Variation of organic carbon and nitrate with river flow within an oceanic regime in a rural area and potential impacts for drinking water production

Baurès, Estelle; Delpla, Ianis; Merel, Sylvain; Thomas, Marie-Florence; Jung, Aude-Valérie; Thomas, Olivier

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.11.006

Cited by 31 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…For example, Baurès et al (2013) demonstrated a relationship between DOC and NO 3 − that was positive, and thus opposite compared with our study, during high flow rates. Therefore, further studies should consider not only base flow conditions but also event water.…”

Section: Wavelet Analysiscontrasting

confidence: 93%

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Spatiotemporal Analysis of Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrate in Waters of a Forested Catchment Using Wavelet Analysis

Weigand

Bol²,

Reichert

et al. 2017

Vadose Zone Journal

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Understanding natural controls on N and C biogeochemical cycles is important to estimate human impacts on these cycles. This study examined the spatiotemporal relationships between time series of weekly monitored stream and groundwater N and C (assessed by NO 3 − and dissolved organic C [DOC]) in the forested Wüstebach catchment (Germany). In addition to traditional correlation analysis, we applied wavelet transform coherence (WTC) analysis to study variations in the correlation and lag time between the N and C time series for different time scales. Median transit times were used to connect hydrologic and water chemistry data. We defined three stream-water groups: (i) subsurface runoff dominated locations with strong seasonal fluctuations in concentrations, short transit times, and strong negative C/N correlations with short time lags, (ii) groundwater dominated locations, with weaker seasonal fluctuations, longer transit times, and weaker C/N correlations with lags of several months, and (iii) intermediate locations, with moderate seasonal fluctuations, moderate transit times, and strong C/N correlations with short time lags. Water transit times could be identified as key drivers for the C/N relationship and we conclude that C and N transport in stream water can be explained by mixing of groundwater and subsurface runoff. Complemented by transit times and the hydrochemical time series, WTC analysis allowed us to discriminate between different water sources (groundwater vs. subsurface runoff). In conclusion, we found that in time series studies of hydrochemical data, e.g., DOC and NO 3 − , WTC analysis can be a viable tool to identify spatiotemporally dependent relationships in catchments.Abbreviations: COI, cone of influence; CWT, continuous wavelet transform; DOC, dissolved organic carbon; MedTT, median transit time; WTC, wavelet transform coherence; XWT, cross wavelet transform.The cycles of nutrients such as N and C are closely linked. For example, N saturation is linked to C limitation in the soil for microbial processes (Kopáček et al., 2013). In aqueous ecosystems, increasing NO 3 − concentrations (Galloway et al., 2008) and widespread significant increases in the concentrations of dissolved organic C (DOC) in streams during the last two decades have become a major global issue (e.g., Evans et al., 2005;Galloway et al., 2008;Vitousek et al., 1997). Newly created reactive N (biologically or photochemically active) contributes to environmental problems such as air pollution, eutrophication, soil acidification, and climate change (Vitousek et al., 1997;Galloway et al., 2008). The environmental and therefore also social consequences require detailed spatiotemporal models to predict the fate of reactive N across environments (e.g., Mulholland et al., 2008;Taylor and Townsend, 2010;Barnes and Raymond, 2010). For this purpose, it might be important to understand causal links to the spatiotemporal patterns of DOC. Core Ideas• WTC analysis was used to elucidate the non-stationary C/N relationship at different time...

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Section: Wavelet Analysiscontrasting

confidence: 93%

“…This fact might help to realign previous findings of other researchers on different correlations at varying scales, e.g., Taylor and Townsend (2010) on global negative correlations and Baurès et al (2013) on a positive correlation at short timescales during high flow rates.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrate in Waters of a Forested Catchment Using Wavelet Analysis

Weigand

Bol²,

Reichert

et al. 2017

Vadose Zone Journal

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“…Because point sources were absent, these results suggested reduced input from non‐point sources during low‐flow periods. Evidence for reduced loads during low‐flow due to changed water origin compared to normal conditions was also found elsewhere (Baures et al, ; Burt & Worrall, ; Burt, Worrall, Howden, & Anderson, ; Foster & Walling, ; Morecroft, Burt, Taylor, & Rowland, ; Zielinski, Gorniak, & Piekarski, ).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 67%

