The 2014 water release into the arid Colorado River delta and associated water losses by evaporation

Daesslé, Luis Walter; Geldern, Robert van; Orozco-Durán, A.; Barth, Johannes A. C.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.157

Cited by 23 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Water infiltration is one mechanism that can enhance the ebullition of CO 2 and CH 4 from the dry riverbed by creating a positive pressure below the stored GHG zone since the majority, ~ 80% [ Daessle et al ., ] to 92% [ Flessa et al ., ], of the water in the pulse flow infiltrated into the riverbed and the surrounding floodplain. We observed gas bubbling at the flow's front along the dry riverbed (i.e., ebullition); however, direct gas measurements of the bubbles were not performed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here we report on results from this flow experiment to better understand how the mobilization of organic carbon (OC) and GHGs occurs in river reaches that have been flooded after decades of dry or semidry conditions. This is the first report on how GHGs, chemical biomarkers, and radiocarbon age of dissolved carbon were impacted by this experimental flow event in a large dry watercourse and complement recent studies focused on bulk carbon cycling [ Daessle et al ., ] and water budgets [ Daessle et al ., ] during the event. In particular, we examine how this pulse flow affected the mobilization of carbon (dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and particulate organic carbon (POC)) and greenhouse gases (CH 4 and CO 2 ) in the lower CR.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The experimental flow to the Colorado River delta: Effects on carbon mobilization in a dry watercourse

et al. 2017

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Here we report on the effects of an experimental flood on the carbon cycling dynamics in the dry watercourse of the Colorado River in Mexico. We observed post‐flood differences in the degree of decay, age, and concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), as well as dissolved CH4 and CO2 concentrations throughout the study site. Our results indicate that this flooded waterway was a limited source of CH4 and CO2 to the atmosphere during the event and that DOC age increased with time of flooding. Based on our findings, we suggest that the interplay between storage and mobilization of carbon and greenhouse gases in arid and semiarid regions is potentially sensitive to changing climate conditions, particularly hydrologic variability. Changes in the radiocarbon age of DOC throughout the flooding event suggest that organic matter (OM) that had been stored for long periods (e.g., millennial) was mobilized by the flooding event along with CO2. The OM residing in the dry riverbed that was mobilized into floodwaters had a signature reflective of degraded vascular plant OM and microbial biomass. Whether this microbial OM was living or dead, our findings support previous work in soils and natural waters showing that microbial OM can remain stable and stored in ecosystems for long time periods. As human appropriation of water resources continues to increase, the episodic drying and rewetting of once natural riverbeds and deltas may fundamentally alter the processing and storage of carbon in such systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The experimental flow to the Colorado River delta: Effects on carbon mobilization in a dry watercourse

et al. 2017

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“…Riverine continental fluxes of major elements, nutrients, and carbon phases were subsequently evaluated on a global scale (Aufdenkampe et al, 2011;Gaillardet, Dupre, Louvat, & Allegre, 1999;Gibbs, 1970;Meybeck, 1982;Meybeck, 1987;Milliman & Farnsworth, 2011;Raymond et al, 2013;Seitzinger et al, 2010;Viers, Dupré, & Gaillardet, 2009). Following these studies, numerous studies on smaller catchments and river systems were also carried out (e.g., Barth, Cronin, Dunlop, & Kalin, 2003;Brunet, Potot, Probst, & Probst, 2011;Daesslé, van Geldern, Orozco-Durán, & Barth, 2016;Daessle et al, 2017;Doctor et al, 2008;Flintrop et al, 1996;Grosbois, Négrel, Fouillac, & Grimaud, 2000;Kanduč, Mori, Kocman, Stibilj, & Grassa, 2012;Kanduč, Šturm, & McIntosh, 2013;Kanduč, Szramek, Ogrinc, & Walter, 2007;Lee, van Geldern, & Barth, 2017;Probst, Viville, Fritz, Ambroise, & Dambrine, 1992;Soulsby et al, 2007;Stögbauer et al, 2008;Zavadlav, Kanduč, McIntosh, & Lojen, 2013), and most of these showed increasing conductivities and fluxes with closer proximity to confluences with larger river systems. This trend corresponds to increasing element loads further downstream and is usually related to increasing anthropogenic activities, including traffic infrastructure, settlements, and agricultural practices in the downstream sections of catchments.…”

