Chemical dynamics of N-containing ionic species in a boreal forest snowcover during the spring melt period

A study of the changes in the ionic loads of NO, NH, SO and H⁺ in a boreal forest snowpack at Lake Laflamme, Québec was carried out using hydrological and chemical data from field lysimeters. The results showed that depletion of the N-containing species occurs periodically in the snowpack during meltwater discharge. Rain-on-snow events led to in-pack losses of NO and NH at a rate of 130 μeq m^?2 day^?1 and 101·3 μeq m^?2day^?1 respectively. On dry days, however, dry deposition and deposition of organic debris from the canopy resulted in increases of 183·3 μeq m^?2day^?1 for NO and 4·5 μeq m^?2day^?1 for NH in the pack. In contrast, SO₄^2? showed continual in-pack increases due to deposition of 5·0 μeq m^?2day^?1 for wet days and 92·6 μeq m^?2day^?1 for dry days. The depletion of NO and NH is due to microbiological uptake of these nutrients during periods when the free water content of the pack is high. Controlled melts in a laboratory snowmelt simulator containing snow and organic matter from the forest canopy at Lake Laflamme showed losses of NO and NH similar to those observed in the field. As the microbiological uptake proceeds at a rate comparable to that of ionic load increases in the pack by dry deposition, models of the chemical dynamics of snowmelt should take the former into account in any system where organic content of the snowpack is appreciable.     

Simulation des Nitratabbaus im Grundwasser

Ten reaction vessels containing 1 m³ were used as the experimental arrangement. They were filled with coarse sand or fine gravel and installed 60 cm below the floor. The pore volume (water saturation) was 227… 260 l. Anaerobic conditions were established by the addition of 6 g glucose at storage. The reactors were given tap water with 50 and 200 mg/l NO from KNO₃ in such a way that a volumetric rate of flow of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 l/d was created. The volumetric rates of flow corresponded to the natural recharge of groundwater, the recharge of groundwater under the conditions of irrigation and the conditions of an intensive wastewater ground treatment. In the effluent from the reaction vessels the nitrate concentration was determined every month. It was stationary from the 7th to the 55th month after the beginning of the experiment. The experiments are evaluated by means of a model which takes into account the diffusion, convection and kinetics of the nitrate degradation according to Michaelis-Menten. A simple method for solving homogeneous non-linear differential equations of the second order is proposed. The experimental and model results show a good agreement and prove the very slow nitrate degradation in the groundwater with k_M = 210 mg/l, v_max = 1.5 mg/l · d or k₁ = 0.005 d^?1.     

Nährstoff- und Sauerstoffbilanz eines hochbelasteten Klärwerksableiters unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der submersen Makrophyten

