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A Hydrological Framework for Biogeochemical Studies

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Presentation on theme: "A Hydrological Framework for Biogeochemical Studies"— Presentation transcript:

1 A Hydrological Framework for Biogeochemical Studies
Helmut Elsenbeer1 and Jorge Marcos de Moraes2 1Institute of Geoecology, University of Potsdam, Germany 2CENA/Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil

2 Overview The archetypal nutrient cycling scenery
The link between hydrological pathways and nutrient flow The risk of ignoring hydrology in biogeochemical studies Hydrological flowpaths as we know them Get to know your catchment: tools for a rapid hydrologic appraisal

3 The Archetypal Scenery:
Ecosystem Fluxes and Stores of Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) N K Precipitation Throughfall Litter fall N K Shallow soil water Forest floor Deep soil water Streamflow

4 The Archetypal Scenery:
Ecosystem Fluxes of Dissolved Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) N K Precipitation Throughfall Litter fall N K Shallow soil water Forest floor Deep soil water Streamflow

5 Possible Hydrological Flowpaths
Precipitation Lateral, near-surface flowpaths Deep percolation

6 The Archetypal Scenery Meets Hydrology
Precipitation Streamflow Throughfall Shallow soil water Deep soil water Precipitation Lateral, near-surface flowpaths Deep percolation

7 Flowpaths and Water Chemistry
Near-Surface Lateral Flow NO3-, DOC, K >> Si, Ca, Na Deep Lateral Flow Si, Ca, Na >> NO3-, DOC, K

8 The Watershed Chemistry of Potassium
Ignoring Hydrologic Pathways (Assuming Verticality) Precipitation Throughfall Soil water, 30 cm Soil water, 60 cm Soil water, 90 cm Riparian zone Groundwater Baseflow 20 40 60 80 100 120 K (µmol/L))

9 The Watershed Chemistry of Potassium
Taking into Account Hydrologic Pathways Precipitation Throughfall Overland flow Return flow Pipeflow Soil water, 30 cm Soil water, 60 cm Soil water, 90 cm Riparian zone Groundwater Baseflow 20 40 60 80 100 120 K (µmol/L))

10 Stormflow Hydrograph and Chemograph
Discharge 2.4 Overland flow K/SiO2 (molar ratio) Chemograph 6 2.0 1.6 4 Return flow Discharge (L/s) 1.2 2 0.8 0.4 0.0 1 2 3 4 5 Time (h)

11 Stormflow Hydrograph and Chemograph
50 Discharge Chemograph 6 40 4 30 Discharge (L/s) Ca (µmol/L) Overland flow 2 20 Return flow 10 1 2 3 4 5 Time (h)

12 Interpreting the Solute Signal: Where do the Nutrients Come From?
Sources Stream response Flowpaths Throughfall Discharge Overland flow Soil water Through- flow Groundwater Solute Signal

13 Lateral Hydrological Flowpaths in Rainforest Ecosystems
Central Amazônia Central Amazônia Peninsular Malaysia Panama Rondônia Paragominas Panama Peruvian Amazon Queensland Rondônia

14 A Hierarchical Approach to Understanding Hydrochemical Flowpaths
Level 4 Hydrochemistry Level 3 Flowpath hydrographs Soil water or groundwater energy status Level 2 Saturation deficit Soil moisture status Infiltrability Permeability changes with depth Level 1 Rainfall intensities, amount, and frequency

15 Top Level Information on Shaky Ground
Flowpath hydrographs Infiltrability Permeability changes with depth Soil water or groundwater energy status Rainfall intensities, amount, and frequency Saturation deficit Soil moisture status Hydrochemistry Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1

16 Bottom Level Information Solid Basis for Bottom-Up Inference
Hydrochemistry Level 3 Flowpath hydrographs Soil water or groundwater energy status Level 2 Saturation deficit Soil moisture status Infiltrability Permeability changes with depth Level 1 Rainfall intensities, amount, and frequency

17 Mid-Level Information Weak Explanatory Basis
Hydrochemistry Level 3 Flowpath hydrographs Soil water or groundwater energy status Level 2 Saturation deficit Soil moisture status Infiltrability Permeability changes with depth Level 1 Rainfall intensities, amount, and frequency

18 Possible Hydrological Flowpaths
Precipitation Lateral, near-surface flowpaths Deep percolation

19 Overland flow

20 ISCO sampler Water-level recorder Venturi flume

21 A Hierarchical Approach to Understanding Hydrochemical Flowpaths
Level 4 Hydrochemistry Level 3 Flowpath hydrographs Soil water or groundwater energy status Level 2 Saturation deficit Soil moisture status Infiltrability Permeability changes with depth Level 1 Rainfall intensities, amount, and frequency


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