Dry‐season length and runoff control annual variability in stream DOC dynamics in a small, shallow groundwater‐dominated agricultural watershed. Issue 10 (3rd October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Humbert, G.; Jaffrezic, A.; Fovet, O.; Gruau, G.; Durand, P.
• Is Part Of: Water resources research. Volume 51:Issue 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 7860
• Page End: 7877
• Publication Date: 2015-10-03
• Subjects: dissolved organic carbon -- shallow groundwater -- dry season -- runoff -- temperate climate -- headwater watershed; Hydrology -- Periodicals; 333.91
• DOI: 10.1002/2015WR017336
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1397

Abstract

Abstract: As a phenomenon integrating climate conditions and hydrological control of the connection between streams and terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) sources, groundwater dynamics control patterns of stream DOC characteristics (concentrations and fluxes). Influence of intra‐annual variations in groundwater level, discharge and climatic factors on DOC concentrations and fluxes were assessed over 13 years at the headwater watershed of Kervidy‐Naizin (5 km 2 ) in western France. Four seasonal periods were delineated within each year according to groundwater fluctuations (A: rewetting, B: high flow, C: recession, and D: drought). Annual and seasonal base flow versus stormflow DOC concentrations were defined based on daily hydrograph readings. High interannual variability of annual DOC fluxes (5.4–39.5 kg ha −1 yr −1 ) indicates that several years of data are required to encompass variations in water flux to evaluate the actual DOC export capacity of a watershed. Interannual variability of mean annual DOC concentrations was much lower (4.9–7.5 mg C L −1 ), with concentrations decreasing within each year from ca. 9.2 mg C L −1 in A to ca. 3.0 mg C L −1 in C. This indicates an intra‐annual pattern of stream DOC concentrations controlled by DOC source characteristics and groundwater dynamics very similar across years. Partial least squares regressions combined with multiple linear regressions showed that the dry season characteristics (length and drawdown) determine the mean annual DOC concentration while annual runoff determines the annual flux. Antagonistic mechanisms of production‐accumulation and dilution‐depletion combined with an unlimited DOC supply from riparian wetland soils can mitigate the response of stream concentrations to global changes and climatic variations. Key Points: Groundwater fluctuations divide time series into hydrological seasons Dry season length increases production and accumulation of DOC in soils Runoff depletes the DOC stored in watershed soils during wet seasons