Trace metals and sulphur isotopes in samll boreal streams: the influence of landscape type

• The transport of trace metals (TM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from headwater streams to the sea is influenced by various landscape elements. Our focus was to investigate the influence of major landscape elements on observed concentrations of dissolved metals (e.g. As, Cd, Co, Fe, Pb), DOC, sulphate, and sulphur isotope composition in streams, north- eastern Sweden, a coastal region characterized by peat wetlands and coniferous forests.Stream water samples collected from 10 streams (0.13 to 67 km2) in a boreal stream network reveal that landscape type (i.e. coverage of wetland and forest) is significant for river chemistry. Streams with different catchment characteristics responded differently to hydrological episodes. In forested streams, concentrations of TM, Fe and DOC increased, while they decreased in wetland influenced streams. Furthermore, Fe and Pb correlated positively with wetland coverage. Moreover, significantly lower average sulphate concentrations, but higher isotope values, were observed in wetland streams.This study emphasises the importance of understanding stream water chemistry from a landscape perspective in order to identify potential environments where climate change may induce enhanced metal mobilization in the future.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

hydrogeochemistry

trace elements

dissolved organic carbon

sulphur isotopes

sulphate

boreal streams

landscape characteristics

Atmosphere and hydrosphere sciences

Atmosfärs- och hydrosfärsvetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)