Controls on spatial and temporal variability in streamflow and hydrochemistry in a glacierized catchment
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Published:2019-04-24
Issue:4
Volume:23
Page:2041-2063
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ISSN:1607-7938
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Container-title:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.
Author:
Engel MichaelORCID, Penna DanieleORCID, Bertoldi GiacomoORCID, Vignoli Gianluca, Tirler Werner, Comiti Francesco
Abstract
Abstract. Understanding the hydrological and hydrochemical functioning of glacierized
catchments requires the knowledge of the different controlling factors and
their mutual interplay. For this purpose, the present study was carried out
in two sub-catchments of the glacierized Sulden River catchment
(130 km2; eastern Italian Alps) in 2014 and 2015, characterized by a
similarly sized but contrasting geological setting. Samples were taken at
different space and timescales for analysis of stable isotopes in water,
electrical conductivity, and major, minor and trace elements. At the monthly sampling scale, complex spatial and temporal dynamics for
different spatial scales (0.05–130 km2) were found, such as
contrasting electrical conductivity gradients in both sub-catchments.
For the entire
Sulden catchment, the relationship between discharge and electrical
conductivity showed a monthly hysteretic pattern. Hydrometric and geochemical
dynamics were controlled by interplay of meteorological conditions,
topography and geological heterogeneity. A principal component analysis
revealed that the largest variance (36.3 %) was explained by heavy metal
concentrations (such as Al, V, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb) during the melting
period, while the remaining variance (16.3 %) resulted from the bedrock
type in the upper Sulden sub-catchment (inferred from electrical
conductivity, Ca, K, As and Sr concentrations). Thus, high concentrations of
As and Sr in rock glacier outflow may more likely result from bedrock
weathering. Furthermore, nivo-meteorological indicators such as daily maximum
air temperature and daily maximum global solar radiation represented
important meteorological controls, with a significant snowmelt contribution
when exceeding 5 ∘C or 1000 W m−2, respectively. These
insights may help in better understanding and predicting hydrochemical
catchment responses linked to meteorological and geological controls and in
guiding future classifications of glacierized catchments according to their
hydrochemical characteristics.
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
General Earth and Planetary Sciences,General Engineering,General Environmental Science
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