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Interactions of solutes and streambed sediment: 2. A dynamic analysis of coupled hydrologic and chemical processes that determine solute transport
Author(s) -
Bencala Kenneth E.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr020i012p01804
Subject(s) - sorption , strontium , chloride , calibration , chemistry , streams , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , computer network , statistics , mathematics , organic chemistry , adsorption , computer science
Solute transport in streams is determined by the interaction of physical and chemical processes. Data from an injection experiment for chloride and several cations indicate significant influence of solutestreambed processes on transport in a mountain stream. These data are interpreted in terms of transient storage processes for all tracers and sorption processes for the cations. Process parameter values are estimated with simulations based on coupled quasi‐two‐dimensional transport and first‐order mass transfer sorption. Comparative simulations demonstrate the relative roles of the physical and chemical processes in determining solute transport. During the first 24 hours of the experiment, chloride concentrations were attenuated relative to expected plateau levels. Additional attenuation occurred for the sorbing cation strontium. The simulations account for these storage processes. Parameter values determined by calibration compare favorably with estimates from other studies in mountain streams. Without further calibration, the transport of potassium and lithium is adequately simulated using parameters determined in the chloride‐strontium simulation and with measured cation distribution coefficients.