Suspended sediments in the Kharaa River catchment (Mongolia) and its impact on hyporheic zone functions |
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Authors: | Melanie Hartwig Philipp Theuring Michael Rode Dietrich Borchardt |
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Institution: | 1.Department Aquatic System Analysis and Management,Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ,Magdeburg,Germany |
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Abstract: | A previous study investigating the ecological status of the Kharaa River in Northern Mongolia reported fine-grained sediments
as being a major stress factor causing adverse impacts on the benthic ecology. However, the source of these sediments within
the catchment as well as the specific impact on hyporheic zone functions in the Kharaa River remained unclear. Therefore,
the objective of the current study was to investigate the underlying source–receptor system and implement an integrated monitoring
approach. Suspended sediment sources within the Kharaa catchment were identified by using extensive spatially distributed
sediment sampling and geochemical and isotope fingerprinting methods. On the receptor side, the ecological implications across
a gradient of fine-grained sediment influx were analyzed using a distinct hyporheic zone monitoring scheme at three representative
river reaches along the Kharaa River. Results of suspended sediment source monitoring show that during snowmelt runoff, riverbank
and gully erosion were the dominant sources. During the summer period, upland erosion contributed a substantial share of suspended
sediment. Fine-grained sediment influx proved to be the cause of habitat loss in the hyporheic zone and benthic oxygen production
limitation. This combined catchment and in-stream monitoring approach will allow for a better understanding and spatially
explicit analysis of the interactions of suspended sediment transport and hyporheic zone functioning. This information has
built the basis for a coupled modeling framework that will help to develop efficient management measures within the Kharaa
River basin with special emphasis on rapidly changing land-use and climatic conditions. |
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