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Hydrologic Controls in Nitrate, Sulfate, and Chloride Concentrations

Northeast Watershed Research Center, USDA-ARS, University Park, PA.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Nitrate-nitrogen, SO₄, and Cl concentrations and discharge rates from a small, upland watershed in east central Pennsylvania were analyzed in the context of a layered aquifer. A pattern of greater NO₃-N concentrations during periods of greater discharge was generally followed by declining concentrations during hydrograph recession. The coincident temporal pattern of NO₃-N and discharge appears hydrologically controlled because both NO₃-N and SO₄ exhibited similar patterns even though there are important differences in their behavior and reactivity in biologically controlled systems. Chemical concentration patterns in stream flow arose from flow through a two-layer geologic system in which NO₃-N and SO₄ concentrations were different between layers. The substantially lower concentrations observed in the deeper water were attributed to recharge from areas with forest and mixed land uses. Discharge from this deeper layer supported the lowest flows and the lowest chemical concentrations observed in stream flow. Increases in stream flow resulted from greater discharge from the shallower groundwater layer. Adding discharge from the shallower groundwater resulted in higher chemical concentrations in stream flow. Nitrate-nitrogen concentration estimated with a mixing cell model, in which concentration changes result from dilution only, closely matched measured concentration.

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