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confidence: 99%

Insights into agricultural influences and weathering processes from major ion patterns

Geldern

Schulte

Mäder

et al. 2018

Hydrological Processes

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Karst areas and their catchments pose a great challenge for protection because fast conduit flow results in low natural attenuation of anthropogenic contaminants. Studies of the hydrochemistry of karst sources and river solutes are an important tool for securing and managing water resources. A study of the geochemical downriver evolution of the Wiesent River and its tributaries, located in a typical karst terrain, revealed unexpected downstream decreases of nitrate with maximum mean values of 30 mg/L at the source to minimum values of 18 mg/L near the river mouth. This trend persisted over the length of the river even though increased agricultural activities are evident in the downstream section of the catchment. This pattern is caused by fertilizer inputs via diffusive and fast conduits flow from karst lithology in the upstream area that may have reached the river's source even from beyond the hydrological catchment boundaries. Further downstream, these influences became diluted by tributary inputs that drain subcatchments dominated by claystone and sandstone lithologies that increased potassium and sulphate concentrations. Our findings indicate that bedrock geology remains the dominant control on the major ion chemistry of the Wiesent River and that agricultural influences are strongest near the headwaters despite increased land use further downstream, due to long‐term storage and accumulation in karst aquifers. This feature may not be unique to the Wiesent River system, as carbonates cover significant portions of the Earth's surface and subsequent work in other river systems could establish whether such patterns are ubiquitous worldwide.

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“…These waters derive from the Río Colorado-Tijuana aqueduct, which are discharged on a riverbed 6 km away from the El Carrizo dam. Like water from the Colorado River with δ 18 O = −12.6 and δ 2 H = −102.4 [ 52 ] they have significantly more depleted isotope compositions, and high Cl − and

concentrations, but very low

[ 52 , 53 ]. The 3 H values in these samples indicate post-bomb waters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Flow Processes and Human Impact along the Arid US-Mexican Border, Evidenced by Environmental Tracers: The Case of Tecate, Baja California

Mahlknecht

Daesslé

Alberich

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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With the increasing population, urbanization and industry in the arid area of Tecate, there is a concomitant increase in contaminants being introduced into the Tecate River and its aquifer. This contamination is damaging the usable groundwater supply and making local residents and commercial enterprises increasingly dependent on imported water from the Colorado River basin. In this study we apply a suite of chemical and isotopic tracers in order to evaluate groundwater flow and assess contamination trends. Groundwater recharge occurs through mountain-block and mountain-front recharge at higher elevations of the ranges. Groundwater from the unconfined, alluvial aquifer indicates recent recharge and little evolution. The increase in salinity along the flow path is due to interaction with weathering rock-forming silicate minerals and anthropogenic sources such as urban wastewater, residual solids and agricultural runoff from fertilizers, livestock manure and/or septic tanks and latrines. A spatial analysis shows local differences and the impact of the infiltration of imported waters from the Colorado River basin. The general trend of impaired water quality has scarcely been documented in the last decades, but it is expected to continue. Since the groundwater system is highly vulnerable, it is necessary to protect groundwater sources.

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The 2014 water release into the arid Colorado River delta and associated water losses by evaporation

Cited by 23 publications

References 11 publications

The experimental flow to the Colorado River delta: Effects on carbon mobilization in a dry watercourse

The experimental flow to the Colorado River delta: Effects on carbon mobilization in a dry watercourse

Insights into agricultural influences and weathering processes from major ion patterns

Groundwater Flow Processes and Human Impact along the Arid US-Mexican Border, Evidenced by Environmental Tracers: The Case of Tecate, Baja California

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