Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dynamics of dissolved organic matter during four storm events in two forest streams: source, export, and implications for harmful disinfection byproduct formation

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dynamics of river dissolved organic matter (DOM) during storm events have profound influences on the downstream aquatic ecosystem and drinking water safety. This study investigated temporal variations in DOM during four storm events in two forest headwater streams (the EH and JH brooks, South Korea) and the impacts on the disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation potential. The within-event variations of most DOM quantity parameters were similar to the flow rate in the EH but not in the larger JH brook. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) showed clockwise and counterclockwise hysteresis with the flow rate in the EH and JH brooks, respectively, indicating the importance of both flow path and DOM source pool size in determining the effects of storm events. The stream DOM became less aromatic/humified from the first to the last event in both brooks, probably due to the increasing fresh plant pool and the decreasing leaf litter pool during the course of rainy season. The DOC export during each event increased 1.3–2.7- and 1.1–7.0-fold by stormflows in the EH and JH brooks, respectively. The leaf litter and soil together was the major DOM source, particularly during early events. The enhanced DOM export probably increases the risks of DBPs formation in disinfection, as indicated by a strong correlation observed between DOC and trihalomethanes formation potential (THMFP). High correlations between two humic-like fluorescent components and THMFP further suggested the potential of assessing THMFP with in situ fluorescence sensors during storms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvarez-Cobelas M, Angeler DG, Sánchez-Carrillo S, Almendros G (2012) A worldwide view of organic carbon export from catchments. Biogeochemistry 107(1–3):275–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Austnes K, Evans CD, Eliot-Laize C, Naden PS, Old GH (2010) Effects of storm events on mobilisation and in-stream processing of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a Welsh peatland catchment. Biogeochemistry 99(1–3):157–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beggs KMH, Summers RS, McKnight DM (2009) Characterizing chlorine oxidation of dissolved organic matter and disinfection by-product formation with fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis. J Geophys Res Biogeosci 114:G04001. doi:10.1029/2009jg001009

    Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi TS, Garcia-Tigreros F, Yvon-Lewis SA, Shields M, Mills HJ, Butman D, Osburn C, Raymond P, Shank GC, DiMarco SF, Walker N, Reese BK, Mullins-Perry R, Quigg A, Aiken GR, Grossman EL (2013) Enhanced transfer of terrestrially derived carbon to the atmosphere in a flooding event. Geophys Res Lett 40(1):116–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buffam I, Galloway JN, Blum LK, McGlathery KJ (2001) A stormflow/baseflow comparison of dissolved organic matter concentrations and bioavailability in an Appalachian stream. Biogeochemistry 53(3):269–306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caverly E, Kaste JM, Hancock GS, Chambers RM (2013) Dissolved and particulate organic carbon fluxes from an agricultural watershed during consecutive tropical storms. Geophys Res Lett 40(19):5147–5152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coble PG (2007) Marine optical biogeochemistry: the chemistry of ocean color. Chem Rev 107(2):402–418

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhillon GS, Inamdar S (2013) Extreme storms and changes in particulate and dissolved organic carbon in runoff: entering uncharted waters? Geophys Res Lett 40(7):1322–1327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fellman JB, Hood E, Edwards RT, D'Amore DV (2009) Changes in the concentration, biodegradability, and fluorescent properties of dissolved organic matter during stormflows in coastal temperate watersheds. J Geophys Res Biogeosci 114:G01021. doi:10.1029/02008JG000790

    Google Scholar 

  • Helms JR, Stubbins A, Ritchie JD, Minor EC, Kieber DJ, Mopper K (2008) Absorption spectral slopes and slope ratios as indicators of molecular weight, source, and photobleaching of chromophoric dissolved organic matter. Limnol Oceanogr 53(3):955–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong H, Yang L, Guo W, Wang F, Yu X (2012) Characterization of dissolved organic matter under contrasting hydrologic regimes in a subtropical watershed using PARAFAC model. Biogeochemistry 109(1–3):163–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hood E, Gooseff MN, Johnson SL (2006) Changes in the character of stream water dissolved organic carbon during flushing in three small watersheds, Oregon. J Geophys Res 111:G01007. doi:10.1029/2005jg000082

    Google Scholar 

  • Hua B, Veum K, Yang J, Jones J, Deng B (2010) Parallel factor analysis of fluorescence EEM spectra to identify THM precursors in lake waters. Environ Monit Assess 161(1):71–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huguet A, Vacher L, Relexans S, Saubusse S, Froidefond JM, Parlanti E (2009) Properties of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Gironde Estuary. Org Geochem 40(6):706–719

