Biogeochemistry of Permafrosted/NonPermafrosted Watersheds in CPCRW: Summer 1995

• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Bonanza Creek LTERBoreal Ecology Cooperative Research Unit University of Alaska FairbanksP.O. Box 756780 FairbanksAK99775USA907-474-6364907-474-6251 1997
• Subjects: biogeochemistry; permafrost; hydrology; dissolved organic carbon; dissolved organic nitrogen; dissolved inorganic nitrogen; nitrate; ammonium; calcium; magnesium; potassium; aluminum; sodium; manganese; silica; sulfate; carbon and nitrogen flux
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10255/dryad.11903; http://metacat.lternet.edu/knb/metacat/knb-lter-bnz.25.8/xml

Chemical measurements of groundwater, soil water and stream water were made in watersheds C2 and C3 in CPCRW (DOC, DON, NO3-N, NH4-N, Al, Mg, Ca, Mn, Si, K, Na, SO4 and conductivity). One watershed C3 had extensive permafrost and the other C2 had limited permafrost. Stream discharge data was collected from permanently installed flumes. Soil water retained within the rooting zone (0.3 - 0.5 m) was high in DOC, DON and DIN but low in dissolved minerals (dominantly Ca, Mg and Na) and conductivity. The reverse was true for groundwater from springs and wells. Permafrost in C3 prevented deep percolation of water and generated stormflows rich in DOC. Stormflow accounted for 24% of total streamflow in C3 but only 3% of total streamflow in C2. The presence of permafrost appears to result in higher fluxes of DOC, DON and DIN into stream water from upland soils.