Abstract
The water samples from Devil Canyon watershed in the semiarid Southern California with varying Nitrate concentrations were examined to investigate the landscape scale dynamics of biochemical and hydrological processes that controls nitrate export from the semiarid forested catchments with elevated N deposition. Nitrate in the catchments enters the stream through the flushing of winter rains and its concentrations are induced by the mass dilution. The nitrate in the water is dominated by groundwater seeping to the surface and its concentrations remain high throughout the season. The nitrate and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations of water increases as the stream flow increases. The concept of a denitrification control on stream nitrate and DOC concentration as a result from longitudinal surveys and mass balance analysis indicated plant uptake and riparian zone, rather than a mass dilution process.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 73-75 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Report - University of California Water Resources Center |
| Issue number | 103 |
| State | Published - 2002 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Atmospheric deposition
- Basin hydrology
- Biogeochemical processes of nitrogen
- San Bernardino mountains
- Water quality
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Water Science and Technology
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences