1. Stream Solute Dynamics: Non-Conservative Behavior
Lecture 19

2. Outline for the week Slug vs constant rate additions
Estimates of discharge
Estimates of lateral inflow
Hyporheic dynamics
In-stream storage and transport
Conservative vs Non-Conservative solutes
Spiraling length and uptake
Relationships to stream ecology

3. What we know so far Conservative solute behavior
Slug vs continuous additions
ΔConcentration as f(time)
ΔConcentration as f(distance)
Transient vs Hyporheic storage
OTIS equation and model
Now, non-conservative solute behavior

4. What is non-conservative behavior?
Concentration (% of initial)
Chloride
Nitrate
Phosphate
Distance Downstream (m)

5. The nutrient “spiraling” concept
Uptake
Length
(SW)
Regeneration
Uptake
Regeneration
Open-channel
Transport
Benthic
Spiral Length (S)
NOTE: SW >> SB
Uptake
Turnover
Length
(SB)
Flow
Open-channel
Transport
Benthic
Transport

6. Quantifying SW Ln(Corrected Concentration) Chloride Nitrate Phosphate
Distance Downstream (m)

7. How the S correction works

8. Uptake Metrics Uptake length (m) Uptake velocity (m/s) Uptake rate
(μg m-2 s-1)

9. The “River Continuum Concept”