Dissolved Organic Carbon and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon along an Urbanization Gradient in Charlotte, North Carolina

1 online resource (134 pages) : PDF

2018

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Streams and rivers are an integral component of the freshwater carbon cycle as they provide the lateral transport of carbon from terrestrial environments to the ocean. Urbanization is one of the fastest growing land uses and it has major impacts on streams and rivers. This study examined twenty-eight watersheds varying in land uses from pre-restoration forested to urban in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their impervious cover ranged from 0.5-55%. The objective of this study was to examine alterations to freshwater carbon processes among watersheds of various land uses in multiple streams in Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, NC. Surface water was collected at each site in addition to discharge measurements. Water quality parameters were analyzed including: DOC concentration, Specific UV Absorbance of DOC, DIC concentration, alkalinity concentration, δ13C-DIC, major cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+), and anions (F-, Cl-, PO43-, NO3-and SO42-). DOC concentration ranged from 1.1-18 mg/L and SUVA values ranged from 0.2-18 L/mg*m. Alkalinity concentrations ranged from 0.1-3.8 meq/L and DIC concentrations ranged from 0.2-3.8 mM. δ13C-DIC values ranged from -18.0‰ to -7.4‰. Overall, DOC concentrations and SUVA values had weak negative relationships with percent impervious cover. DIC concentrations, alkalinity concentrations, δ13C-DIC values, all cations, and F-, Cl- , and SO42- had strong positive relationships with percent impervious cover. PO43- and NO3-had weak correlations with percent impervious cover. The increase in DIC, alkalinity, δ13C-DIC, and cations with high impervious cover was largely due to the increased chemical weathering of concrete materials in urban areas.

masters theses

Hydrology

M.S.

Dissolved Carbon
Impervious Cover
Inorganic Carbon
North Carolina
Organic Carbon
Urbanization

Earth Sciences

Vinson, David

Clinton, Sandra
Allan, Craig

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2018.

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For additional information, see http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/.

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Kiker_uncc_0694N_11839

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1204