Characteristics of suspended sediment and metal transport during ice breakup, Saint John River, Canada

Beltaos, Spyros; Burrell, Brian C.

doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.12.009

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…A relatively weak affinity to solid phases was also observed for Sr in both the Haraz and the Steinlach catchment (average log C SUS / C W = 2.5 to 2.6 L kg -1 ). This was reported also by Ji et al [ 30 ] for Sr as an indicator element of soil and rock weathering, and by Beltaos and Burrel [ 8 ] with similarly low log C SUS / C W values (2.7 L kg -1 ) in comparison to other metals. The Haraz basin also shows lower K d for Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in comparison with the German (Ammer and Steinlach) study catchments.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 78%

“…In comparison with organic pollutants, metals have not been widely included in such proxy-aided estimations. Recently, Beltaos and Burrell [ 8 ] showed correlations between total concentrations of 17 metals and TSS in the Saint John River, Canada, during the ice melting period, when extremely high loads of suspended solids are transported. Nasrabadi et al [ 18 ] reported robust linear correlations between TSS/turbidity and total concentrations of metals (Ni, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Co, As, and Sr) in a single monitoring campaign in the Haraz River in the southern Caspian Sea Basin, an area affected by intensive sand and gravel mining activities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bulk metal concentrations versus total suspended solids in rivers: Time-invariant & catchment-specific relationships

et al. 2018

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Suspended particles in rivers can act as carriers of potentially bioavailable metal species and are thus an emerging area of interest in river system monitoring. The delineation of bulk metals concentrations in river water into dissolved and particulate components is also important for risk assessment. Linear relationships between bulk metal concentrations in water (CW,tot) and total suspended solids (TSS) in water can be used to easily evaluate dissolved (CW, intercept) and particle-bound metal fluxes (CSUS, slope) in streams (CW,tot = CW + CSUS TSS). In this study, we apply this principle to catchments in Iran (Haraz) and Germany (Ammer, Goldersbach, and Steinlach) that show differences in geology, geochemistry, land use and hydrological characteristics. For each catchment, particle-bound and dissolved concentrations for a suite of metals in water were calculated based on linear regressions of total suspended solids and total metal concentrations. Results were replicable across sampling campaigns in different years and seasons (between 2013 and 2016) and could be reproduced in a laboratory sedimentation experiment. CSUS values generally showed little variability in different catchments and agree well with soil background values for some metals (e.g. lead and nickel) while other metals (e.g. copper) indicate anthropogenic influences. CW was elevated in the Haraz (Iran) catchment, indicating higher bioavailability and potential human and ecological health concerns (where higher values of CSUS/CW are considered as a risk indicator).

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bulk metal concentrations versus total suspended solids in rivers: Time-invariant & catchment-specific relationships

et al. 2018

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“…Cadmium concentrations in the sediment had a high positive correlation with the percentage of organic carbon in the sediment, supporting this explanation. Beltaos and Burrell (2016) also found evidence for a strong metal association with the suspended sediment raised during ice jams in the Wolastoq | Saint John River, suggesting that flood pulses facilitate metal transport throughout the watershed. Moreover, their research indicated that measured aquatic concentrations of aluminum, iron and copper could be orders of magnitude higher during breakup conditions than openwater conditions (Beltaos and Burrell, 2016).…”

Section: Spatial Heterogeneity Of Wetland Habitat Is Shaped By Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 77%

“…Beltaos and Burrell (2016) also found evidence for a strong metal association with the suspended sediment raised during ice jams in the Wolastoq | Saint John River, suggesting that flood pulses facilitate metal transport throughout the watershed. Moreover, their research indicated that measured aquatic concentrations of aluminum, iron and copper could be orders of magnitude higher during breakup conditions than openwater conditions (Beltaos and Burrell, 2016). This said, across the GLM complex, very few metals were above aquatic toxicity guidelines (Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment, 2014; for average concentrations see Supplementary Tables 2, 3), with the exception of those few (e.g., iron and aluminum) that are naturally abundant crustal elements in the underlying geology of the Wolastoq | Saint John River watershed and are therefore found at high concentrations (Canadian Rivers Institute, 2011).…”

