scholarly journals Dissolved organic carbon dynamics in a UK podzolic moorland catchment: linking storm hydrochemistry, flow path analysis and sorption experiments

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 2159-2175 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Stutter ◽  
S. M. Dunn ◽  
D. G. Lumsdon
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Antecedent Conditions ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Mineral Soils

Abstract. Better knowledge of spatial and temporal delivery of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in small catchments is required to understand the mechanisms behind reported long-term changes in C fluxes from some peatlands. We monitored two storms with contrasting seasons and antecedent conditions in a small upland UK moorland catchment. We examined DOC concentrations and specific UV absorbance (SUVA at 285 nm), together with solute concentrations required to undertake end-member mixing analyses to define dominant flow paths contributing to streamflow. This was combined with laboratory soil-solution equilibrations. We aimed to resolve how seasonal biogeochemical processing of DOC and flowpath changes in organo-mineral soils combine to affect DOC exported via the stream. An August storm following a dry period gave maximum DOC concentration of 10 mg l−1. Small DOC:DON ratios (16–28) and SUVA (2.7–3.6 l mg−1 m−1) was attributed to filtration of aromatic compounds associated with up to 53% B horizon flow contributions. This selective filtration of high SUVA DOC was reproduced in the experimental batch equilibration system. For a November storm, wetter antecedent soil conditions led to enhanced soil connectivity with the stream and seven times greater DOC stream-load (maximum concentration 16 mg l−1). This storm had a 63% O horizon flow contribution at its peak, limited B horizon buffering and consequently more aromatic DOC (SUVA 3.9–4.5 l mg−1 m−1 and DOC:DON ratio 35–43). We suggest that simple mixing of waters from different flow paths cannot alone explain the differences in DOC compositions between August and November and biogeochemical processing of DOC is required to fully explain the observed stream DOC dynamics. This preliminary evidence is in contrast to other studies proposing hydrological controls on the nature of DOC delivered to streams. Although our study is based only on two storms of very different hydrological and biogeochemical periods, this should promote wider study of DOC biogeochemical alteration in headwaters so that this be better incorporated in modelling to predict the impacts of changes in DOC delivery to, and fate in, aquatic systems.

scholarly journals Dissolved organic carbon dynamics in a UK podzolic moorland catchment: linking storm hydrochemistry, flow path analysis and sorption experiments

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Stutter ◽  
S. M. Dunn ◽  
D. G. Lumsdon
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Selective Filtration ◽  
Antecedent Conditions ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Mineral Soils

Abstract. Better knowledge of spatial and temporal delivery of dissolved organic Carbon (DOC) in small catchments is required to understand the mechanisms behind reported long-term changes in C fluxes from some peatlands. We monitored two storms with contrasting seasons and antecedent conditions in a small upland UK moorland catchment. We examined DOC concentrations and specific UV absorbance (SUVA at 285 nm), together with solute concentrations required to undertake end member mixing analyses to define dominant flow paths contributing to streamflow. This was combined with laboratory soil-solution equilibrations. We aimed to resolve how seasonal biogeochemical processing of DOC and flowpath changes in organo-mineral soils combine to affect DOC exported via the stream. An August storm following a dry period gave maximum DOC concentration of 10 mg l−1. Small DOC:DON ratios (16–28) and SUVA (2.7–3.6 l mg−1 m−1) was attributed to filtration of aromatic compounds associated with up to 53% B horizon flow contributions. This selective filtration of high SUVA DOC was reproduced in the experimental batch equilibration system. For a November storm, wetter antecedent soil conditions led to enhanced soil connectivity with the stream and seven times greater DOC stream-load (maximum concentration 16 mg l−1). This storm had a 63% O horizon flow contribution at its peak, limited B horizon buffering and consequently more aromatic DOC (SUVA 3.9–4.5 l mg−1 m−1 and DOC:DON ratio 35–43). We suggest that simple mixing of waters from different flow paths cannot alone explain the differences in DOC compositions between August and November and biogeochemical processing of DOC is required to fully explain the observed stream DOC dynamics. This is in contrast to other studies proposing hydrological controls and provides evidence that DOC biogeochemistry must be incorporated in modelling to predict the impacts of changes in DOC delivery to aquatic systems.

scholarly journals Three representative UK moorland soils show differences in decadal release of dissolved organic carbon in response to environmental change

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 3661-3675 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Stutter ◽  
D. G. Lumsdon ◽  
A. P. Rowland
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Mineral Soils

