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Impact of Stream Geomorphology on Greenhouse Gas Concentration in a New York Mountain Stream

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Abstract

As increased greenhouse gas concentrations (GHG: N2O, CO2, CH4) in our atmosphere remain a major concern, better quantifying GHG fluxes from natural systems is essential. In this study, we investigate GHG concentrations in saturated riparian sediments (dry, wet, mucky), streambed hyporheic zone sediments (pools, riffles), and stream water in a New York mountain stream for summer baseflow conditions, and attempt to identify the primary drivers (e.g., DO, DOC, NO3 −, and NH4 +, temp) of GHG concentrations at these locations. Although DO, DOC, NO3 −, and NH4 + concentration patterns certainly explained some of the observed trends, the overall differences in GHG abundance in riparian water vs. hyporheic pool water vs. hyporheic riffle water strongly suggest that water velocity/mixing with the atmosphere is a key control on GHG concentration across locations. When all floodplain locations are considered, in-stream pools are hot spots of CO2 and CH4 concentrations relative to other in-stream locations. On the other hand, riparian areas are hot spots of CH4 and CO2 concentrations relative to stream locations. No clear patterns are observed for N2O.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by a US Geological Survey 104B grant (Award# 61103-10081) to P. Vidon through the New York Water Resources Institute in partnership with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation—Hudson River Estuary Program. Satish Serchan was supported though the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service Federal Pathway Program during his time at SUNY-ESF. The support of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in providing funds for the monitoring at the Arbutus Watershed and Huntington Forest is also greatly appreciated. The authors would also like to thank Pat McHale, Joshua Gomez, Cheryl Glor, and the staff of the Adirondack Ecological Center in Newcomb, NY, for their help in the field and laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), Bray 320, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Philippe Vidon & Satish Serchan

  2. Water Resources Graduate Program, The Oregon State University (OSU), Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA

    Satish Serchan

  3. Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Satish Serchan

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  1. Philippe Vidon
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Correspondence to Philippe Vidon.

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Vidon, P., Serchan, S. Impact of Stream Geomorphology on Greenhouse Gas Concentration in a New York Mountain Stream. Water Air Soil Pollut 227, 428 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-016-3131-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-016-3131-5

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