Sources of major elements and nutrients in the water cycle of an undisturbed river basin – Samothraki Island, Greece

We studied the origin of elements of an undisturbed stream basin during the dry season as derived by atmospheric inputs and lithological processes. Α mass balance model was applied taking into account atmospheric (rain and vapor) inputs and their origin from marine aerosol and dust, as well as the c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2023-11, Vol.897, p.165361-165361, Article 165361
Main Authors: Skoulikidis, Nikolaos Th, Matiatos, Ioannis, Michalopoulos, Panagiotis, Smeti, Evangelia, Özkan, Cemil, Akepsimaidis, Konstantinos, Laschou, Sofia, Stumpp, Christine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Hydrogeochemistry
Mass balance
Vapor
Water cycle
Water stable isotopes
Weathering
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Summary:We studied the origin of elements of an undisturbed stream basin during the dry season as derived by atmospheric inputs and lithological processes. Α mass balance model was applied taking into account atmospheric (rain and vapor) inputs and their origin from marine aerosol and dust, as well as the contribution of rock mineral weathering and dissolution of soluble salts. The model results were enhanced using element enrichment factors, element ratios and water stable isotopes. Weathering and dissolution of bedrock and soil minerals contributed the main element portions, besides sodium and sulfate that chiefly derived from wet deposition. Vapor was shown to contribute water to inland waters of the basin. However, rain was the main source of elements compared to vapor, with marine aerosol being the only atmospheric chloride source, contributing also over 60 % of atmospheric sodium and magnesium. Silicate derived from mineral weathering (mainly plagioclase and amorphous silica), while soluble salt dissolution contributed the main portions of the rest of major elements. In headwater springs and streams, element concentrations were more affected by atmospheric inputs and silicate mineral weathering was more intense, contrary to lowland waters that were more affected by soluble salt dissolution. Effective self-purification processes were mirrored in low nutrient levels, despite the significant inputs from wet deposition, with rain being more important contributor than vapor for the majority of nutrient species. Relatively high nitrate concentrations in headwaters were attributed to increased mineralization and nitrification, while the downstream nitrate diminishing was due to prevailing denitrification processes. The ultimate goal of this study is to contribute in establishing stream elements' reference conditions using mass balance modeling approaches. [Display omitted] •Vapor contributed to the water cycle of the basin•Rain was more important element contributor than vapor•Sulfate and sodium mainly derived from wet deposition•Atmospheric inputs, silicate weathering and nitrification affected headwaters•Salt dissolution and denitrification affected the downstream portion of the basin
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165361