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Research article2016Peer reviewedOpen access

Spatial and temporal variations of base cation release from chemical weathering on a hillslope scale

Erlandsson, M.; Oelkers, E. H.; Bishop, Kevin; Sverdrup, H.; Belyazid, S; Ledesma, Jose; Köhler, Stephan

Abstract

Cation release rates to catchment runoff from chemical weathering were assessed using an integrated catchment model that included the soil's unsaturated, saturated and riparian zones. In-situ mineral dissolution rates were calculated in these zones as a function of pH, aluminum and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations along a hillslope in Northern Sweden where soil water was monitored over nine years. Three independent sets of mineral dissolution equations of varying complexity were used: PROFILE, Transition-State Theory (TST), and the Palandri & Kharaka database.Normalization of the rate-coefficients was necessary to compare the equations, as published rate-coefficients gave base cation release rates differing by several orders of magnitude. After normalizing the TST- and Palandri & Kharaka-rate coefficients to match the base cation release rates calculated from the PROFILE-equations, calculated Ca2+ and Mg2+ release rates are consistent with mass balance calculations, whereas those of Na+ and K+ are overestimated. Our calculations further indicate that a significant proportion of base cations are released from the organic soils in the near-stream zone, in part due to its finer texture. Of the three sets of rate equations, the base cation release rates calculated from the normalized TST-equations were more variable than those calculated using the other two sets of equations, both spatially and temporally, due to its higher sensitivity to pH. In contrast, the normalized Palandri & Kharaka-equations were more sensitive to variations in soil temperature.

Keywords

Mineral dissolution kinetics; PROFILE; Transition-State-Theory; PHREEQC; Acidification; Riparian zone

Published in

Chemical Geology
2016, Volume: 441, pages: 1-13
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV