Using geochemistry to understand water sources and transit times in headwater streams of a temperate rainforest

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dc.contributor.authorCartwright, Ien_AU
dc.contributor.authorAtkinson, APen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGilfedder, BSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHofmann, Hen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMorgenstern, Uen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-01T23:12:50Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-12-01T23:12:50Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2018-12en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-10-14en_AU
dc.description.abstractUnderstanding the sources and transit times of water that generates streamflow in headwater streams is important for understanding catchment functioning. This study determines the water sources and transit times in first-order streams from a temperate rainforest in the Otway Ranges, southeast Australia. Comparison of the major ion geochemistry of soil water, water flowing through soil pipes (macropores), and groundwater from the riparian zone adjacent to the stream suggests that water from soil pipes is the major contributor to streamflow. The tritium (3H) activities of the stream water are between 1.80 and 2.06 TU, the water from the soil pipes has 3H activities between 1.80 and 2.25 TU, the riparian zone groundwater has 3H activities of 1.35–2.39 TU, and one sample of soil water has a 3H activity of 2.22 TU. These 3H activities are significantly lower than those of local modern rainfall (2.6–3.0 TU), and mean transit times calculated using a range of lumped parameter models are between 3 and 57 years. These estimates are consistent with the major ion and stable isotope data, which imply that mean transit times were sufficiently long to allow weathering of minerals and/or organic matter and evapotranspiration to occur. The long mean transit times imply that water flows in this upper catchment are buffered against year-on-year variations in rainfall, but may change due to longer-term variations in rainfall or landuse. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipFunding for this project was provided by Monash University and the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training. The National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training was an Australian Government initiative supported by the Australian Research Council and the National Water Commission via Special Research Initiative SR0800001.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationCartwright, I., Atkinson, A. P., Gilfedder, B. S., Hofmann, H., Cendón, D. I., & Morgenstern, U. (2018). Using geochemistry to understand water sources and transit times in headwater streams of a temperate rainforest. Applied Geochemistry, 99, 1-12. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.10.018en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0883-2927en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleApplied Geochemistryen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination1-12en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.10.018en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12319en_AU
dc.identifier.volume99en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevier B. V.en_AU
dc.subjectTritiumen_AU
dc.subjectGeochemistryen_AU
dc.subjectStreamsen_AU
dc.subjectVictoriaen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectWateren_AU
dc.subjectSoilsen_AU
dc.subjectRain wateren_AU
dc.subjectWatershedsen_AU
dc.subjectLand useen_AU
dc.titleUsing geochemistry to understand water sources and transit times in headwater streams of a temperate rainforesten_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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