Section: Spatial Heterogeneity Of Wetland Habitat Is Shaped By Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 77%

The Beautiful and the Dammed: Defining Multi-Stressor Disturbance Regimes in an Atlantic River Floodplain Wetland

et al. 2021

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Natural hydrological fluctuations within river floodplains generate habitat diversity through variable connections between habitat patches and the main river channel. Human modification of floodplains can alter the magnitude and frequency of large floods and associated sediment movement by interrupting these floodplain connections. The lower Wolastoq | Saint John River and its associated floodplain wetlands are experiencing anthropogenic disturbances arising from climate change, increased urbanization in the watershed, changing upstream agricultural landscape practices, and, most notably, major road and dam construction. By comparing digitized aerial images, we identified key periods of change in wetland extent throughout an ecologically significant component of the floodplain, the Grand Lake Meadows and Portobello Creek wetland complex, with significant erosion evident in coves and backwater areas across the landscape following dam construction and significant accretion around the Jemseg River following highway construction. Connectivity and hydrological regime also influenced other habitat components, namely nutrients and metals retention, as well as the composition of the local macrophyte community. These findings address two key aspects of floodplain management: (1) understanding how hydrological alteration has historically influenced floodplain wetlands can inform us of how the ecosystem may respond under future conditions, such as climate change, and (2) the mechanisms by which habitat diversity and disturbance regimes filter biological communities, with the potential for patches to host a rich biodiversity continuously supporting critical ecosystem functions.

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“…Field observations and data [52,53] suggest that a large component of the sediment load being delivered during breakup derives from bank erosion processes. Although bank erosion rates have been quantified by numerous investigators for open-water flow conditions [54], this knowledge has not yet been incorporated in hydrodynamic river-ice models.…”

Section: Sediment Transport Modelling In Ice-laden Riversmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of River-Ice Breakup on Sediment Transport and Implications to Stream Environments: A Review

Beltaos

Burrell²

2021

Water

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During the breakup of river ice covers, a greater potential for erosion occurs due to rising discharge and moving ice and the highly dynamic waves that form upon ice-jam release. Consequently, suspended-sediment concentrations can increase sharply and peak before the arrival of the peak flow. Large spikes in sediment concentrations occasionally occur during the passage of sharp waves resulting from releases of upstream ice jams and the ensuing ice runs. This is important, as river form and function (both geomorphologic and ecological) depend upon sediment erosion and deposition. Yet, sediment monitoring programs often overlook the higher suspended-sediment concentrations and loads that occur during the breakup period owing to data-collection difficulties in the presence of moving ice and ice jams. In this review paper, we introduce basics of river sediment erosion and transport and of relevant phenomena that occur during the breakup of river ice. Datasets of varying volume and detail on measured and inferred suspended-sediment concentrations during the breakup period on different rivers are reviewed and compared. Possible effects of river characteristics on seasonal sediment supply are discussed, and the implications of increased sediment supply are reviewed based on seasonal comparisons. The paper also reviews the environmental significance of increased sediment supply both on water quality and ecosystem functionality.

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Characteristics of suspended sediment and metal transport during ice breakup, Saint John River, Canada

Cited by 14 publications

References 23 publications

Bulk metal concentrations versus total suspended solids in rivers: Time-invariant & catchment-specific relationships

Bulk metal concentrations versus total suspended solids in rivers: Time-invariant & catchment-specific relationships

The Beautiful and the Dammed: Defining Multi-Stressor Disturbance Regimes in an Atlantic River Floodplain Wetland

Effects of River-Ice Breakup on Sediment Transport and Implications to Stream Environments: A Review

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