Nutrient and Oxygen Balance of a Highly Polluted Treated Sewage Channel with Special Regard to the Submerged Macrophytes The changes of the concentrations of inorganic nitrogen compounds, orthophosphate, and oxygen were measured in the flowing wave along the flowing stretch of the Berlin treated sewage channel Wuhle monthly over a period of two years (1993/94) to estimate the nutrient and oxygen balances. This treated sewage channel is rich in nutrients and densely covered with submerged macrophytes. During the period of investigation in 1993 (1994), the effluent of the sewage treatment plant Falkenberg, which is lacking in adjustable nitrification and denitrification. contained in average 16.1 (12.7) mg/L of NH-N, 13.7 (9.4) mg/L of NO₃^?-N. 0.94 (0.69) mg/L of NO-N. and 0.36 (0.26) mg/L of PO-P. Due to the neglectable influence of other processes like nutrient uptake by submerged macrophytes and algae, desorption of ammonia or dilution, the changes of the concentrations of the inorganic nitrogen compounds are mainly influenced by nitrification and denitrification. The nitrification is mainly done by sessile nitrifiers in the treated sewage channel Wuhle. The nitrification rates. calculated from the decrease of the ammonium concentrations, were between 0.5 and 20 g/(m²d) related to the flowing stretch area. The ammonium concentrations decreased along the flowing stretch in average by 20 to 44%. The highest nitrification rates could be found at the stretches with a dense colonization with submerged macrophytes and a good oxygen supply due to low water depth and high flowing velocities. The denitrification rates, calculated from the decrease of the total of the concentrations of the inorganic nitrogen compounds, were between 0.5 and 23 g/(m²d) related to the flowing stretch area. The total loss of nitrogen due to denitrification was between 10 and 20% along the flowing stretch of the treated sewage channel Wuhle. This corresponds to a total amount of up to 530 kg nitrogen per day. The main part of the phosphorus occured as orthophosphate in concentrations between 0.04 and 0.87 mg/L of PO-P in the effluent of the treatment sewage plant Falkenberg. The orthophosphate concentration changed along the flowing stretch mostly in such a manner that it were at the same level at the end of the flowing stretch at the mouth into the river Spree. The self-purification capacity of the channel does not lead to a relevant reduction of the very high nutrient load under the present conditions. The rates of the photosynthetic production (P) and the community respiration (R) were calculated from the rates of the total changes of oxygen with regard to the physical aeration. The rates of the photosynthetic production were between 0 and 33 g/(m²d), the rates of the community respiration between 15 and 75 g/(m²d). Therewith, the Wuhle treatment sewage channel belongs to the very productive waters. A positive balance (P > R) could only be measured on two segments in May. The rates of oxygen production depend on the ratio width to depth of the water. It is possible that the positive influence of the submerged macrophytes on the oxygen balance also at higher biomasses than 250 g/m² (as dry weight) predominates at the segments with a favourable ratio. The portion of the oxygen input through diffusion along the flowing stretch and at the weirs was 30%, respectively, that of the photosynthic production 40% in summer. The rates of community respiration decreased along the flowing stretch by 50 to 90%. The nitrification had the main portion of the oxygen depletion in the Wuhle treated sewage channel with 60…80%. Despite the high biomass, the respiration of the submerged macrophytes had only a small portion of the total oxygen depletion. Nevertheless, the submerged macrophytes contributed to the nearly total oxygen depletion at the most densely covered segment 2 at night. The decrease of the content of particular organic material and the ammonia concentrations at the effluent of the sewage treatment plant, a diminishing of the biomass of submerged macrophytes by shading, and the widening of a few flowing stretches are demanded for the improvement of the oxygen balance of the Wuhle treated sewage channel.     

Geochemistry of meteoric diagenesis in carbonate islands of the northern Bahamas: 1. Evidence from field studies

Processes driving carbonate diagenesis in islands of the northern Bahamas are investigated using major ion, dissolved oxygen and dissolved organic carbon analyses of water samples from surface and ground waters, and measurements of soil gas P. Meteoric waters equilibrate with aragonite, but reactions are water controlled rather than mineral‐controlled and drive dissolution rather than concurrent precipitation of calcite. Surface runoff waters equilibrate with atmospheric P and rapidly recharge the vadose zone, limiting subaerial bedrock dissolution to only 6·6–15 mg l^?1 Ca. P of soil gas measured in the summer wet season ((7·4 ± 3·7) × 10^?3 atm) is elevated compared with that of the atmosphere, despite the thin skeletal organic nature of the soil and the discontinuous soil cover. Soil waters retained in surface pockets are equilibrated with respect to aragonite and have dissolved 51 ± 19 mg l^?1 Ca. This is substantially less than the 93 ± 18 mg l^?1 Ca in samples from pumping boreholes that sample meteoric waters from the freshwater lens. The high P of the freshwater lens ((16 ± 8·3) × 10^?3 atm for pumping boreholes) suggests that significant additional CO₂ may be derived by oxidation of soil‐ and surface‐derived organic carbon within the lens. The suboxic nature of the majority of the freshwater lens and the observed depletion in sulphate support this suggestion, and indicate that both aerobic and anaerobic oxidation may take place. Shallow lens samples from observation boreholes are calcite supersaturated and have a lower P than deeper lens waters, indicating that CO₂ degasses from the water table, driving precipitation of calcite cements. We suggest that the geochemical evolution of waters in the vadose zone and upper part of the freshwater lens may be determined by the presence of a body of ground air with P controlled by production in the freshwater lens and soil and by degassing to the atmosphere. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Salt fretting in the valley cliff of the Asama volcano region,Japan

On the pumice flow deposits of the Asama volcano, Japan, many salts such as halite (NaCl), gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O), hexahydrite (MgSO₄·6H₂O) and mirabilite (Na₂SO₄·10H₂O) crystallize at the base of south-facing valley cliffs. The zone of salt efflorescence and of resulting polygonal rind correspond to the zones of notch formation and high water content. The main conditions for salt crystallization and polygonal rind formation are: (1) the existence of groundwater containing a high concentration of Cl^?, SO, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Na⁺; (2) a valley cliff material with a high capillary action and small tensile strength; and (3) low humidity and a high ground-surface temperature derived from the direct incidence of sunshine. Given the right conditions, salt weathering can occur not only in the arid regions but also in humid, temperate inland regions.     

