Publication Details |
Category | Text Publication |
Reference Category | Journals |
DOI | 10.1021/acs.est.6b01057 |
Title (Primary) | Discharge driven nitrogen dynamics in a mesoscale river basin as constrained by stable isotope patterns |
Author | Mueller, C.; Zink, M.; Samaniego, L. ; Krieg, R.; Merz, R.; Rode, M.; Knöller, K. |
Source Titel | Environmental Science & Technology |
Year | 2016 |
Department | ASAM; CHS; CATHYD |
Volume | 50 |
Issue | 17 |
Page From | 9187 |
Page To | 9196 |
Language | englisch |
UFZ wide themes | RU2 |
Abstract | Nitrate loads and corresponding dual-isotope signatures were used to evaluate large scale N dynamics and trends in a river catchment with a strong anthropogenic gradient (forest conservation areas in the mountainous region, and intensively agricultural use in the lowlands). The Bode River catchment with an area of 3200 km2 in the Harz Mountains and central German lowlands was investigated by a two years monitoring program including 133 water sampling points each representing a sub-catchment. Based on discharge data either observed or simulated by the mesoscale Hydrological Model (mhM) a load based interpretation of hydrochemical and isotope data was conducted. Nitrate isotopic signatures in the entire catchment are controlled by (I) the contribution of different nitrogen sources, (II) by variable environmental conditions during the formation of nitrate, and (III) by a minor impact of denitrification. For major tributaries, a relationship between discharge and nitrate isotopic signatures is observed. This may in part be due to the fact that during periods of higher hydrologic activity a higher wash out of isotopically lighter nitrate formed by bacterial nitrification processes of reduced or organic soil nitrogen occurs. Beyond that, in-stream denitrification seems to be more intense during periods of low flow. |
Persistent UFZ Identifier | https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=17720 |
Mueller, C., Zink, M., Samaniego, L., Krieg, R., Merz, R., Rode, M., Knöller, K. (2016): Discharge driven nitrogen dynamics in a mesoscale river basin as constrained by stable isotope patterns Environ. Sci. Technol. 50 (17), 9187 - 9196 10.1021/acs.est.6b01057 |