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1.
Periodic summer hypoxia occurring in the Northern Gulf of Mexico has been attributed to large nutrient inputs, especially nitrate‐nitrogen, from the Mississippi–Atchafalaya River system. The 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan calls for river corridor wetland restoration to reduce nitrate loads, but it is largely unknown how effective riverine wetland systems in the lower Mississippi River are for nitrate removal. We carried out an intensive isotope study to address this question by comparing nitrate isotopic signatures of the well‐channelized Mississippi River with those of the Atchafalaya River, which has extensive floodplains and backwater swamps. We investigated changes in δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3 for water samples collected biweekly to monthly over a 2‐year period at the Atchafalaya River outlets (Morgan City and Wax Lake) and on the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge. In addition, in situ water quality parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were recorded for each sampling date. Waters from both rivers showed moderately high nitrate concentration (>1 mg l?1) and undetectable (< 0.01 mg l?1) nitrite throughout the study period. The Mississippi River had slightly, but significantly higher (p=0.01) mean nitrate concentrations (1.5 mg l?1) and higher δ15NNO3 (7.7‰) than the Atchafalaya (1.1 mg l?1, 7.0‰); while no difference in δ18ONO3 (4.6‰) was found between the rivers. Flux‐weighted mean isotope values were overall lower than mean values for both the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, with a greater difference between the two rivers (7.4‰ versus 6.5‰, respectively). River flooding and hurricane storm surge also appeared to affect nitrate isotopic values. The lack of large difference in isotopic values between the Atchafalaya and Mississippi Rivers suggests that the majority of nitrate is transported through the Atchafalaya River with relatively little processing, and that riverine floodplains and wetlands are not effective sinks for nitrate, as previously assumed, because of insufficient residence time and well‐oxygenated river waters. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

2.
Shi Qi  Wei Liu  Heping Shu  Fei Liu  Jinzhu Ma 《水文研究》2020,34(20):3941-3954
The sources and storage of soil NO3 in the western Tengger Desert, Northwest China, were explored using water chemistry analysis and stable isotope techniques. In line with the expansion and development of oases, part of the desert has been transformed into cultivated land and artificial forest land. The mean soil NO3 contents found in areas of cultivated land and artificial forest were 123.06 mg kg−1 and 1.26 mg kg−1, far higher and slightly lower than the background desert soil values, respectively. The δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 values in cultivated soils ranged from 1.00 to 11.81 ‰, and from −1.85 to 8.99 ‰, respectively, and the mean mNO3/Cl value in cultivated soils was 2.3. These figures would appear to demonstrate that the rapid increase in the nitrate content in soils is principally due to the use of nitrogen fertilizer. Such increases in soil NO3 storage is likely to promote the leaching of nitrogen into the groundwater where coarsely textured soils exist, the pollution of water sources used for irrigation water, and extreme precipitation events. The δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 values in groundwater ranged from 3.72 to 6.54 ‰, and from −0.19 to 12.06 ‰, respectively, mainly reflecting the nitrification of soil nitrogen. These values appeared similar to those measured in the soil water in adjacent areas of cultivated land and vegetated desert, indicating that the groundwater has been affected by both natural and artificial NO3. Artificial afforestation of desert regions would therefore seem to be a useful way of reducing the threat posed by anthropogenic sources to the circulation of NO3-N within arid regions, as well as promoting wind sheltering and sand fixation. This study explored the NO3 storage and groundwater quality responses to oasis development in arid areas in an attempt to provide effective information for local agricultural organizations and agricultural nitrogen management models.  相似文献   