Divergent response of an intertidal swash bar

This paper examines the processes responsible for the morphodynamics of an intertidal swash bar at Skallingen, Denmark, during seven successive storms (one with a large surge of +3·02 m DNN). During this period a subtidal bar migrated landward onto the foreshore and continued to migrate across the intertidal zone as a swash bar. The onshore migration of the inner subtidal bar resulted from the erosion of sediment from the upper foreshore and dune ramp during the large storm surge that was transported seaward, causing the landward displacement of the bar through accretion on the landward slope. The magnitude and direction of suspended sediment transport within the intertidal zone, and more specifically at and close to the crest of the swash bar, varied with the ratio of both the significant (H_s) and average (H_avg) wave heights to the water depth (h_cr) at the swash bar crest (the local depth minimum). The transition between onshore and offshore suspended sediment transport was associated with the average wave of the incident distribution breaking on the swash bar crest (H_avgh ≈ 0·33). While the onshore‐directed transport was largest at infragravity frequencies, sediment resuspension was best explained by the skewed accelerations under the surf bores. Offshore transport was dominated by the cross‐shore mean currents (undertow) that developed when the significant wave of the distribution broke on the swash bar crest (H_sh ≈ 0·33) and weakened as the average wave of the distribution started to break at the crest (H_avgh ≈ 0·33) and the surf zone approached saturation. In contrast to subtidal bars, the swash bar at Skallingen exhibited a divergent behaviour with respect to the cross‐shore position of the breaker zone, migrating onshore when the average wave broke seaward of the crest and migrating offshore when the average wave broke landward of the crest. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Accuracy of kinematic wave and diffusion wave approximations for time-independent flows

Errors in the kinematic wave and diffusion wave approximations for time-independent (or steady-state) cases of channel flow were derived for three types of boundary conditions: zero flow at the upstream end, and critical flow depth and zero depth gradient at the downstream end. The diffusion wave approximation was found to be in excellent agreement with the dynamic wave approximation, with errors in the range 1–2% for values of KF (? 7.5), where K is the kinematic wave number and F₀ is the Froude number. Even for small values of KF (e.g. KF²₀ = 0.75), the errors were typically less than 15%. The accuracy of the diffusion wave approximation was greatly influenced by the downstream boundary condition. The error of the kinematic wave approximation was found to be less than 13% in the region 0.1 ? x ? 0.95 for KF = 7.5 and was greater than 30% for smaller values of KF (? 0.75). This error increased with strong downstream boundary control.     

Untersuchungen zur Phosphataufnahme durch Unterwasserpflanzen

The uptake of phosphorus by Potamogeton pectinatus, P. lucens, Ranunculus fluitans, Elodea canadensis, Myriophyllum spicatum and Ceratophyllum demersum is investigated in batch tests at 0.02, 0.04, 0.4 and 4.0 mg/l PO in the medium for 4, 28 and 52 h. Uptake is strictly dependent on concentration, a saturation function being discernible already after 52 h. At rising concentration the mechanism of uptake is determined by a decreasing rate of incorporation. The rates of uptake are dependent also on the actual and maximum cell nutrient contents. Species with a low phosphorus content of <5 mg PO/g dry weight as Elodea canadensis, Potamogeton pectinatus and Myriophyllum spicatum show their maximum phosphorus incorporation at low substrate concentrations. At phosphorus contents >5 mg PO/g dry weight the phosphorus incorporation is increased only at substrate concentrations of 0.04… 0.4 mg/l PO.     

