High-frequency monitoring reveals how hydrochemistry and dissolved carbon respond to rainstorms at a karstic critical zone, Southwestern China

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 714; p. 136833
• Main Authors: Qin, Caiqing, Li, Si-Liang, Waldron, Susan, Yue, Fu-Jun, Wang, Zhong-Jun, Zhong, Jun, Ding, Hu, Liu, Cong-Qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.04.2020
• Subjects: Carbon dynamics; Chemical weathering; Chemostatic and hysteretic behavior; High-frequency monitoring; Karstic critical zone; Water chemistry; High-frequency monitoring; Water chemistry; Carbon dynamics; Karstic critical zone; Chemostatic and hysteretic behavior; Chemical weathering
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136833
• ISSN: 0048-9697

Hydrochemical behavior and dissolved carbon dynamics are highly-sensitive to hydrological variations in the monsoon-influenced karstic critical zone which has high chemical weathering rates and experiences strong anthropogenic impact. Continuous high-frequency monitoring in the spring outlet of a karstic catchment in Southwestern China revealed that most hydrochemical variables changed distinctively in response to hydrologic variations, influenced by mixing of different sources and miscellaneous biogeochemical processes. Na+, K+ and SO42− varied significantly with hydrology, showing weak chemostatic behavior controlled by dilution. The flushing effect and random behavior of NO3− and Cl− likely reflect agricultural inputs from high throughflow. Soil CO2 in infiltrated water supports carbonate weathering, enabling DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon) and weathering products (e.g., Ca2+ and Mg2+) to maintain chemostatic behavior. Biogenic DIC exhibited a stronger chemostatic response than carbonate sources and was the foremost control in DIC behavior. Carbon exchange between DIC and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) did not significantly influence DIC concentration and δ13C due to very low DOC concentration. More DOC was exported by flushing from increasing discharge. Hysteretic analysis indicated that the transport processes were controlled by proximal sources mixing and diverse mobilization in various periods responding to rainstorms. NO3− and Cl− presented different hysteresis behavior as sourced from agricultural activities. DOC increased on the hydrograph rising limb and was controlled by a transport-limited regime. However, the hysteresis behavior of most weathering products and DIC were regulated by a process-limited regime in the karstic critical zone. Overall, biogeochemical processes, hydrogeological properties, storm intensity/magnitude and the timing of storms (antecedent conditions) are main factors influencing the response of hydrochemical variables and dissolved carbon to storm events. [Display omitted] •High-resolution data reveal the chemostatic behavior of HCO3−, Ca2+ and Mg2+.•NO3− and Cl− are affected by throughflow flushing and show randomness behavior.•Biologically-derived DIC controls DIC behavior during high discharge condition.•DOC and DIC are regulated by transport-limited and process-limited, respectively.•Hydrogeology, storm intensity and antecedent conditions affect solutes behavior.