“…Many studies reported higher water temperatures during low-flow periods (Baures et al, 2013;Chessman & Robinson, 1987;Hanslík, Marešová, Juranová, & Vlnas, 2016;Sprague, 2005;van Vliet & Zwolsman, 2008;Zielinski et al, 2009). On the one hand, increased water temperatures intensify biological activity, particularly, primary production releasing oxygen and taking up nutrients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns in the linkage of water quantity and quality during low‐flows

Hellwig

Stahl

Lange

2017

Hydrological Processes

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This study investigates 72 catchments across the federal state of Baden‐Wuerttemberg, Germany, for changes in water quality during low‐flow events. Data from the state's water quality monitoring network provided seven water quality parameters (water temperature, electrical conductivity, concentrations of chloride, sodium, sulfate, nitrate, and phosphate), which were statistically related to streamflow variability. Water temperature changes during low‐flow showed seasonal dependence. Nitrate concentrations revealed high spatial heterogeneity with about one third of the stations showing decreasing values during low discharge. For most other parameters, concentrations increased during low‐flow. Despite consistent trend directions, the magnitudes of changes with streamflow differed markedly across the state. Both multiple linear regression and a multiple analysis of variances were applied to explain these differences with the help of catchment characteristics. Results indicated that for sulfate and conductivity, geology of the catchments was the most important control, whereas for chloride, sodium, and nitrate, sewage treatment plants had the largest influence. For phosphate, no clear control could be identified. Independent from the applied method, land use was a less important control on river water quality during low‐flow than geology or inflow from sewage treatment plants. These results show that the effects of diffuse and point sources, as well as those of natural and anthropogenic sources differ for different water quality parameters. Overall, a high diversity of potential water quality deterioration signals needs to be considered when the ecological status of rivers is to be protected during low‐flow events.

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“…Mosley (2015) reviewed and integrated efforts that studied drought impacts on the water quality of freshwater systems. Most studies concluded that water temperature increased during hydrological drought episodes (Baures et al, 2013;Ha, Cho, Kim, & Joo, 1999;Hanslík, Marešová, Juranová, & Vlnas, 2016;Van Vliet & Zwolsman, 2008), whereas two studies observed no significant changes in water temperature (Mosley et al, 2012;Wilbers, Zwolsman, Klaver, & Hendriks, 2009). Higher water temperature intensifies biological activity, leading to more oxygen release.…”

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confidence: 99%

Revisiting hydrological drought propagation and recovery considering water quantity and quality

Ahmadi

Moradkhani

2019

Hydrological Processes

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Climate extremes, in particular droughts, are significant driving forces towards riverine ecosystem disturbance. Drought impacts on stream ecosystems include losses that can be either direct (e.g., destruction of habitat for aquatic species) or indirect (e.g., deterioration of water quality, soil quality, and increased chance of wildfires). This paper combines hydrologic drought and water quality changes during droughts and represents a multistage framework to detect and characterize hydrological droughts while considering water quality parameters. This method is applied to 52 streamflow stations in the state of California, USA, over the study period of 1950–2010. The framework is assessed and validated based on two drought events declared by the state in 2002 and 2008. Results show that there are two opposite drought propagation patterns in northern and southern California. In general, northern California indicates more frequent droughts with shorter time to recover. Chronology of drought shows that stations located in southern California have not followed a specific pattern but they experienced longer drought episodes with prolonged drought recovery. When considering water quality, results show that droughts either deteriorate or enhance water systems, depending on the parameter of interest. Undesirable changes (e.g., increased temperature and decreased dissolved oxygen) are observed during droughts. In contrast, decreased turbidity is detected in rivers during drought episodes, which is desirable in water systems. Nevertheless, water quality deteriorates during drought recovery, even after drought termination. Depending on climatic and streamflow characteristics of the watersheds, it was found that it would take nearly 2 months on average for water quality to recover after drought termination.

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Variation of organic carbon and nitrate with river flow within an oceanic regime in a rural area and potential impacts for drinking water production

Cited by 31 publications

References 37 publications

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrate in Waters of a Forested Catchment Using Wavelet Analysis

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrate in Waters of a Forested Catchment Using Wavelet Analysis

Patterns in the linkage of water quantity and quality during low‐flows

Revisiting hydrological drought propagation and recovery considering water quantity and quality

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