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Contrasting NO3-N concentration patterns at two karst springs in Iowa (USA): insights on aquifer nitrogen storage and delivery

Signatures contrastées en NO3-N dans deux sources karstiques de l’Iowa (USA): perspectives Sur le stockage et la libération d’azote dans l’aquifère

Contraste de los patrones de concentración de NO3-N en dos manantiales cársticos de Iowa (EEUU): conocimientos acerca del almacenamiento y suministro de nitrógeno en el acuífero

(美国)爱荷华州岩溶泉NO3-N含量模式的对比:对含水层氮存储和传递的认识

Contrastando os padrões de concentração de NO3-N em duas nascentes cársticas em Iowa (EUA): intuições sobre armazenamento e entrega de nitrogênio do aquífero

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Abstract

Evaluating the patterns of NO3-N concentrations at karst springs can be used to infer hydrologic processes and nutrient dynamics in karst aquifers. In this study, NO3-N concentrations observed at two karst springs in northeast Iowa (USA) were evaluated for a 2-year period using high-frequency sensors. Despite similar watershed land use dominated by intense row cropping of corn and soybean production (>70%), NO3-N concentrations and temporal patterns were very different between the two springs. At the Manchester spring, NO3-N stored in overburden materials above the karst-enhanced Silurian-age bedrock provides a continuing source of NO3-N to the spring. Rainfall events mobilize the stored NO3-N and concentrations increase. At Big Spring, the karst system is overlain by a thin layer of sediments and the bedrock is dominated by sinkholes and losing streams. Rainfall events dilute the spring NO3-N concentrations which rapidly decreased during events before rebounding to previous levels. Spectral analyses revealed that concentrations at both springs were a fractal process, with the scaling exponent at Manchester (2.0) considerably larger than that measured at Big Spring (1.4), indicating a higher degree of autocorrelation in NO3-N concentrations at Manchester, consistent with the conceptual model. Overall, results argue for greater use of high-frequency NO3-N monitoring at karst springs to better assess short- and long-term variations in NO3-N concentrations and to unravel karst processes.

Résumé

L’évaluation des signatures en NO3-N dans des sources karstiques peut être utilisée pour déduire des processus hydrologiques et la dynamique des nutriments au sein des aquifères karstiques. Dans cette étude, les concentrations en NO3-N ont été mesurées sur deux sources karstiques du nord-est de l’Iowa (USA) sur une période de deux ans en utilisant des capteurs à haute-fréquence d’acquisition. Bien que les bassins d’alimentation respectifs montrent des occupations du sol, similaires dominées par la culture intensive du maïs et du soja (>70%), les concentrations en NO3-N et les évolutions temporelles sont très différentes entre les deux sources. A la source Manchester, le NO3-N stocké dans les matériaux de couverture au-dessus des formations karstifiées d’âge Silurien constitue une source continue de NO3-N vers l’exutoire. Les épisodes pluvieux mobilisent le NO3-N stocké et les concentrations augmentent. A la source Big Spring, la formation karstique est. recouverte par une fine couche de sédiments et présente de nombreuses dolines et pertes le long de cours d’eau. Les épisodes pluvieux diluent les concentrations en NO3-N à l’exutoire avec une diminution rapide des concentrations pendant l’épisode, suivie d’une remontée aux concentrations pré-évènement. Les analyses spectrales ont montré que les concentrations aux deux sources suivent un comportement fractal, avec un exposant de mise à l’échelle largement plus élevé à Manchester (2.0) qu’à Big Spring (1.4), ce qui indique un plus grand degré d’autocorrélation des concentrations en NO3-N à Manchester, ce qui est. en accord avec le modèle conceptuel. Dans l’ensemble, les résultats plaident en faveur d’une utilisation plus répandue de suivis à haute fréquence d’acquisition des NO3-N aux sources karstiques afin de mieux évaluer les variations à court et long terme des concentrations en NO3-N et éclaircir les processus karstiques en jeu.

Resumen

La evaluación de los patrones de concentración de NO3-N en los manantiales cársticos puede utilizarse para inferir los procesos hidrológicos y la dinámica de los nutrientes en los acuíferos cársticos. En este estudio, las concentraciones de NO3-N observadas en dos manantiales cársticos en el noreste de Iowa (EEUU) fueron evaluadas durante un período de dos años usando sensores de alta frecuencia. A pesar del uso similar de las tierras de las cuencas hidrográficas, dominadas por el cultivo intensivo de maíz y soja (> 70%), las concentraciones de NO3-N y los patrones temporales fueron muy diferentes entre los dos manantiales. En el manantial de Manchester, el NO3-N almacenado en materiales suprayacentes al basamento cárstico de edad silúrica proporciona una fuente continua de NO3-N al manantial. Los eventos de lluvia movilizan el NO3-N almacenado y las concentraciones aumentan. En Big Spring, el sistema cárstico está cubierto por una fina capa de sedimentos y el basamento está dominado por sumideros y arroyos perdidos. Los eventos de lluvia diluyen las concentraciones de NO3-N de los manantiales, las cuales disminuyen rápidamente durante los eventos antes de recuperarse a los niveles anteriores. Los análisis espectrales revelaron que las concentraciones en ambos manantiales eran un proceso fractal, con el exponente de escala en Manchester (2.0) considerablemente mayor que el medido en Big Spring (1.4), indicando un mayor grado de autocorrelación en concentraciones de NO3-N en Manchester, consistente con el modelo conceptual. En general, los resultados abogan por un mayor uso del monitoreo de alta frecuencia de NO3-N en los manantiales cársticos para evaluar mejor las variaciones a corto y largo plazo en las concentraciones de NO3-N y para desentrañar los procesos cársticos.

摘要

评估岩溶泉的NO3-N含量模式可用来推断岩溶含水层的水文过程和营养物动力学。在本研究中,评估了采用高频传感器两年时间内在(美国)爱荷华州东北部两个岩溶泉观测到的NO3-N含量。尽管类似的流域土地利用主要是密集的玉米和大豆连作生产(>70%),但两个泉之间的NO3-N含量和时间模式完全不同。在Manchester泉,储存在岩溶增强的志留纪基岩之上表土物质中的NO3-N为泉提供了持续的NO3-N来源。降雨事件使储存的NO3-N活跃起来,含量增加。在Big泉,岩溶系统上覆着薄层沉积物,基岩上主要有落水洞和渗失河。降雨事件稀释了泉的NO3-N含量,NO3-N含量在恢复到原来水平前的降雨事件期间迅速降低。光谱分析结果揭示,两个泉的含量是一个不规则过程,Manchester的比例指数(2.0)大大高于Big泉的比例指数(1.4),表明,在Manchester泉NO3-N含量自相关程度较高,与概念模型的结果一致。总的说来,结果支持在岩溶泉大力开展高频NO3-N监测,以更好地评价NO3-N含量的短期和长期变化,以及阐明岩溶过程。

Resumo

A avaliação dos padrões de concentrações de NO3-N em nascentes cársticas pode ser usada para inferir processos hidrológicos e a dinâmica de nutrientes em aquíferos cársticos. Neste estudo, as concentrações de NO3-N observadas em duas nascentes cársticas no nordeste de Iowa (EUA) foram avaliadas por um período de dois anos usando sensores de alta frequência. Apesar do uso similar da terra em bacias hidrográficas dominadas por intenso plantio de milho e produção de soja (> 70%), as concentrações de NO3-N e os padrões temporais foram muito diferentes entre as duas nascentes. Na nascente Manchester, o NO3-N armazenado em materiais de sobrecarga acima do leito rochoso cárstico de idade Siluriana fornece uma fonte contínua de NO3-N para a nascente. Eventos de chuva mobilizam o NO3-N armazenado e as concentrações aumentam. Na nascente Big, o sistema cárstico é coberto por uma fina camada de sedimentos e a rocha é dominada por sumidouros e córregos afluentes. Eventos de chuva diluem as concentrações de NO3-N das nascentes que rapidamente diminuíram durante esses eventos antes de se recuperarem para níveis anteriores. Análises espectrais revelaram que as concentrações em ambas as nascentes foram processos fractais, com o expoente de escala na nascente Manchester (2.0) consideravelmente maior do que o medido na nascente Big (1.4), indicando um maior grau de autocorrelação das concentrações de NO3-N na Manchester, consistente com o modelo conceitual. No geral, os resultados sugerem uma maior utilização do monitoramento de alta frequência do NO3-N em nascentes cársticas para melhor avaliar as variações de curto e longo prazos nas concentrações de NO3-N e para desvendar processos cársticos.

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Acknowledgements

Phil Kerr drafted the conceptual model. Reviews from Calvin Alexander and two anonymous reviewers helped to improve the manuscript.

Funding

Funding for deployment and maintenance of the N sensors was provided, in part, by the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Iowa Geological Survey, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Keith E. Schilling, Ryan J. Clark & Robert D. Libra

  2. IIHR Hydroscience & Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Christopher S. Jones

  3. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China

    Xiuyu Liang & You-Kuan Zhang

  4. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China

    Xiuyu Liang & You-Kuan Zhang

  5. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China

    Xiuyu Liang & You-Kuan Zhang

  6. Shenzhen Municipal Engineering Lab of Environmental IoT Technologies, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    You-Kuan Zhang

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  1. Keith E. Schilling
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Correspondence to Keith E. Schilling.

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Robert D. Libra is retired

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Schilling, K.E., Jones, C.S., Clark, R.J. et al. Contrasting NO3-N concentration patterns at two karst springs in Iowa (USA): insights on aquifer nitrogen storage and delivery. Hydrogeol J 27, 1389–1400 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-01935-y

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