Geochemistry of meteoric diagenesis in carbonate islands of the northern Bahamas: 2. Geochemical modelling and budgeting of diagenesis

Geochemical characterization and numerical modelling of surface water and ground water, combined with hydrological observations, provide quantitative estimates of meteoric diagenesis in Pleistocene carbonates of the northern Bahamas. Meteoric waters equilibrate with aragonite, but water‐ rather than mineral‐controlled reactions dominate. Dissolutional lowering of the undifferentiated bedrock surface is an order of magnitude slower than that within soil‐filled topographic hollows, generating small‐scale relief at a rate of 65–140 mm ka^?1 and a distinctive pocketed topography. Oxidation of organic matter within the subsoil and vadose zones generates an average P of 4·0 × 10^?3 atm, which drives dissolution during vadose percolation and/or at the water table. However, these dissolution processes together account for <60% of the average rock‐derived calcium in groundwaters pumped from the freshwater lens. The additional calcium may derive from oxidation of organic carbon within the lens, accounting for the high P of the lens waters. Mixing between meteoric waters of differing chemistry is diagenetically insignificant, but evapotranspiration from the shallow water table is an important drive for subsurface cementation. Porosity generation in the shallow vadose zone averages 1·6–3·2% ka^?1. Phreatic meteoric diagenesis is focused near the water table, where dissolution generates porosity at 1·4–2·8% ka^?1. Maximum dissolution rates, however, are similar to those of evaporation‐driven precipitation, which occludes porosity of 4·0 ± 0·6% ka^?1. This drives porosity inversion, from primary interparticle to secondary mouldic, vug and channel porosity. In the deeper freshwater lens, oxidation of residual organic carbon and reoxidation of reduced sulphur species from deeper anaerobic oxidation of organic carbon may generate porosity up to 0·06% ka^?1. Meteoric diagenesis relies critically on hydrological routing and vadose thickness (controlled by sea level), as well as the geochemical processes active. A thin vadose zone permits direct evaporation from the water table and drives precipitation of meteoric phreatic cements even where mineral stabilization is complete. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Regulating Environmental Factors of Nutrients Release from Wheat Straw Biochar for Sustainable Agriculture

One mechanism by which biochar application enhances soil nutrient availability is through direct nutrients release from biochar. However, factors controlling the release processes are poorly understood. In this study, the effects of pH, biochar to water ratio, temperature, ionic strength, and equilibration time on the release of PO, NO, NH, K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ from biochar were evaluated in simulated experiments. The release of PO, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ was significantly affected by extraction pH, suggesting that their release from biochar was pH dependent or an H⁺‐consuming process. Correlation analysis indicated that PO and Ca²⁺, PO and Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were co‐solubilized with increasing soil acidity. To a lesser extent, the recovery of the nutrients was also affected by the ratio of biochar to water: more nutrients were soluble with more water supply. In contrast, the release of Na was not affected by pH while the concentration increased with decreasing biochar to water ratio. Meanwhile, other factors (temperature, ionic strength, and equilibration time) had less effect on nutrient release from biochar. Under the influence of pH, the patterns of NO and PO release from biochar were different: extractable NO concentration was not affected by the pH but more PO was released in strongly acidic conditions. Our data suggested that P was mainly retained in inorganic forms while N was in organic forms in biochar. We conclude that environmental factors have marked influences on nutrients release from biochar.     

Zur Rolle der Stickstoffixation im Stoffhaushalt eines geschichteten Sees

In the dimict lake Arend (5.1 km², 146 hm³, 49.5 m z_max), nitrogen is production-limiting with concentrations below the detection limit during the production period. Phytoplankton achieves biomasses of up to 18 mg/l fresh matter, essential contributions being made by Aphanizomenon with 2 mg/l and Anabaena with up to 10 mg/l. Nitrogen fixation was measured by the ethine reduction technique (acetylene reduction) during periods of the occurrence of heterocystforming Cyanophyceae and achieved peak values up to 6.59 μg N² · h^?1 · l^?1 or 14.87 m^?2 · h^?1 g N₂ · m^?2 · h^?1. The rates of fixation show a safe correlation with the biomass of heterocyst-containing Cyanophyceae (r = 0.88), their development beginning at values below the N : P-ratio of 2.66.     

Adsorption of Complex Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions by Nanocomposite Materials

