in the Upper Han River Basin, China

Xia

Xiang

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

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Six-year (2005–2010) evolution of water chemistry (Cl−, NO3 −, SO4 2−, HCO3 −, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) and their interactions with morphological properties (i.e., slope and area), land cover, and hydrological seasonality were examined to identify controlling factors and processes governing patterns of stream water quality in the upper Han River, China. Correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression models revealed significant correlations between ions (i.e., Cl−, SO4 2−, Na+ and K+) and land cover (i.e., vegetation and bare land) over the entire catchment in both high- and low-flow periods, and in the buffer zone the correlation was much more stronger in the low-flow period. Catchment with steeper slope (>15°) was negatively correlated with major ions, largely due to multicollinearity of basin characteristics. Land cover within the buffer zone explained slightly less of major elements than at catchment scale in the rainy season, whereas in the dry season, land cover along the river networks in particular this within 100 m riparian zone much better explained major elements rather than this over the entire catchment. Anthropogenic land uses (i.e., urban and agriculture) however could not explain water chemical variables, albeit EC, TDS, anthropogenic markers (Cl−, NO3 −, SO4 2), Na+, K+ and Ca2+ significantly increased during 2005–2010, which was corroborated by principal component analyses (PCA) that indicated anthropogenic inputs. Observations demonstrated much higher solute concentrations in the industrial-polluted river. Our results suggested that seasonal evolution of water quality in combined with spatial analysis at multiple scales should be a vital part of identifying the controls on spatio-temporal patterns of water quality.

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Effect of basin physical characteristics on solute fluxes in nine alpine/subalpine basins, Colorado, USA

Cited by 31 publications

References 30 publications

The High Arctic glacial ecosystem: new insights from nutrient budgets

The High Arctic glacial ecosystem: new insights from nutrient budgets

Response of lake chemistry to changes in atmospheric deposition and climate in three high-elevation wilderness areas of Colorado

Effects of Catchment and Riparian Landscape Setting on Water Chemistry and Seasonal Evolution of Water Quality in the Upper Han River Basin, China

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