Long-term hydrochemical sensitivity of an alpine watershed using the alpine hydrochemical model
Eighteen 50-year simulations of the hydrology and chemistry of Emerald Lake watershed were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of basin hydrochemistry to natural variability and changes in ion loading. These simulations were conducted using the Alpine Hydrochemical Model, designed to predict...
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| Language: | en_US |
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The University of Arizona.
2005
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10150/626908 http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/626908 |
| Summary: | Eighteen 50-year simulations of the hydrology and chemistry of Emerald Lake watershed
were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of basin hydrochemistry to natural variability
and changes in ion loading. These simulations were conducted using the Alpine
Hydrochemical Model, designed to predict hydrologic and hydrochemical behavior based
on inputs of water, chemical content and energy. A historical reconstruction of outflow
hydrology indicates several strings of years with higher than average outflow as well as
several drought year series. The results of hydrochemical modeling indicate a
historically strong tendency for the basin to quickly rebound from these year-sequences,
with exchange site chemistry playing a significant role in the carry-over basin chemistry
interannually. Although the hydrochemistry is influenced by these precipitation trends
over the short term, it is relatively insensitive to changes in acid loading. A sensitivity
analysis validated the original estimates of bulk mineral weathering rates used by earlier
researchers. |
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