Chemical fingerprints of hydrological compartments and flow paths at La Cuenca, western Amazonia
- A forested first-order catchment in western Amazonia was monitored for 2 years to determine the chemical fingerprints of precipitation, throughfall, overland flow, pipe flow, soil water, groundwater, and streamflow. We used five tracers (hydrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and silica) to distinguish “fast” flow paths mainly influenced by the biological subsystem from “slow” flow paths in the geochemical subsystem. The former comprise throughfall, overland flow, and pipe flow and are characterized by a high potassium/silica ratio; the latter are represented by soil water and groundwater, which have a low potassium/silica ratio. Soil water and groundwater differ with respect to calcium and magnesium. The groundwater-controlled streamflow chemistry is strongly modified by contributions from fast flow paths during precipitation events. The high potassium/silica ratio of these flow paths suggests that the storm flow response at La Cuenca is dominated by event water.
Author details: | Helmut ElsenbeerORCiD, Andreas Lack, Keith Cassel |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-16937 |
Publication series (Volume number): | Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe (paper 047) |
Publication type: | Postprint |
Language: | English |
Publication year: | 1995 |
Publishing institution: | Universität Potsdam |
Release date: | 2008/03/26 |
Tag: | Chemistry of fresh water; Runoff and streamflow; Weathering |
Source: | Water Resources Research. - 31 (1995), 12, p. 3051 - 3058. - ISSN 0043-1397 |
Organizational units: | Extern / Extern |
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Umweltwissenschaften und Geographie | |
DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 55 Geowissenschaften, Geologie / 550 Geowissenschaften |
Institution name at the time of the publication: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Geoökologie |
License (German): | Keine öffentliche Lizenz: Unter Urheberrechtsschutz |
External remark: | first published in: Water Resources Research - 31 (1995), 12, p. 3051 - 3058 ISSN: 0043-1397 doi:10.1029/95WR02537 |