3.
Nitrate monitoring is commonly conducted with low-spatial resolution, only at the outlet or at a small number of selected locations. As a result, the information about spatial variations in nitrate export and its drivers is scarce. In this study, we present results of high-spatial resolution monitoring conducted between 2012 and 2017 in 65 sub-catchments in an Alpine mesoscale river catchment characterized by a land-use gradient. We combined stable isotope techniques with Bayesian mixing models and geostatistical methods to investigate nitrate export and its main drivers, namely, microbial N turnover processes, land use and hydrological conditions. In the investigated sub-catchments, mean values of NO3 concentrations and its isotope signatures (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) varied from 2.6 to 26.7 mg L−1, from −1.3‰ to 13.1‰, and from −0.4‰ to 10.1‰, respectively. In this study, land use was an important driver for nitrate export. Very strong and strong positive correlations were found between percentages of agricultural land cover and δ15NNO3, and NO3 concentration, respectively. Mean proportional contributions of NO3 sources varied spatially and seasonally, and followed land-use patterns. The mean contribution of manure and sewage was much higher in the catchments characterized by a high percentage of agricultural and urban land cover comparing to forested sub-catchments. Specific NO3 loads were strongly correlated with specific discharge and moderately correlated with NO3 concentrations. The nitrate isotope and concentration analysis results suggest that nitrate from external sources is stored and accumulated in soil storage pools. Nitrification of reduced nitrogen species in those pools plays the most important role for the N-dynamics in the Erlauf river catchment. Consequently, nitrification of reduced N sources was the main nitrate source except for a number of sub-catchments dominated by agricultural land use. In the Erlauf catchment, denitrification plays only a minor role in controlling NO3 export on a regional scale.  相似文献   

4.
The Dakar region is a mega city with multiple contaminant sources from urban expansion as well as industrial and agricultural activities. The major part of the region is underlain by unconfined sandy aquifer, which is vulnerable to contaminants derived from human land use. At present, the contaminated groundwater which extends over a large area in the suburban zone of Thiaroye poses a threat to the future of this valuable resource, and more specifically, a health threat. This study focuses on nitrate pollution occurrences and associated processes using nitrate isotope data (15NNO3, 18ONO3) combined with environmental isotopic tracers (18O, 2H, and 3H). Samples from 36 wells were collected to determine the level, distribution, and sources of contamination in relation to land use. Results indicate that shallow groundwater in the urbanized area of Thiaroye shows distinct evidence of surface contamination with nitrate as much as 300 mg/l NO3?. In rural area not serviced by water supply distribution network, much higher NO3? contents were found in few wells due to household and livestock feedlots. In most groundwater samples δ15N values ranged from + 10 to + 22‰, indicative of predominantly human and animal wastes. This was confirmed by environmental isotope data which suggest a mixture of polluted recharge waters. By using the dual δ15N vs δ18O as well as δ15N vs NO3? approach, denitrification may occur to some extent but it is blurred by mixing with new infiltrated nitrates and cycling derived from continuous leaky septic system. Results suggest that nitrate contamination of the aquifer is a consequence of unregulated urbanisation (homemade latrines), continuing contaminant transfer in shallow water depth where aerobic conditions prevail. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

5.
Preliminary vadose zone nitrate extraction experiments have revealed the extractant (2N KCl) volume affects the determination of nitrate and its nitrogen isotope ratio. In five cores, extractable NO3-N concentrations increased an average of 1.7 times after the soil-to-extractant ratio was increased from 1:1 to 1:10. An increased extractant volume resulted in a large positive shift of stable nitrogen values (δ15N), which averaged +6.2%. An underestimation of available NO3-N for leaching and transport through the vadose zone and a biased source interpretation from the δ15N values probably would occur if a procedure which leads to incomplete extraction of nitrate is used.  相似文献   

6.
We evaluated sources and pathways of groundwater recharge for a heterogeneous alluvial aquifer beneath an agricultural field, based on multi‐level monitoring of hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes of a riverside groundwater system at Buyeo, Korea. Two distinct groundwater zones were identified with depth: (1) a shallow oxic groundwater zone, characterized by elevated concentrations of NO3? and (2) a deeper (>10–14 m from the ground surface) sub‐oxic groundwater zone with high concentrations of dissolved Fe, silica, and HCO3?, but little nitrate. The change of redox zones occurred at a depth where the aquifer sediments change from an upper sandy stratum to a silty stratum with mud caps. The δ18O and δ2H values of groundwater were also different between the two zones. Hydrochemical and δ18O? δ2H data of oxic groundwater are similar to those of soil water. This illustrates that recharge of oxic groundwater mainly occurs through direct infiltration of rain and irrigation water in the sandy soil area where vegetable cropping with abundant fertilizer use is predominant. Oxic groundwater is therefore severely contaminated by agrochemical pollutants such as nitrate. In contrast, deeper sub‐oxic groundwater contains only small amounts of dissolved oxygen (DO) and NO3?. The 3H contents and elevated silica concentrations in sub‐oxic groundwater indicate a somewhat longer mean residence time of groundwater within this part of the aquifer. Sub‐oxic groundwater was also characterized by higher δ18O and δ2H values and lower d‐excess values, indicating significant evaporation during recharge. We suggest that recharge of sub‐oxic groundwater occurs in the areas of paddy rice fields where standing irrigation and rain water are affected by strong evaporation, and that reducing conditions develop during subsequent sub‐surface infiltration. This study illustrates the existence of two groundwater bodies with different recharge processes within an alluvial aquifer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