Abstract. Moorland carbon reserves in organo-mineral soils may be crucial to predicting landscape-scale variability in soil carbon losses, an important component of which is dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Surface water DOC trends are subject to a range of scaling, transport and biotic processes that disconnect them from signals in the catchment's soils. Long-term soil datasets are vital to identify changes in DOC release at source and soil C depletion. Here we show, that moorland soil solution DOC concentrations at three key UK Environmental Change Network sites increased between 1993–2007 in both surface- and sub- soil of a freely-draining Podzol (48 % and 215 % increases in O and Bs horizons, respectively), declined in a gleyed Podzol and showed no change in a Peat. Our principal findings were that: (1) considerable heterogeneity in DOC response appears to exist between different soils that is not apparent from the more consistent observed trends for streamwaters, and (2) freely-draining organo-mineral Podzol showed increasing DOC concentrations, countering the current scientific focus on soil C destabilization in peats. We discuss how the key solubility controls on DOC associated with coupled physico-chemical factors of ionic strength, acid deposition recovery, soil hydrology and temperature cannot readily be separated. Yet, despite evidence that all sites are recovering from acidification the soil-specific responses to environmental change have caused divergence in soil DOC concentration trends. The study shows that the properties of soils govern their specific response to an approximately common set of broad environmental drivers. Key soil properties are indicated to be drainage, sulphate and DOC sorption capacity. Soil properties need representation in process-models to understand and predict the role of soils in catchment to global C budgets. Catchment hydrological (i.e. transport) controls may, at present, be governing the more ubiquitous rises in river DOC concentration trends, but soil (i.e. source) controls provide the key to prediction of future C loss to waters and the atmosphere.

scholarly journals Three representative UK moorland soils show differences in decadal release of dissolved organic carbon in response to environmental change

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 7823-7857
Author(s):  
M. I. Stutter ◽  
D. G. Lumsdon ◽  
A. P. Rowland
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Mineral Soils

Abstract. Moorland carbon reserves in organo-mineral soils may be crucial to predicting landscape-scale variability in soil carbon losses, an important component of which is dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Surface water DOC trends are subject to a range of scaling, transport and biotic processes that disconnect them from signals in the catchment's soils. Long-term soil datasets are vital to identify changes in DOC release at source and soil C depletion. Here we show, that moorland soil solution DOC concentrations at three key UK Environmental Change Network sites increased between 1993–2007 in both surface- and sub- soil of a freely-draining Podzol (48 % and 215 % increases in O and Bs horizons, respectively), declined in a gleyed Podzol and showed no change in a Peat. Our principal findings were that: (1) considerable heterogeneity in DOC response appears to exist between different soils that is not apparent from the more consistent observed trends for streamwaters, and (2) freely-draining organo-mineral Podzol showed increasing DOC concentrations, countering the current scientific focus on soil C destabilization in peats. We discuss how the key solubility controls on DOC associated with coupled physico-chemical factors of ionic strength, acid deposition recovery, soil hydrology and temperature cannot readily be separated. Yet, despite evidence that all sites are recovering from acidification the soil-specific responses to environmental change have caused divergence in soil DOC concentration trends. The study shows that the properties of soils govern their specific response to an approximately common set of broad environmental drivers. Key soil properties are indicated to be drainage, sulphate and DOC sorption capacity. Soil properties need representation in process-models to understand and predict the role of soils in catchment to global C budgets. Catchment hydrological (i.e. transport) controls may, at present, be governing the more ubiquitous rises in river DOC concentration trends, but soil (i.e. source) controls provide the key to prediction of future C loss to waters and the atmosphere.

Seasonal changes in pathways of dissolved organic carbon through a hillslope soil (Xeralf) with contrasting texture

Soil Research ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Chittleborough ◽  
KRJ Smettem ◽  
E Cotsaris ◽  
FW Leaney
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Podzolic Soil ◽  
Marked Decrease ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Texture Contrast

The pathways of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) through a podzolic soil (Xeralf) with strong texture contrast are described. During winter, most of the DOC passes through macropores in the profile and flows laterally through the B horizons. During summer the presence of dry, hydrophobic organic matter on the soil surface and the A1 horizon causes DOC to flow overland. DOC concentrations vary seasonally. Highest concentrations are measured during summer overland flow. For all horizons, the longer the dry period the greater the DOC concentration in the subsequent flow. During storm events there is a marked flushing effect in the B horizons but in the A horizon and the surface, DOC concentrations tend to rise. There was a marked decrease in DOC concentration in flow from the B3 compared to the upper horizons. This may be due to adsorption by fine clays lining the macropores.

scholarly journals Dissolved organic carbon concentrations vary with season and land use – investigations from two fens in Northeastern Germany over two years

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 7079-7111 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schwalm ◽  
J. Zeitz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Doc Export ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
Northeastern Germany ◽  
Carbon Concentrations ◽  
Discharge Measurements

Abstract. The rising export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from peatlands during the last 20 years is of great environmental concern, as DOC harms drinking water quality and diminishes the carbon storage of peatlands. Lack of knowledge particularly exists for fens. The aim of our study was to determine DOC concentrations at an agriculturally used fen and a rewetted fen throughout the year. We measured DOC concentrations in ditch water of these fens in 2011 and 2012. Furthermore, discharge measurements were condcucted to detect DOC export. Overall DOC concentrations at our agriculturally used site and at our rewetted site were 35 mg L−1 and 26 mg L−1 (median), respectively. The maximum DOC concentration at our agriculturally used site was twice as high as at the rewetted site (134 mg L−1 vs. 61 mg L−1). Annual DOC export was calculated for the rewetted site, amounting to 200 kg C ha−1 on average. Our results suggest that rewetting of degraded fens reduces DOC export in the long-term, while agricultural use of fens leads to enhanced decomposition and thus, elevates DOC export.

