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Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds
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Published on: September 26, 2017

Increased river alkalinization in the Eastern U.S.

Sujay S Kaushal1, Gene E Likens, Ryan M Utz

  • 1College Park Department of Geology and Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20740, United States.

Environmental Science & Technology
|July 26, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human activities are increasing river alkalinity across the Eastern U.S. This accelerated chemical weathering impacts water quality, carbon cycling, and coastal ecosystems.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Geochemistry
  • Hydrology

Background:

  • Riverine carbon cycles are influenced by interactions between human activities and watershed geology.
  • Chemical weathering, producing bicarbonate alkalinity, is a key process in riverine carbon cycling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate long-term trends in bicarbonate alkalinity in rivers of the eastern United States.
  • To identify factors controlling river alkalinization rates and their relationship to human impacts.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed bicarbonate alkalinity and calcium trends at 97 river sites in the eastern U.S.
  • Assessed relationships between alkalinization rates and watershed characteristics like geology, acid deposition, and topography.

Main Results:

  • Statistically significant increasing trends in alkalinity were observed at 62% of the studied river sites.
  • Increasing trends in calcium concentrations were noted at over 50% of sites.
  • River alkalinization rates correlated significantly with carbonate lithology, acid deposition, and elevation, with carbonate lithology being the strongest predictor.

Conclusions:

  • Widespread river alkalinization in the Eastern U.S. indicates human-accelerated chemical weathering.
  • This phenomenon has significant environmental implications, including altered water chemistry, carbon dioxide exchange, and coastal ocean acidification.