7.
Transport and losses of nitrate from sloped soils are closely linked to nitrogen fertilizer management. Previous studies have always focused on different types of fertilizer applications and rarely analysed various initial nitrate distributions as a result of nitrogen fertilizer applications. Under certain conditions, both subsurface lateral saturated flow and vertical leaching dominate nitrate losses. Soil tank experiments and HYDRUS‐2D modelling were used to better understand the subsurface nitrate transport and losses through lateral saturated flow and vertical leaching under various initial nitrate distributions. Low (L: 180 mg L?1), normal (N: 350 mg L?1), and high (H: 500 mg L?1) nitrate concentrations were used in five different distributions (NNNN, NLLN, LHHL, LNLN, and HNHN) along the slope of the tank. The first two treatments (NNNN and NLLN) were analysed both experimentally and numerically. Experiments were conducted under 12 rainfall events at intervals of 3 days. The HYDRUS‐2D model was calibrated and validated against the experimental data and demonstrated good model performance. The other three treatments (LHHL, LNLN, and HNHN) were investigated using the calibrated model. Nitrate concentrations in purple sloped soils declined exponentially with time under intermittent rainfalls, predominantly in the upper soil layers. Non‐uniform initial nitrate distributions contributed to larger differences between four locations along the slope in deeper soil layers. The non‐uniform nitrate distribution either enhanced or reduced decreases in nitrate concentrations in areas with higher or lower initial nitrate concentrations, respectively. Higher nitrate concentrations at the slope foot and along the slope were reduced mainly by lateral flow and vertical leaching, respectively. Increasing nitrogen application rates increased subsurface nitrate losses. Mean subsurface lateral nitrate fluxes were twice as large as mean vertical leaching nitrate fluxes. However, due to longer leaching durations, total nitrate losses due to vertical leaching were comparable with those due to lateral flow, which indicated comparable environmental risks to surface waters and groundwater.  相似文献   

8.
To investigate the origin and behaviour of nitrate in alluvial aquifers adjacent to Nakdong River, Korea, we chose two representative sites (Wolha and Yongdang) having similar land‐use characteristics but different geology. A total of 96 shallow groundwater samples were collected from irrigation and domestic wells tapping alluvial aquifers. About 63% of the samples analysed had nitrate concentrations that exceeded the Korean drinking water limit (44·3 mg l?1 NO3?), and about 35% of the samples had nitrate concentrations that exceeded the Korean groundwater quality standard for agricultural use (88·6 mg l?1 NO3?). Based on nitrogen isotope analysis, two major nitrate sources were identified: synthetic fertilizer (about 4‰ δ15N) applied to farmland, and animal manure and sewage (15–20‰ δ15N) originating from upstream residential areas. Shallow groundwater in the farmland generally had higher nitrate concentrations than those in residential areas, due to the influence of synthetic fertilizer. Nitrate concentrations at both study sites were highest near the water table and then progressively decreased with depth. Nitrate concentrations are also closely related to the geologic characteristics of the aquifer. In Yongdang, denitrification is important in regulating nitrate chemistry because of the availability of organic carbon from a silt layer (about 20 m thick) below a thin, sandy surface aquifer. In Wolha, however, conservative mixing between farmland‐recharged water and water coming from a village is suggested as the dominant process. Mixing ratios estimated based on the nitrate concentrations and the δ15N values indicate that water originating from the village affects the nitrate chemistry of the shallow groundwater underneath the farmland to a large extent. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