scholarly journals The dynamics and export of dissolved organic carbon from subtropical small mountainous rivers during typhoon and non-typhoon periods

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsung-Yu Lee ◽  
Li-Chin Lee ◽  
Jr-Chuan Huang ◽  
Shih-Hao Jien ◽  
Thomas Hein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Dilution Effect ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Doc Flux ◽  
Small Mountainous Rivers

Abstract. Small mountainous rivers (SMRs) are important conveyors of the land-to-ocean organic carbon export. However, relatively few studies have focused on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) compared to particulate organic carbon. In a long-term project (2002 to 2014), stream DOC was monitored in three neighboring subtropical small mountainous rivers of Taiwan. The objective was to relate DOC concentrations to water discharge and to quantify DOC flux during typhoon and non-typhoon periods. Seasonal fluctuations of DOC concentrations were closely correlated with air temperature at all sampling stations. During non-typhoon periods, increasing water discharge led to decreasing DOC concentrations due to a dilution effect. However, during typhoon periods, DOC concentrations increased with some lead time along the hydrograph and reached the annual maximum which likely sources from a significant input of litter and upper soil layers. The mean DOC concentration of the studied systems (

scholarly journals From Highs to Lows: Changes in Dissolved Organic Carbon in a Peatland Catchment and Lake Following Extreme Flow Events

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2843
Author(s):  
Eleanor Jennings ◽  
Elvira de Eyto ◽  
Tadhg Moore ◽  
Mary Dillane ◽  
Elizabeth Ryder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Lake Management ◽  
Catchment Hydrology ◽  
Stream Discharge ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
High Flows ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
The Relationship

The concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in freshwater catchments has implications for carbon availability in downstream lakes and for water supplies. The links between catchment hydrology and stream and lake DOC concentrations are, however, still not fully understood. Much of the literature has been from catchments with organo-mineral soils, with fewer studies from upland peat sites. We used high-frequency fluorescence data, a proxy for DOC, to investigate 1. the relationship between stream discharge and concentration in a blanket peat catchment during extreme high flows and 2. the relationship between inflow and in-lake estimated DOC concentrations. We found that for approximately two thirds of extreme events, there was a decrease in stream DOC concentration (i.e., a dilution) on the rising limb rather than an increase (i.e., a flushing out of DOC from terrestrial stores). Flushing events dominated only in summer when concentrations in the stream were also increasing. In comparison to the stream, concentrations in the downstream lake were less variable, and peaks and troughs were damped and lagged. Replicating these patterns and processes in DOC models would be critical in order to provide appropriate simulations in response to shorter- and longer-term changes in climate, and thus inform future catchment and lake management.

A long-term simulation of the effects of acidic deposition and climate change on surface water dissolved organic carbon concentrations in a boreal catchment

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 291-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. N. Futter ◽  
M. Forsius ◽  
M. Holmberg ◽  
M. Starr
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Emissions Scenarios ◽  
Carbon Concentrations ◽  
Headwater Catchment

Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) are increasing in many surface waters across Europe. Two of the main mechanisms proposed to explain this increase are declines in sulfate (SO42−) deposition and changes in climate. Many of the reductions in SO42− have already occurred; climate change related effects are occurring now and will continue in the future. This paper presents the first application of a new version of INCA-C, the Integrated Catchments model for Carbon, which simulates the effects of both climate and SO42− deposition on surface water DOC concentration ([DOC]). The model was applied to Valkea-Kotinen, a small headwater catchment in Finland, where it was able to simulate present-day (1990–2007) trends in [DOC] in the lake and catchment outflow as functions of observed climate and European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP)-modelled SO42− deposition. Using a parameter set derived from a present-day calibration, the model was run with two climate scenarios from the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) and three EMEP deposition scenarios to simulate surface water [DOC] between 1960 and 2100. The results show that much of the historical increase in [DOC] can be explained as a result of historical declines in SO42− deposition and that surface water [DOC] will continue to increase as climate changes.

scholarly journals The effect of dissolved organic carbon on pelagial and near-sediment water traits in lakes

2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Banaś
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Redox Potential ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Sediment Layer ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Good Transparency

The effect of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on the environmental conditions of macrophytes has been studied in 35 lakes divided into soft- and hardwater: oligohumic (&lt;4.0 mg C dm<sup>-3</sup>), α-mesohumic (4.0-8.0 mg C dm<sup>-3</sup>), β-mesohumic (8.1-16.0 mg C dm<sup>-3</sup>) and polihumic (&gt;16.0 mg C dm<sup>-3</sup>). The optimum environmental conditions for macrophytes have been found in oligohumic lakes, characterised by low water colour and its good transparency. In soft- and hardwater lakes increasing concentration of DOC is accompanied with an increase in the colour (r=0.95), while the visibility decreases. With increasing DOC in the near-sediment layer the pH values decrease while the concentration of nitrogen increases and the concentration of phosphorus slightly increases. In hardwater lakes with increasing DOC concentration, the redox potential, conductivity, total hardness and calcium concentration in the near-sediment water decrease, whereas the content of CO<sup>2</sup> remains at a very low level.

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