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Water flow paths and hydrochemical controls in the Birkenes Catchment as inferred from a rainstorm high in seasalts
Author(s) -
Mulder Jan,
Christophersen Nils,
Hauhs Michael,
Vogt Rolf D.,
Andersen Sjur,
Andersen Dag O.
Publication year - 1990
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/wr026i004p00611
Subject(s) - gibbsite , soil water , solubility , hydrology (agriculture) , streams , surface water , geology , drainage basin , storm , environmental chemistry , soil science , environmental science , chemistry , mineralogy , kaolinite , environmental engineering , computer network , geotechnical engineering , cartography , organic chemistry , oceanography , computer science , geography
At Birkenes, a small forested catchment with acidic soils in southernmost Norway, acid rain has resulted in high stream water H + , Al, and SO 4 concentrations. Recent studies have revealed the complexity of the Al chemistry in Birkenes stream water, as inorganic Al is not regulated by one single solubility control. It has been hypothesized that this is due to the dynamic nature of water flow paths and the different Al solubilities in surface soils and subsoils. In this study we tested the flow path hypothesis as well as cation solubility controls, using soil solution lysimetry, before and after a storm event, exceptionally high in sea salts. Results indicate that considerable lateral flow through the organic surface layers to the stream did occur during rainstorms on nearly water‐saturated soils. In the organic surface horizons, Al concentrations were reduced and controlled by cation exchange, whereas in the mineral B horizons, Al was more soluble and close to equilibrium with gibbsite ( p Ks = −9.0 at 10°C).