Dissolved organic carbon transport in the Qilian mountainous areas of China. Issue 25 (6th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Guofeng; Wan, Qiaozhuo; Yong, Leilei; Li, Qiaoqiao; Zhang, Zhiyuan; Guo, Huiwen; Zhang, Yu; Sun, Zhigang; Zhang, Zhuanxia; Ma, Huiying
• Is Part Of: Hydrological processes. Volume 34:Issue 25(2020)
• Page Start: 4985
• Page End: 4995
• Publication Date: 2020-10-06
• Subjects: climate change -- dissolved organic carbon -- inland river basin -- runoff; Hydrology -- Periodicals; Hydrology -- Research -- Periodicals; Hydrologic models -- Periodicals; Hydrological forecasting -- Periodicals; 631.432
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.13918
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-6087

Abstract

Abstract: The Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) content of rivers is the most significant part of the carbon cycle migration in the basin under consideration, and it is the basis for a comprehensive understanding of the regional carbon cycle. In this study, we periodically collected samples from four monitoring stations in the Xiying River Basin of the Qilian Mountains in the northern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. We calculated the fluxes of organic carbon in the rivers within the study area and have discussed the influencing factors of DOC concentration in these rivers. The results showed that: (a) The DOC concentration and transport flux of the Xiying river showed significant seasonal changes. The DOC concentration during summer and autumn was higher than that in winter and spring, and the output flux in summer and autumn accounted for approximately 88.3% of the total annual output. (b) Precipitation runoff has a higher DOC concentration than meltwater runoff. Climate factors, river‐water chemical characteristics, and seasonal frozen‐soil changes in the river basin have significant effects on the river DOC concentration and transport flux. (c) Larger runoff causes higher DOC concentrations in rivers. Runoff is the primary means of carbon migration in the inland river basin. Carbon migration is significant from the upstream to the middle and downstream sections of the inland river basin. Abstract :