9.
Indirect nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions produced by nitrogen (N) leaching into surface water and groundwater bodies are poorly understood in comparison to direct N2O emissions from soils. In this study, dissolved N2O concentrations were measured weekly in both lowland headwater streams and subsurface agricultural field drain discharges over a 2‐year period (2013–2015) in an intensive arable catchment, Norfolk, UK. All field drain and stream water samples were found to have dissolved N2O concentrations higher than the water–air equilibrium concentration, illustrating that all sites were acting as a net source of N2O emissions to the atmosphere. Soil texture was found to significantly influence field drain N2O dynamics, with mean concentrations from drains in clay loam soils (5.3 μg N L?1) being greater than drains in sandy loam soils (4.0 μg N L?1). Soil texture also impacted upon the relationships between field drain N2O concentrations and other water quality parameters (pH, flow rate, and nitrate (NO3) and nitrite (NO2) concentrations), highlighting possible differences in N2O production mechanisms in different soil types. Catchment antecedent moisture conditions influenced the storm event mobilisation of N2O in both field drains and streams, with the greatest concentration increases recorded during precipitation events preceded by prolonged wet conditions. N2O concentrations also varied seasonally, with the lowest mean concentrations typically occurring during the summer months (JJA). Nitrogen fertiliser application rates and different soil inversion regimes were found to have no effect on dissolved N2O concentrations, whereas higher N2O concentrations recorded in field drains under a winter cover crop compared to fallow fields revealed cover crops are an ineffective greenhouse gas emission mitigation strategy. Overall, this study highlights the complex interactions governing the dynamics of dissolved N2O concentrations in field drains and headwater streams in a lowland intensive agricultural catchment.  相似文献   

10.
Nitrogen isotope values (δ15N) of surface sediments in the German Bight of the North Sea exhibit a significant gradient from values of 5–6‰ of the open shelf sea to values above 11‰ in the German Bight. This signal has been attributed to high reactive N (Nr) loading enriched in 15N from rivers and the atmosphere. To better understand the processes that determine the intensity and spatial distribution of δ15N anomalies in surface sediments, and to explore their usefulness for reconstructions of pristine N-input from rivers, we modeled the cycling of the stable isotopes 14N and 15N in reactive nitrogen through the ecosystem of the central and southern North Sea (50.9–57.3°N, 3.4°W−9.2°E) for the year 1995. The 3D-ecosystem model ECOHAM amended with an isotope-tracking module was validated by δ15N data of surface sediments within the model domain. A typical marine value (δ15Nnitrate=5‰) was prescribed for nitrate advected into the model domain at the seaside boundaries, whereas δ15Nnitrate of river inputs were those measured bi-monthly over 1 year; δ15N values of atmospheric deposition were set to 6‰ and 7‰ for NOx and NHy, respectively. The simulated δ15N values of different nitrogen compounds in the German Bight strongly depend on the mass transfers in the ecosystem. These fluxes, summarized in a nitrogen budget for 1995, give an estimate of the impacts of hydrodynamical and hydrological boundary conditions, and internal biogeochemical transformations on the nitrogen budget of the bight.  相似文献   

11.
In Germany, wastewater legislation requires all municipal and industrial leachate to be subjected to toxicity tests. However, no phytotoxicity tests using higher plants are currently included among the standard tests. Freshwater microalgae have been used in most phytotoxicity tests and have often been considered as surrogates for higher plants. However, microalgae often do not show the same sensitivity as higher plants and have major disadvantages for the testing of unmodified environmental samples. In the following study, we evaluated the suitability of the giant duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza for assessing the toxicity of a municipal landfill leachate and two leachates of copper mining residue. Duckweed static toxicity tests were performed, and frond number was the endpoint used to calculate EC50 values. Symptoms of stress (chlorosis, necrosis, root destruction, and colony breakup) were also recorded. The landfill leachate was toxic with EC50;96h values ranging from 1.3 to 2.7% leachate (v/v). Toxicity of the copper slag leachate was largely determined by the elution method used. Leachate obtained using conventional German leaching methods (S4-eluate) was not toxic to duckweed, whereas EC50 values for the pHstat4-eluate ranged from 3.2 to 4.2% leachate (v/v). The results demonstrate the suitability of S. polyrhiza for the testing of unmodified wastewater samples and provide further evidence for the addition of a duckweed toxicity test to the standard tests conducted in Germany.  相似文献   

