Publication
Title
A trade-off between dissolved and amorphous silica transport during peak flow events (Scheldt river basin, Belgium): impacts of precipitation intensity on terrestrial Si dynamics in strongly cultivated catchments
Author
Abstract
Amorphous, biogenic Si (ASi) is stored in large amounts in terrestrial ecosystems. The study of terrestrial ASi mobilization remains in the pioneer research stage: most Si budget studies have not included the biogenic amorphous Si stock and fluxes. This hampers our ability to accurately quantify terrestrial mobilization of Si, which isthrough ocean carbon burial and CO2 uptake during terrestrial Si weatheringintricately linked to global carbon budgets. We studied detailed concentration and load patterns of dissolved (DSi) and ASi during several high-discharge events in eight first-order river basins. Based on high frequency discharge measurements and concurrent analysis of ASi and DSi concentrations at base flow and during intense precipitation events, we were able to attribute a percentage of yearly ASi and DSi fluxes to both base flow and precipitation event related surface run-off. Our results show ASi and DSi concentrations in upstream river basins to be intricately linked to each other and to discharge, and ASi transport constitutes an important part to the total transport of Si even through first-order river basins (up to 40%). Based on our observations, increased occurrence of peak-discharge events with global climatic changes, and lowered importance of base flow, will coincide with drastic changes in ASi and DSi dynamics in the river continuum. Our work clearly shows ASi dynamics should be incorporated in global Si budgets now, even in low-order small river basins.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Biogeochemistry. - Dordrecht
Publication
Dordrecht : 2011
ISSN
0168-2563
DOI
10.1007/S10533-010-9527-1
Volume/pages
106 :3 (2011) , p. 475-487
ISI
000297360300012
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Land Use Changes and Si Transport through the Scheldt River Basin. (LUSi)
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 01.12.2011
Last edited 15.11.2022
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