Time-series of δ26Mg values in a headwater catchment reveal decreasing magnesium isotope variability from precipitation to runoff |
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| Authors: | Martin Novak Alexandre Andronikov Pavel Kram Jan Curik Frantisek Veselovsky Marketa Stepanova Eva Prechova Ondrej Sebek Leona Bohdalkova |
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| Institution: | Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Prague, Czech Republic |
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| Abstract: | Data on temporal variability in Mg isotope ratios of atmospheric deposition and runoff are critical for decreasing the uncertainty associated with construction of isotope mass balances in headwater catchments, and statistical evaluation of isotope differences among Mg pools and fluxes. Such evaluations, in turn, are needed to distinguish between biotic and abiotic contributions to Mg2+ in catchment runoff. We report the first annual time-series of δ26Mg values simultaneously determined for rainfall, canopy throughfall, soil water and runoff. The studied 55-ha catchment, situated in western Czech Republic, is underlain by Mg-rich amphibolite and covered by mature spruce stands. Between 1970 and 1996, the site received extremely high amounts of acid deposition and fly ash form nearby coal-burning power plants. The δ26Mg values of open-area precipitation (median of −0.79‰) at our study site were statistically indistinguishable from the δ26Mg values of throughfall (−0.73‰), but significantly different from the δ26Mg values of soil water (−0.55‰) and runoff (−0.55‰). The range of δ26Mg values during the observation period decreased in the order: open-area precipitation (0.57‰) > throughfall (0.27‰) > runoff (0.21‰) > soil water (0.16‰). The decreasing variability in δ26Mg values of Mg2+ from precipitation to soil water and runoff reflected an increasing homogenization of atmospheric Mg in the catchment and its mixing with geogenic Mg. In addition to atmospheric Mg, runoff also contained Mg mobilized from the three major solid Mg pools, bedrock (δ26Mg of −0.32‰), soil (−0.28‰), and vegetation (−0.31‰). The drought of summer 2019 did not affect the nearly constant δ26Mg value of runoff. Collectively, our data show that within-catchment processes buffer the Mg isotope variability of the atmospheric input. |
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| Keywords: | Mg cycle Mg isotopes Mg sources precipitation spruce stream water throughfall |
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