首页|Suspended sediment, carbon and nitrogen transport in a regulated Pyrenean river

Suspended sediment, carbon and nitrogen transport in a regulated Pyrenean river

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Regulation alters the characteristics of rivers by transforming parts of them into lakes, affecting their hydrology and also the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and dynamics. Reservoirs have proven to be very effective retaining particulate materials, thereby avoiding the downstream transport of suspended sediment and the chemical substances associated with it (e.g. Carbon, C, or Nitrogen, N).The study of fluvial transport of C and N is of great interest since river load represents a major link to the global C and N cycles. Moreover, reservoirs are the most important sinks for organic carbon among inland waters and have a potential significance as nitrogen sinks. In this respect, this paper investigates the effects of a Pyrenean reservoir on the runoff, suspended sediment, C and N derived from the highly active Esera and Isabena rivers. Key findings indicate that the reservoir causes a considerable impact on the Esera-Isabena river fluxes, reducing them dramatically as almost all the inputs are retained within the reservoir. Despite the very dry study year (2011 -2012), it can be calculated that almost 300,000 t of suspended sediment were deposited into the Barasona Reservoir, from which more than 16,000 were C (i.e. 2200 t as organic C) and 222 t were N. These values may not be seen as remarkable in a wider global context but, assuming that around 30 hm~3 of sediment are currently stored in the reservoir, figures would increase up to ca. 2.6 × 10~6 t of C (i.e. 360,000 t of organic C) and 35,000 t of N. Nevertheless, these values are indicative and should be treated with caution as there is incomplete understanding of all the processes which affect C and N. Further investigation to establish a more complete picture of C and N yields and budgets by monitoring the different processes involved is essential.

Suspended sedimentCarbonNitrogenTemporal dynamicsBarasona ReservoirRiver EseraEbro basin

Jose A. Lopez-Tarazon、Pilar Lopez、Gemma Lobera、Ramon J. Batalla

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Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Potsdam, Germany,School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK,Fluvial Dynamics Research Group, University of Lleida, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

Department of Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Fluvial Dynamics Research Group, University of Lleida, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

Fluvial Dynamics Research Group, University of Lleida, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain,Catalan Institute for Water Research, Girona, Catalonia, Spain

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2016

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.132

Science of the Total Environment

Science of the Total Environment

AHCIEI
ISSN：0048-9697
年,卷(期)：2016.540(Jan.1)
  • 9
  • 76