12.
Stable isotopic signatures (δ13C and δ15N) and C/N ratios of suspended particulate organic matter (POM) were investigated from the surface water of Daya Bay during summer and winter of 2015. The relatively high δ13CPOM values suggested the input of 13C-depleted terrigenous organic matter was low in Daya Bay. There were significant correlations between δ13CPOM values and chlorophyll a concentrations both during summer and winter, suggesting the δ13CPOM values were mainly controlled by the phytoplankton biomass in the surface water. The distribution of δ15NPOM values was more complicated than that of δ13CPOM and displayed low values in the outer bay and the Dan'ao River estuary. 15N-depleted ammonia originating from industrial wastewater might have strongly influenced the water quality and stable isotopic signatures of POM near the Dan'ao River estuary. The δ13CPOM and δ15NPOM values strongly reflect the influences of anthropogenic activity and eutrophication in Daya Bay.  相似文献   

13.
To clarify the sources and transformation of NO3 on the Pacific coast of Japan, observations over the continental shelf were conducted during the summer in 2005 and 2006 when the Kuroshio flowed close to and away from the coastal area, respectively. Below the halocline, there are two prominent salinity peaks that originated in two different waters. In the subsurface layer, the salinity maximum (Smax) was indicative of the Kuroshio Water (KW), while the salinity minimum (Smin) in the middle layer at ∼400 m depth was indicative of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW). δ15NNO3 ranged from 4.1‰ to 5.1‰ with a mean of 4.8±0.4‰ in the deeper water around Smin. Below 50 m depth over the shelf break, δ15NNO3 values (3.1±0.8‰ in 2005 and 4.6±0.3‰ in 2006) clearly increased as contribution of NPIW increased in 2006. On the contrary, subsurface δ15N of NO3 values (−1.1±0.1‰) remained unchanged in both years, although the contribution of the KW to the subsurface water changed significantly. This suggests that the source of NO3 has little effect on the δ15N of NO3 in this layer. The negative δ15N values also coincided with the base of the chlorophyll maximum layer suggesting that these isotopic signals must be evidence of active nitrification in the upper layer.  相似文献   

14.
. Kaste  P. J. Dillon 《水文研究》2003,17(12):2393-2407
In‐lake retention of inorganic nitrogen species (nitrate and ammonium) was estimated from mass balances in five acid‐sensitive lakes in southern Norway and eight in southern Ontario, Canada, to evaluate an empirical in‐lake N retention (RN) model. This model is included in the First‐order Acidity Balance (FAB) model, which currently is used for calculation of critical acid loads and exceedances in many countries. To estimate in‐lake RN, the FAB model uses a recommended mass transfer coefficient (SN) of 5 m year−1, which mainly is derived from NO3 mass balances in Canadian lakes. To date, the in‐lake RN model has not been evaluated for large parts of Europe. At the Norwegian study sites receiving the highest N deposition (>120 meq m−2 year−1) the net in‐lake retention of inorganic N (TIN) exceeded the corresponding terrestrial retention by a factor of 1·1–2·6. Despite differences in N loading and hydrology at the Norwegian and Canadian sites, both the mean mass transfer coefficients for NO3 (SNO3; 6·5 versus 5·6 m year−1) and TIN (STIN; 7·9 versus 7·0 m year−1) were of comparable magnitude. Both mean values and ranges of SNO3 suggest that the default SN value presently recommended for FAB model applications seems valid over a large range in N inputs and areal water loads (qs). However, owing to the relatively few data available for lakes with high qs values (15–150 m year−1), it is recommended that more lakes within this range be included in future studies to obtain a more precise prediction of in‐lake N retention over a wide qs gradient. Also, when considering that the FAB model treats all inorganic N leaching from a catchment as NO3, it seems reasonable to use a default STIN value instead of just SNO3 when estimating in‐lake RN. In that case, the in‐lake RN presently calculated by the FAB model might be slightly underestimated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

