Spatiotemporal characterization of dissolved carbon for inland waters in semi-humid/semi-arid region, China

• Published in: Hydrology and earth system sciences 2013-10, Vol.17 (10), p.4269-4281
• Main Authors: Song, K. S, Zang, S. Y, Zhao, Y, Li, L, Du, J, Zhang, N. N, Wang, X. D, Shao, T. T, Guan, Y, Liu, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brackish; Brackish water; Carbon; China; Dissolution; Electrical conductivity; Hydrology; Inland waters; Resistivity; Salinity
• ISSN: 1607-7938; 1027-5606; 1607-7938
• DOI: 10.5194/hess-17-4269-2013

Spatiotemporal variations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and inorganic carbon (DIC) in 26 waters across the semi-humid/semi-arid Songnen Plain, China, were examined with data collected during 2008–2011. Fresh (n = 14) and brackish (n = 12) waters were grouped according to electrical conductivity (threshold = 1000 μS cm−1) Significant differences in the average DOC and DIC concentrations were observed between the fresh (5.63 mg L−1, 37.39 mg L−1) and the brackish waters (15.33 mg L−1, 142.93 mg L−1). Colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and DOC concentrations were mainly controlled by climatic–hydrologic conditions. The investigation indicated that the outflow conditions in the semi-arid region had condensed effects on the dissolved carbon, resulting in close relationships between salinity vs. DOC (R2 = 0.66), and salinity vs. DIC (R2 = 0.94). An independent data set collected in May 2012 also confirmed this finding (DOC: R2 = 0.79, DIC: R2 = 0.91), highlighting the potential of quantifying DOC and DIC via salinity measurements for waters dispersed in the plain. Indices based on the CDOM absorption spectra (e.g., the DOC-specific CDOM absorption (SUVA254), absorption ratio a250 : a365 (E250 : E365) and the spectral slope ratio (Sr, S275−295/S350−400) were applied to characterize CDOM composition and quality. Our results indicate that high molecular weight CDOM fractions are more abundant in the fresh waters than the brackish waters.