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Seasonal variation in major ion chemistry of a tropical mountain river,the southern Western Ghats,Kerala, India |
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| Authors: | Jobin Thomas Sabu Joseph K P Thrivikramji T M Manjusree K S Arunkumar |
| Institution: | 1. Inter University Centre for Geospatial Information Science and Technology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India 2. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India 3. Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India 4. Department of Geology, M.E.S. College, Ponnani, Kerala, India |
| Abstract: | A comprehensive and systematic study to understand various geochemical processes as well as process drivers controlling the water quality and patterns of the hydrochemical composition of river water in Muthirapuzha River Basin, MRB (a major tributary of Periyar, the longest river in Kerala, India), was carried out during various seasons, such as monsoon, post-monsoon and pre-monsoon of 2007–2008, based on the data collected at 15 monitoring stations (i.e., 15 × 3 = 45 samples). Ca2+ and Mg2+ dominate the cations, while Cl? followed by HCO3 ? dominates the anions. In general, major ion chemistry of MRB is jointly controlled by weathering of silicate and carbonate rocks, which is confirmed by relatively larger Ca2+ + Mg2+/Na+ + K+ ratios as well as Ca2+/Na+ vs. Mg2+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ vs. HCO3 ?/Na+ scatter plots. The relationship between Cl? and Na+ implies stronger contributions of anthropogenic activities modifying the hydrochemical composition, irrespective of seasons. The water types emerged from this study are transitional waters or waters that changed their chemical character by mixing with waters of geochemically different ionic signatures. However, various ionic ratios, hydrochemical plots and graphical diagrams suggest seasonality over the hydrochemical composition, which is solely controlled by the rainfall pattern. Relatively higher pCO2 indicates the disequilibrium existing in natural waterbodies vis-à-vis the atmosphere, which is an outcome of both the contribution of groundwater to stream discharge and anthropogenic activities. Hence, continuous monitoring of hydrochemical composition of mountain rivers is essential in the context of climate change, which has serious implications on tropical mountain fluvial-hydro systems. |
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