15.
High concentrations of N and P in biosolids are one of the strongest appeals for their agronomic use. However, it is essential to understand the fate of N in soils treated with biosolids for both plant nutrition and managing the environmental risk of NO 3 -N leaching. This work aims to evaluate the risk of nitrate leaching from a sandy Podosol soil and from a clay Ferrosol soil, each one amended at the range 0.5–8.0 dry Mg/ha rates of freshly tertiary sewage sludge, composted sludge, limed sludge, heating-dried sludge and solar-irradiated sludge. Results showed that for similar biosolids application rates NO 3 -N accumulated up to 3 times as much in the Ferrosol than in Podosol soil. However, there was a fixed 20% NO 3 -N loss from the 20 cm amended-Ferrosol topsoil, whilst the N-nitrified expected to leach down from 20 cm amended-Podosol topsoil layer ranged from 42% to 76% of the accumulated NO 3 -N, depending on the biosolid type. After all, NO 3 -N expected to leach from Podosol soil ranged from 0.6 (heating-dried sludge) to 3.9 times (limed sludge) relative to Ferrosol soil at similar biosolid application rates. Nevertheless, the risk of NO 3 -N groundwater contamination caused by biosolids applied at 0.5−8.0 dry Mg/ha rates could be considered very low. Published in Russian in Vodnye Resursy, 2006, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 492–503.  相似文献   

16.
More than 1000 feet of fine-textured, unsaturated zone core beneath nitrogen-fertilized and irrigated farmland was collected, leached and analyzed for nitrate-nitrogen. Fertility plots treated with 200, 300, and 400 Ibs N/acre/yr accumulated significant quantities of nitrate-nitrogen in the vadose zone below the crop rooting zone. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration approximately doubled with each 100 lbs N/acre/yr increment above the 100 lbs N/ acre/ yr treatment. Nitrate loading estimates for the plots treated with 400 lbs N/ acre/ yr indicate that over 1200 lbs N/ acre was in the vadose zone beneath the crop rooting zone. In 15 years, the nitrate moved vertically at least 60 feet through these fine-textured, unsaturated sediments. As much as 600 lbs N/acre have accumulated in the vadose zone under independent corn producers'fields.
Vadose zone sampling is effective in predicting future non-point nitrate-contaminated areas.  相似文献   

17.
Previous studies of the Dakota Aquifer in South Dakota attributed elevated groundwater sulfate concentrations to Madison Aquifer recharge in the Black Hills with subsequent chemical evolution prior to upward migration into the Dakota Aquifer. This study examines the plausibility of a Madison Aquifer origin for groundwater in northeastern Nebraska. Dakota Aquifer water samples were collected for major ion chemistry and isotopic analysis (18O, 2H, 3H, 14C, 13C, 34S, 18O-SO4, 87Sr, 37Cl). Results show that groundwater beneath the eastern, unconfined portion of the study area is distinctly different from groundwater sampled beneath the western, confined portion. In the east, groundwater is calcium-bicarbonate type, with δ18O values (−9.6 to −12.4) similar to local, modern precipitation (−7.4 to −10), and tritium values reflecting modern recharge. In the west, groundwater is calcium-sulfate type, having depleted δ18O values (−16 to −18) relative to local, modern precipitation, and 14C ages 32,000 to more than 47,000 years before present. Sulfate, δ18O, δ2H, δ34S, and δ18O-SO4 concentrations are similar to those found in Madison Aquifer groundwater in South Dakota. Thus, it is proposed that Madison Aquifer source water is also present within the Dakota Aquifer beneath northeastern Nebraska. A simple Darcy equation estimate of groundwater velocities and travel times using reported physical parameters from the Madison and Dakota Aquifers suggests such a migration is plausible. However, discrepancies between 14C and Darcy age estimates indicate that 14C ages may not accurately reflect aquifer residence time, due to mixtures of varying aged water.  相似文献   

