Strontium 87/strontium 86 as a tracer of mineral weathering reactions and calcium sources in an Alpine/Subalpine Watershed, Loch Vale, Colorado

Clow, David W.; Mast, M. Alisa; Bullen, Thomas D.; Turk, John T.

doi:10.1029/97wr00856

Cited by 172 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The observed pattern of Interestingly, alkalinity also was negatively correlated with the AVWM Ca/Na ratio of stream water. The negative correlation might be considered surprising because the dominant source of alkalinity and Ca in surface water in Loch Vale is carbonate mineral weathering [Clow et al, 1997]. Carbonate weathering tends to increase alkalinity and the Ca/Na ratio in surface water, so one might expect a positive correlation between the two chemical parameters.…”

Section: Basin Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relations between basin characteristics and stream water chemistry in alpine/subalpine basins in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Clow¹,

Sueker²

2000

Water Resources Research

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Abstract. Relations between stream water chemistry and topographic, vegetative, and geologic characteristics of basins were evaluated for nine alpine/subalpine basins in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, to identify controlling parameters and to better understand processes governing patterns in stream water chemistry. Fractional amounts of steep slopes (->30ø), unvegetated terrain, and young surficial debris within each basin were positively correlated to each other. These terrain features, which commonly occur on steep valley side slopes underlain by talus, were negatively correlated with concentrations of base cations, silica, and alkalinity and were positively correlated with nitrate, acidity, and runoff. These relations might result from the short residence times of water and limited soil development in the talus environment, which limit chemical weathering and nitrogen uptake. Steep, unvegetated terrains also tend to promote high Ca/Na ratios in stream water, probably because physical weathering rates in those areas are high. Physical weathering exposes fresh bedrock that contains interstitial calcite, which weathers relatively quickly. The fractional amounts of subalpine meadow and, to a lesser extent, old surficial debris in the basins were positively correlated to concentrations of weathering products and were negatively correlated to nitrate and acidity. These relations may reflect more opportunities for silicate weathering and nitrogen uptake in the lower-energy environments of the valley floor, where soils are finer-grained, older, and better developed and slopes are relatively flat. These results indicate that in alpine/subalpine basins, slope, vegetation (or lack thereof), and distribution and age of surficial materials are interrelated and can have major effects on stream water chemistry.

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Section: Basin Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relations between basin characteristics and stream water chemistry in alpine/subalpine basins in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Clow¹,

Sueker²

2000

Water Resources Research

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107

111

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“…Clearly, rainwater, as the beginning in a river water system (Clow et al, 1997), contributes to river systems, and therefore isotopic composition of rainwater is a contributor (Bailey et al, 1996). The average isotope ratio of the Jinshui River water was generally similar to that of rainwater, suggesting the importance of wet deposition.…”

Section: Evolution Of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr In the River Water Systemmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Precipitation represents the beginning of the hydrologic cycle (Clow et al, 1997), thus, the rainwater data in this study are a useful chemical reference point to describe the effects of geochemical processes on natural waters in the forested watershed. Our rainwater samples had relatively low 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and relatively high Ca/ Na ratios (>8), suggesting that most of the Sr in rain water was derived from airborne carbonate dust (Åberg, 1995).…”

Section: Evolution Of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr In the River Water Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…have relatively little human activities or natural disturbances (Pett-Ridge et al, 2009). The ultimate sources of Sr to an undisturbed forested watershed are atmospheric deposition, which includes wet and dry deposition, and weathering of local bedrock minerals (Åberg, 1995;Clow et al, 1997). In the Jinshui River basin, the wet deposition dominated since the river is in a humid monsoon climate zone.…”

Section: Atmospheric and Weathering End-members In The River Water Symentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio in natural waters can also reflect the contributions made by various dissolved minerals (Clow et al, 1997). Strontium in river water is derived from two sources, the dissolved minerals in the river basin and atmospheric deposition following evaporation of seawater (Faure, 1986;Bain and Bacon, 1994;Aubert et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Strontium concentrations and isotope ratios in a forest-river system in the South Qinling Mts., China

Song

Zhang

et al. 2016

Water Research

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a b s t r a c tThe concentrations of dissolved strontium (Sr) and isotope ratios ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) in rainwater, river water, and water from forest soil are measured to investigate the contributions of these sources to a river during base flow conditions in the relatively pristine South Qinling Mountains, China. Dissolved Sr concentrations and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios vary significantly between different water types (p < 0.01) suggesting that it is suitable for differentiating sources. Dissolved Sr is also positively correlated with most ions and a range of physicochemical parameters (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively) in water samples including Ca 2þ , Mg 2þ , EC, and TDS (p < 0.001) indicating their similarities in the drivers of biogeochemical processes and common origins. The correlations between Sr isotopes and Ca/Na, Ca/K, and 1000/Sr ratios suggest that three end-members of atmospheric inputs, carbonate and silicate weathering control the Sr water chemistry in the river water. Using the three-source mixing model, atmospheric inputs, carbonate, and silicate weathering contribute 74%, 20%, and 6% respectively to the dissolved Sr in the river water. This research has provided new insights into the contribution of sources of Sr to a river system in a mountainous catchment.

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Strontium Isotopes in Water and Rock

Kazemi

2004

Water Encyclopedia

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The Sr isotopic ratio in natural water reflects the contribution made by various minerals as they dissolve in water. Rivers are the major provider of strontium to the oceans and define, to a great extent, the marine 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio. Strontium in rivers is mainly derived from two end members: limestone and evaporites as one end member (high Sr and low 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of 0.706–0.709) and silicate rocks as the other end member that are low in Sr and have a higher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio. Processes such as atmospheric deposition, cation exchange, and biological cycling, too, influence the Sr isotope ratio in water. However, unless there have been recent anthropogenic or natural disturbances, annual gains or losses of Sr from cation exchange and biological pool should be minimal.

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Strontium 87/strontium 86 as a tracer of mineral weathering reactions and calcium sources in an Alpine/Subalpine Watershed, Loch Vale, Colorado

Cited by 172 publications

References 44 publications

Relations between basin characteristics and stream water chemistry in alpine/subalpine basins in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Relations between basin characteristics and stream water chemistry in alpine/subalpine basins in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Strontium concentrations and isotope ratios in a forest-river system in the South Qinling Mts., China

Strontium Isotopes in Water and Rock

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