| Abstract: | [1] To quantify the movement of atmospheric nitrogen deposition through two forested watersheds in the Catskill Mountains of New York, dual-isotope analysis (??15N and ??18O) was used to differentiate NO3- derived from precipitation from NO3- derived by microbial nitrification and to quantify the contributions of these sources to NO3- in drainage waters. Samples of stream water, soil water, precipitation, snowmelt, and O-horizon soil were collected during the March and April snowmelt period of 1994 and throughout an 18-month period from August 1995 through February 1997. The mean ??18O-NO3- value of precipitation was +50.5???, whereas the mean values for stream water and soil water were +17.7??? and +23.6???, respectively. The mean ??15N-NO3- of precipitation was -0.2???, that of soil water was +1.4???, and that of stream water was +2.3???; these values showed greater overlap among the three different waters than did the ??18O-NO3- values, indicating that ??15N-NO3- was not as useful for source separation. Soil water ??18O-NO3- values decreased, and ??15N-NO3- values increased, from the O to the B and C horizons, but most of the differences among horizons were not statistically significant. Nitrate derived by nitrification in incubated soil samples had a wide range of ??15N-NO3- values, from +1.5??? to +16.1???, whereas ??18O-NO3- values ranged more narrowly, from +13.2??? to +16.0???. Values of ??18O-NO3- indicated that NO3- in stream water is mainly derived from nitrification. Only during a high-flow event that exceeded the annual flood was precipitation a major contributor to stream water NO3-. Values of ??18O-NO3- and ??15N-NO3- changed at differing rates as NO3- cycled through these watersheds because ??18O-NO3- values change sharply through the incorporation of oxygen from ambient water and gas during nitrification, whereas ??15N-NO3- values change only incrementally through fractionation during biocycling processes. The results of this study show that most NO3- is first cycled through the biota and nitrified before entering the stream. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70024740 |
| Citation Author: | Burns, D. A.; Kendall, C. |
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| Citation End Page: | 912 |
| Citation Issue: | 5 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Water Resources Research |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 822 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Analysis of ??15N and ??18O to differentiate NO3- sources in runoff at two watersheds in the Catskill Mountains of New York; 2002; Article; Journal; Water Resources Research; Burns, D. A.; Kendall, C. |
| Citation Start Page: | 91 |
| Citation Volume: | 38 |
| Citation Year: | 2002 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Analysis of ??15N and ??18O to differentiate NO3- sources in runoff at two watersheds in the Catskill Mountains of New York; 2002; Article; Journal; Water Resources Research; Burns, D. A.; Kendall, C. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Tue, 1 Jan 2002 00:00 -0600 |
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