18.
In snowmelt-driven mountain watersheds, the hydrologic connectivity between meteoric waters and stream flow generation varies strongly with the season, reflecting variable connection to soil and groundwater storage within the watershed. This variable connectivity regulates how streamflow generation mechanisms transform the seasonal and elevational variation in oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ18O and δD) of meteoric precipitation. Thus, water isotopes in stream flow can signal immediate connectivity or more prolonged mixing, especially in high-relief mountainous catchments. We characterized δ18O and δD values in stream water along an elevational gradient in a mountain headwater catchment in southwestern Montana. Stream water isotopic compositions related most strongly to elevation between February and March, exhibiting higher δ18O and δD values with decreasing elevation. These elevational isotopic lapse rates likely reflect increased connection between stream flow and proximal snow-derived water sources heavily subject to elevational isotopic effects. These patterns disappeared during summer sampling, when consistently lower δ18O and δD values of stream water reflected contributions from snowmelt or colder rainfall, despite much higher δ18O and δD values expected in warmer seasonal rainfall. The consistently low isotopic values and absence of a trend with elevation during summer suggest lower connectivity between summer precipitation and stream flow generation as a consequence of drier soils and greater transpiration. As further evidence of intermittent seasonal connectivity between the stream and adjacent groundwaters, we observed a late-winter flush of nitrate into the stream at higher elevations, consistent with increased connection to accumulating mineralized nitrogen in riparian wetlands. This pattern was distinct from mid-summer patterns of nitrate loading at lower elevations that suggested heightened human recreational activity along the stream corridor. These observations provide insights linking stream flow generation and seasonal water storage in high elevation mountainous watersheds. Greater understanding of the connections between surface water, soil water and groundwater in these environments will help predict how the quality and quantity of mountain runoff will respond to changing climate and allow better informed water management decisions.  相似文献   

19.
Changes in seasonality and form of precipitation alter the structure and function of grassland and steppe ecosystems and pose challenges for land management and crop production in regions like the Northern Great Plains, North America. This research uses isotopic composition of water (δ18O and δ2H) to explore the sources and fate of soil water in lower-elevation agricultural areas of the Judith River watershed, in the headwaters of the Missouri River, USA. Extensive non-irrigated cereal crop production in this area occurs on well-drained soils and depends on careful water management. Our observations indicate that colder precipitation contributes isotopically distinct water to cultivated terrace soils relative to downgradient groundwaters and streams. Riparian waters also exhibit a higher fraction of contributions from colder precipitation relative to terrace groundwaters and streams. Apparent contributions from colder precipitation in terrace and riparian soil waters suggest that snowmelt is a key component of the water supply to these systems. Riparian waters also show evidence of evaporation suggesting that water spends sufficient time in some ponds and open channels in the riparian corridor to reflect fractionation by evaporation. The evolution of water isotopic composition from soils to shallow aquifers to stream corridors indicates source water partitioning as precipitation moves through this semi-arid agricultural landscape. The apparent mixing processes evident in this evolution reveal source water dynamics that are necessary to understand plant transpiration, solute processing, and contaminant leaching processes.  相似文献   

20.
The persistence of inorganic nitrogen is assessed in a set of 21 septic system plumes located in Ontario, Canada, that were studied over a 31-year period from 1988 to 2019. In the plume zones underlying the drainfields, site mean NO3 values averaged 34 ± 27 mg N/L and exceeded the nitrate drinking water limit (DWL) of 10 mg N/L at 16 of 21 sites. In plume zones extending up to 30 m downgradient from the drainfields, site mean NO3 values averaged 24 ± 20 mg N/L and exceeded the DWL at 9 of 13 sites. Site mean total inorganic nitrogen (TIN; NH4+ + NO3 − N) removal averaged 34 ± 26% in the drainfield zones and 36 ± 44% in the downgradient plume zones, indicating that much of the removal occurred within the drainfields. Removal was much higher at nine sites where drainfield TIN included >10% NH4+ (62 ± 25% removal). TIN removal was not correlated with wastewater loading rate, system age, or sediment carbonate mineral content, but was correlated with water table depth, where shallower water table sites had generally less complete wastewater oxidation. At many of these sites, both NO3 and NH4+ were present together in the plumes and were lost concomitantly, suggesting that the anammox reaction was making an important contribution to the observed TIN loss. When groundwater nitrate contamination is a concern, considering on-site treatment system designs that lead to a lesser degree of wastewater oxidation, could be a useful approach for enhancing N removal.  相似文献   

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