In view of water pollutants becoming more complex, both anionic and cationic pollutants need to be removed. The multi‐pollutants simultaneous removal is paid more and more attention. Hence, development composite materials for treatment complex wastewater are the aim of this study. In this research, iron–nickel nanoparticles deposited onto aluminum oxide (α‐Al₂O₃) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to form nanocomposite materials Fe–Ni/Al₂O₃ and Fe–Ni/CNTs, respectively, were used as adsorbents. The adsorption capacities of Fe–Ni/Al₂O₃ and Fe–Ni/CNTs for AO7, HSeO, and Pb²⁺ were observed to be 5.46, 8.28, 27.02, and 25.6 mg/g, 15.29 and 17.12 mg/g, separately. The composite materials with negative charges were superior in adsorption of anionic pollutants. Using orthogonal experimental design and analysis of variance to co‐treat dye AO7, HSeO and Pb²⁺ in aqueous solutions, seven testing factors were included: (1) adsorbent types, (2) amount of iron, (3) solution pHs, (4) AO7 concentrations, (5) Pb²⁺ concentrations, (6) HSeO concentrations and (7) reaction time. The experimental results showed that the removal of complex pollutants AO7, HSeO, and Pb²⁺ on Fe–Ni/CNTs could reach up to 90% in the optimal treatment conditions. When using Fe–Ni/CNTs as the adsorbent, the sorption isothermals were well fitted in the Freundlich isotherm, and R² could reach up to 0.98.     

Hydrobiological Investigations of the Water Quality of the Water Supply Reservoirs Husinec and Římov

The two eutrophicated reservoirs Husinec (2.6 km³, 35 ha, z_max 18 m, MQ 1.87 m^3/s) and ?ímov (34.5 hm³, 216 ha, z_max 44 m, MQ 4.14 m^3/s) show concentrations of total phosphorus of 10… 50 mg/m³ and chlorophyll contents of 7… 36 mg/m³ in the summer season. For both reservoirs a good correlation exists between the chlorophyll concentration and the density of the phytoplankton (20 · 10³… 13 · 10⁶ ind./l). With average concentrations of 10… 20 mg/m³ chlorophyll a in summer, the water can be treated for producing drinking water only at a higher expenditure. The water quality will be improved by a reduction of the phosphorus load.     

Zur Bestimmung des gesamten anorganischen Kohlenstoffes in natürlichen Gewässern durch Titration mit Salzsäure

The knowledge of total inorganic carbon concentration (c) is important for characterizing natural waters. It is usually measured by the titration alkalinity (“m-value”) and pH which depend on temperature and ionic strength. This paper demonstrates that Ca (and Mg) can influence the calculation of from titration alkalinity, too. Errors result from neglecting this influence. In such cases the share of ion pair CaCO amounts to more than 50 % of . General relationships among the influencing factors are given by tables calculated with the help of a BASIC computer programme for calculation from titration alkalinity, pH and Ca concentration.     

Sediment yield estimated from reservoir siltation in the Ochil hills,Scotland

Measurements made on the floors of the temporarily-drained Glenfarg and Glenquey Reservoirs indicate that sediments with wet volumes of 63.94 × 10³ m³ and 12.64 × 10³ m³ were deposited in 56 and 73 years respectively. These figures represent 2.5 per cent and 1.1 per cent losses of original storage capacity. When corrected for water, organic, and diatom skeleton contents, and reservoir trap efficiency inorganic sediment yields of at least 31.3 tonnes km^?2 yr^?1 and of 9.0 tonnes km^?2 yr^?1 are suggested. The difference is probably related to contrasts of land use.     

Removal of Bromate from Water Using De‐Acidite FF‐IP Resin and Determination by Ultra‐Performance Liquid Chromatography‐Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Contamination of water due to bromate is a severe health hazard. The aim of the present study was to remove bromate from water using a crosslinked polystyrene based strongly basic anion exchange resin De‐Acidite FF‐IP. Batch experiments were performed to study the influence of various experimental parameters such as effect of pH, contact time, temperature, and effect of competing anions on bromate removal by De‐Acidite FF‐IP resin. At optimum parameters, the removal rate of bromate was very fast and 90% removal took place in 5 min and equilibrium was established within 10 min. The presence of competitive anions reduced the bromate adsorption in the order of Cl^? > F^? > CO > SO > NO > PO. The practical utility of this resin has been demonstrated by removing bromate in some of the commercial bottled water from Saudi Arabia. The level of bromate was determined using a very sensitive, precise and rapid method based on ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐tendem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS).     

PM10 Source Apportionment in Ahvaz,Iran, Using Positive Matrix Factorization

Source apportionment of particulate matter <10 µm in diameter (PM₁₀), having considerable impacts on human health and the environment, is of high priority in air quality management. The present study, therefore, aimed at identifying the potential sources of PM₁₀ in an arid area of Ahvaz located in southwest of Iran. For this purpose, we collected 24‐h PM₁₀ samples by a high volume air sampler. The samples were then analyzed for their elemental (Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Li, Ti, V, Zn, Mo, and Sb) and ionic (NH, Cl^?, NO, and SO) components using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and ion chromatography instruments, respectively. Eight factors were identified by positive matrix factorization: crustal dust (41.5%), road dust (5.5%), motor vehicles (11.5%), marine aerosol (8.0%), secondary aerosol (9.5%), metallurgical plants (6.0%), petrochemical industries and fossil fuel combustion (13.0%), and vegetative burning (5.0%). Result of this study suggested that the natural sources contribute most to PM₁₀ particles in the area, followed closely by the anthropogenic sources.     

Estimate of the Eutrophication Process in the Gruža Reservoir (Serbia and Montenegro)

The Gru?a Reservoir (located at 238…269 m a. s. l., volume 64.6 · 10⁶ m³, surface 934 ha, drainage area 318 km², max. depth 31 m, mean theoretical retention time 22 months) was investigated during the years 1996 to 2001. The obtained values of trophic state parameters (9…200 μg L^?1 total phosphorus, 3…99 μg L^?1 chlorophyll‐a, and 0.5…2 m transparency) indicate that water of the Gru?a Reservoir is eutrophic according to three types of classification: Carlson, OECD, and Jones and Lee. It was noticed that values of average biomass abundance are large in the Gru?a Reservoir, and they could indicate a richer trophic state. When these indices are cited in connection with parameters of the trophic state, it is apparent that the Gru?a Reservoir can be classified as a eutrophic water on the basis of total phosphorus content of chlorophyll‐a and hypertrophic water with respect to transparency.     

Atmospheric chloride deposition in continental Spain

The atmospheric bulk deposition rate of chloride in continental Spain was studied to get basic information in order to help in the evaluation of diffuse recharge to aquifers through an environmental chemical balance. Both new, recent data and bibliographic data have been used. Most sampling records are less than 5 years long and often only 1 year long. This means that the calculated mean yearly bulk deposition rate of chloride is quite uncertain by 30% on average, and larger than the values derived form records up to 15 years long. A map of atmospheric bulk deposition of chloride has been drawn using ordinary kriging. The mean bulk deposition rate of chloride varies from 1 to 30 g m^?2 year^?1 in coastal areas, with strong negative landward gradients between 0·1 and 1 g m^?2 year^?1 km^?1. In the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, chloride deposition rates vary from 0·2 to 0·5 g m^?2 year^?1, with gradients around or less than 5 × 10^?3 g m^?2 year^?1 km^?1. The coefficient of variation of the mean bulk atmospheric deposition rate of chloride, for any place, ranges from 0·1 to 1. Values larger than ～0·5 are not a good indicator of natural uncertainty for this series of data that has a skewed distribution. The map of bulk deposition rate and its error is one of the terms needed for aquifer recharge estimation by means of the chloride ion balance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geologic influences on fluvial hydrology and bedload transport in small mountainous watersheds,Northern New Mexico,U.S.A.

Discharge characteristics in six adjacent mountainous watersheds in northern New Mexico, U.S.A., vary substantially between basins underlain by different lithologies. Relatively resistant gneisses and granites underlie two basins (drainage areas: 43 and 94 km²) that have high unit discharge (0·010 to 0·14 m³s^?1 km^?2), high bankfull discharge, and sustained high discharge. Less resistant sandstones and shales underlie four basins (drainage areas: 96 to 215 km²) that have relatively low unit discharge (0·001 to 0·005 m³s^?1 km^?2), relatively low bankfull discharge, and peak discharges that are not sustained as long as those in the crystalline terrane. Analysis of snowmelt-runoff water budgets suggests that three factors control hydrologic conditions in the basins. First, area-elevation distributions appear to control the timing and amounts of water input. These distributions probably reflect the erosional resistance of the different lithologies. Second, lithology appears to control runoff production in areas having minor amounts of storage. Third, glacial deposits in headwater regions control discharge duration and timing via storage and return flow releases. The amount of return flow released by glacial deposits, however, is probably controlled by the permeability of underlying bedrock. Therefore it appears that the duration, timing, and magnitude of discharge events in the study area are controlled both directly and indirectly by lithology. Stream power and shear stress estimates derived from bankfull discharge and bed-material size data suggest that higher bedload transport rates and larger bedload particle sizes exist in streams draining crystalline rocks than in streams draining sedimentary terrane. It appears that source-area lithology, by controlling discharge production, also influences stream power, bedload transport capabilities, and therefore total amounts of bedload transport.