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Emergent archetype patterns of coupled hydrologic and biogeochemical responses in catchments
Author(s) -
Musolff A.,
Fleckenstein J. H.,
Rao P. S. C.,
Jawitz J. W.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl072630
Subject(s) - biogeochemical cycle , homogenization (climate) , environmental science , drainage basin , hydrology (agriculture) , dilution , variance (accounting) , spatial ecology , water quality , spatial heterogeneity , soil science , ecology , geology , chemistry , environmental chemistry , geography , physics , biodiversity , accounting , cartography , geotechnical engineering , business , biology , thermodynamics
Abstract Relationships between in‐stream dissolved solute concentrations ( C ) and discharge ( Q ) are useful indicators of catchment‐scale processes. We combine a synthesis of observational records with a parsimonious stochastic modeling approach to test how C ‐ Q relationships arise from spatial heterogeneity in catchment solute sources coupled with different timescales of reactions. Our model indicates that the dominant driver of emergent archetypical dilution, enrichment, and constant C ‐ Q patterns was structured heterogeneity of solute sources implemented as correlation of source concentration to travel time. Regardless of the C ‐ Q pattern, with weak correlation between solute‐source concentration and travel time, we consistently find lower variability in C than in Q , such that the predominant solute export regime is chemostatic. Consequently, the variance in exported loads is determined primarily by variance of Q . Efforts to improve stream water quality and ecological integrity in intensely managed catchments should lead away from landscape homogenization by introducing structured source heterogeneity.