Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Hydrochemistry of Medium-size Pristine Rivers in Boreal and Subarctic Zone: Disentangling Effect of Landscape Parameters across A Permafrost, Climate and Vegetation Gradient

Version 1 : Received: 29 June 2022 / Approved: 30 June 2022 / Online: 30 June 2022 (08:44:41 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Pokrovsky, O.S.; Lim, A.G.; Krickov, I.V.; Korets, M.A.; Shirokova, L.S.; Vorobyev, S.N. Hydrochemistry of Medium-Size Pristine Rivers in Boreal and Subarctic Zone: Disentangling Effect of Landscape Parameters across a Permafrost, Climate, and Vegetation Gradient. Water 2022, 14, 2250. Pokrovsky, O.S.; Lim, A.G.; Krickov, I.V.; Korets, M.A.; Shirokova, L.S.; Vorobyev, S.N. Hydrochemistry of Medium-Size Pristine Rivers in Boreal and Subarctic Zone: Disentangling Effect of Landscape Parameters across a Permafrost, Climate, and Vegetation Gradient. Water 2022, 14, 2250.

Abstract

Towards a better understanding of vegetation, permafrost, climate, landscape and lithology control on major and trace element (including macro and micro-nutrients and toxicants) transport in riverine systems, we studied two medium size (100-150 thousand km² watershed area) pristine rivers (Taz and Ket) of boreal and subarctic zone, western Siberia. Choosing the river basins of very low population density (< 1 people km-²) in the absence of any industrial or agricultural activity allowed testing the sole effect of natural factors and long-range atmospheric transfer on hydrochemistry of riverine solutes during the open water period. In the permafrost-bearing Taz River (main stem and 17 tributaries), sizable control of vegetation on element concentration was revealed. In particular, light coniferous and broadleaf mixed forest controlled DOC, and some nutrients (N, Mn, Fe, Mo, Cd, Ba); deciduous needleleaf forest positively correlated with macronutrients (P, Si, Mg, P, Ca) and Sr, and dark needle-leaf forest impacted Ntot, Al and Rb. Organic C stock in the upper 30-100 cm soil positively correlated with Be, Mn, Co, Mo, Cd, Sb, and Bi. The lithological control was generally poorly pronounced, due to abundant peat deposits overlaying the mineral strata. However, cretaceous carbonate mineral-bearing sedimentary deposits positively impacted the pH and concentration of Si, Mg, Ca and Cs. In the Ket River basin (large right tributary of the Ob River), we revealed the correlations between the phytomass stock at the watershed and alkaline-earth metals and U concentration in the river water. This control was weakly pronounced during high-water period (spring flood) and mostly evidenced during summer low water period.

Keywords

metals; trace elements; landscape; permafrost; river; watershed; boreal

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.