Exports of dissolved ammonium (NH4 +) during storm events across multiple catchments in a glaciated forested watershed

Storm event exports of dissolved were explored for multiple events in the Point Peter Brook watershed (PPBW), a glaciated, forested watershed located in Western New York, USA. Investigations were performed across four catchments (1.6–696 ha) with varying topography and the extent of surface-saturated areas. While wetland and riparian waters were important sources of during non-storm periods, throughfall and litter leachate were the dominant contributors of during storm events. Ammonium concentrations in catchment discharge displayed a sinusoidal seasonal pattern with a maximum during early spring (March) and a minimum in late summer (August–September). Storm event concentrations of in streamflow were much greater than baseflow values and showed a consistent temporal pattern with an increase in concentrations on the hydrograph rising limb, a peak at or before the discharge peak, followed by a decline in concentrations. Storm event patterns of DON were similar to while the patterns of differed from for the summer and fall events. The storm event expression of was attributed to throughfall and throughfall-mediated leaching of the litter layer. The reactive behavior of precluded its use in an end member mixing model (EMMA) for predicting streamflow concentrations. While concentrations of in precipitation and streamflow were high for the spring events, exports of in streamflow were highest for the large and intense storm events. Baseflow concentrations increased with the percent wetland/saturated area in the catchment but the same trend did not hold for storm-event concentrations.     

Sulfate exports from multiple catchments in a glaciated forested watershed in western New York, USA

Sulfate () concentrations and fluxes were studied for multiple storm events in the Point Peter Brook watershed, a glaciated, forested watershed located in Western New York, USA. Investigations were performed across one large (696 ha) and three small (1.6–3.4 ha) catchments with varying extent of riparian and wetland areas. Concentrations of in groundwater sources (mean values: 238–910 μmol_c L⁻¹) were considerably greater than concentrations recorded for rainfall (60 μmol_c L⁻¹) and throughfall (72–129 μmol_c L⁻¹). Seasonality in concentrations was most pronounced for valley-bottom riparian waters with maximum concentrations in late winter–spring (February–March) and a minimum in late summer (August). Concentrations of in wetland water were considerably less than riparian water indicating the likelihood of reduction in anoxic wetland conditions. Storm events displayed a dilution pattern in concentrations with a minimum coinciding with the maximum in throughfall contributions. End member mixing analysis (EMMA) was able to predict the storm event concentrations of for four of the six comparisons. Concentrations of at the outlet of the large (696 ha) catchment were much greater than values recorded for the smaller catchments. Exports of in streamflow exceeded the inputs from atmospheric deposition suggesting that watersheds like Point Peter Brook may not show any immediate response to decreases in atmospheric deposition.