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inamdar S, Singh S, Dutta S, Levia D, Mitchell M, Scott D, Bais H, McHale P (2011) Fluorescence characteristics and sources of dissolved organic matter for stream water during storm events in a forested mid-Atlantic watershed. J Geophys Res 116(G3):G03043. doi:10.1029/2011JG001735

    Google Scholar 

  • Inamdar S, Finger N, Singh S, Mitchell M, Levia D, Bais H, Scott D, McHale P (2012) Dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration and quality in a forested mid-Atlantic watershed, USA. Biogeochemistry 108(1–3):55–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MS, Couto EG, Abdo M, Lehmann J (2011) Fluorescence index as an indicator of dissolved organic carbon quality in hydrologic flowpaths of forested tropical watersheds. Biogeochemistry 105(1–3):149–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klug JL, Richardson DC, Ewing HA, Hargreaves BR, Samal NR, Vachon D, Pierson DC, Lindsey AM, O'Donnell DM, Effler SW, Weathers KC (2012) Ecosystem effects of a tropical cyclone on a network of lakes in northeastern North America. Environ Sci Technol 46(21):11693–11701

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kowalczuk P, Tilstone GH, Zabłocka M, Röttgers R, Thomas R (2013) Composition of dissolved organic matter along an Atlantic Meridional Transect from fluorescence spectroscopy and Parallel Factor Analysis. Mar Chem 157:170–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert T, Pierson-Wickmann AC, Gruau G, Jaffrezic A, Petitjean P, Thibault JN, Jeanneau L (2014) DOC sources and DOC transport pathways in a small headwater catchment as revealed by carbon isotope fluctuation during storm events. Biogeosciences 11(11):3043–3056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledesma JLJ, Kohler SJ, Futter MN (2012) Long-term dynamics of dissolved organic carbon: implications for drinking water supply. Sci Total Environ 432:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu SC, Fu C, Shiu C-J, Chen J-P, Wu F (2009) Temperature dependence of global precipitation extremes. Geophys Res Lett 36(17):L17702. doi:10.1029/2009GL040218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKnight DM, Boyer EW, Westerhoff PK, Doran PT, Kulbe T, Andersen DT (2001) Spectrofluorometric characterization of dissolved organic matter for indication of precursor organic material and aromaticity. Limnol Oceanogr 46(1):38–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin C, Kaplan LA (2013) Biological lability of dissolved organic carbon in stream water and contributing terrestrial sources. Freshw Sci 32(4):1219–1230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morel B, Durand P, Jaffrezic A, Gruau G, Molenat J (2009) Sources of dissolved organic carbon during stormflow in a headwater agricultural catchment. Hydrol Process 23(20):2888–2901

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy KR, Ruiz GM, Dunsmuir WTM, Waite TD (2006) Optimized parameters for fluorescence-based verification of ballast water exchange by ships. Environ Sci Technol 40(7):2357–2362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy KR, Stedmon CA, Wenig P, Bro R (2014) OpenFluor—an online spectral library of auto-fluorescence by organic compounds in the environment. Anal Methods 6:658–661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen H, Hur J, Shin H-S (2010) Changes in spectroscopic and molecular weight characteristics of dissolved organic matter in a river during a storm event. Water Air Soil Pollut 212(1–4):395–406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen H, Lee M-H, Hur J, Schlautman MA (2013) Variations in spectroscopic characteristics and disinfection byproduct formation potentials of dissolved organic matter for two contrasting storm events. J Hydrol 481:132–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osburn CL, Stedmon CA (2011) Linking the chemical and optical properties of dissolved organic matter in the Baltic–North Sea transition zone to differentiate three allochthonous inputs. Mar Chem 126(1–4):281–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osburn CL, Handsel LT, Mikan MP, Paerl HW, Montgomery MT (2012) Fluorescence tracking of dissolved and particulate organic matter quality in a river-dominated estuary. Environ Sci Technol 46(16):8628–8636

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park J-H, Duan L, Kim B, Mitchell MJ, Shibata H (2010) Potential effects of climate change and variability on watershed biogeochemical processes and water quality in Northeast Asia. Environ Int 36(2):212–225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perdue EM, Koprivnjak J-F (2007) Using the C/N ratio to estimate terrigenous inputs of organic matter to aquatic environments. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 73(1–2):65–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pifer AD, Fairey JL (2012) Improving on SUVA254 using fluorescence-PARAFAC analysis and asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation for assessing disinfection byproduct formation and control. Water Res 46(9):2927–2936

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pifer AD, Cousins SL, Fairey JL (2014) Assessing UV- and fluorescence-based metrics as disinfection byproduct precursor surrogate parameters in a water body influenced by a heavy rainfall event. J Water Supply Res 63(3):200–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raymond PA, Saiers JE (2010) Event controlled DOC export from forested watersheds. Biogeochemistry 100(1–3):197–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritson JP, Graham NJD, Templeton MR, Clark JM, Gough R, Freeman C (2014) The impact of climate change on the treatability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in upland water supplies: a UK perspective. Sci Total Environ 473–474:714–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanderman J, Lohse KA, Baldock JA, Amundson R (2009) Linking soils and streams: sources and chemistry of dissolved organic matter in a small coastal watershed. Water Resour Res 45(3):W03418. doi:10.1029/2008WR006977

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saraceno JF, Pellerin BA, Downing BD, Boss E, Bachand PAM, Bergamaschi BA (2009) High-frequency in situ optical measurements during a storm event: assessing relationships between dissolved organic matter, sediment concentrations, and hydrologic processes. J Geophys Res Biogeosci 114:G00F09. doi:10.1029/2009JG000989

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh S, Inamdar S, Mitchell M, McHale P (2014) Seasonal pattern of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in watershed sources: influence of hydrologic flow paths and autumn leaf fall. Biogeochemistry 118(1–3):321–337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer RGM, Hernes PJ, Ruf R, Baker A, Dyda RY, Stubbins A, Six J (2010) Temporal controls on dissolved organic matter and lignin biogeochemistry in a pristine tropical river, Democratic Republic of Congo. J Geophys Res 115:G03013. doi:10.1029/2009JG001180

    Google Scholar 

  • Stedmon CA, Markager S (2005) Resolving the variability in dissolved organic matter fluorescence in a temperate estuary and its catchment using PARAFAC analysis. Limnol Oceanogr 50(2):686–697

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stedmon CA, Bro R (2008) Characterizing dissolved organic matter fluorescence with parallel factor analysis: a tutorial. Limnol Oceanogr Methods 6:572–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ward N, Richey J, Keil R (2012) Temporal variation in river nutrient and dissolved lignin phenol concentrations and the impact of storm events on nutrient loading to Hood Canal, Washington, USA. Biogeochemistry 111(1–3):629–645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weishaar JL, Aiken GR, Bergamaschi BA, Fram MS, Fujii R, Mopper K (2003) Evaluation of specific ultraviolet absorbance as an indicator of the chemical composition and reactivity of dissolved organic carbon. Environ Sci Technol 37(20):4702–4708

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiegner TN, Tubal RL, MacKenzie RA (2009) Bioavailability and export of dissolved organic matter from a tropical river during base- and stormflow conditions. Limnol Oceanogr 54(4):1233–1242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita Y, Scinto LJ, Maie N, Jaffe R (2010) Dissolved organic matter characteristics across a subtropical wetland’s landscape: application of optical properties in the assessment of environmental dynamics. Ecosystems 13(7):1006–1019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Hong H, Guo W, Huang J, Li Q, Yu X (2012) Effects of changing land use on dissolved organic matter in a subtropical river watershed, southeast China. Reg Environ Chang 12(1):145–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Guo W, Chen N, Hong H, Huang J, Xu J, Huang S (2013) Influence of a summer storm event on the flux and composition of dissolved organic matter in a subtropical river, China. Appl Geochem 28:164–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Chang S-W, Shin H-S, Hur J (2015) Tracking the evolution of stream DOM source during storm events using end member mixing analysis based on DOM quality. J Hydrol (Under review)

  • Yoon B, Raymond PA (2012) Dissolved organic matter export from a forested watershed during Hurricane Irene. Geophys Res Lett 39:L18402. doi:10.1029/2012gl052785

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng T, Arnold WA (2014) Clustering chlorine reactivity of haloacetic acid precursors in inland lakes. Environ Sci Technol 48:139–148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ziegelgruber KL, Zeng T, Arnold WA, Chin YP (2013) Sources and composition of sediment pore-water dissolved organic matter in prairie pothole lakes. Limnol Oceanogr 58:1136–1146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (No. 2014R1A2A2A09049496).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment & Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 143-747, South Korea

    Liyang Yang, Jin Hur & Sonmin Lee

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 154-32, South Korea

    Soon-Woong Chang

  3. Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 139-743, South Korea

    Hyun-Sang Shin

Authors
  1. Liyang Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jin Hur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sonmin Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Soon-Woong Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hyun-Sang Shin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jin Hur.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Hongwen Sun

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOC 1.62 mb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, L., Hur, J., Lee, S. et al. Dynamics of dissolved organic matter during four storm events in two forest streams: source, export, and implications for harmful disinfection byproduct formation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 9173–9183 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4078-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4078-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation