the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Tracing biogeochemical processes and pollution sources with stable isotopes in river systems: Kamniška Bistrica, North Slovenia
Abstract. Biogeochemical processes were investigated in the Kamniška Bistrica River (Slovenia), which represents an ideal natural laboratory for studying pollution sources in catchments with high weathering capacity. The Kamniška Bistrica River water chemistry is dominated by HCO3−, Ca2+, and Mg2+ and Ca2+/Mg2+ molar ratios indicate that calcite weathering is the major source of solutes to the river system. The Kamniška Bistrica River and its tributaries are oversaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite. pCO2 concentrations were on average up to 25 times over atmospheric values. δ18O values in river water ranged from −10.4 to −7.7‰ and plotted near the local meteoric water line, δ13CDIC values ranged from −12.7 to −2.7‰, controlled by biogeochemical processes in the catchment and within the stream; carbon dissolution is the most important biogeochemical process affecting carbon isotopes in the upstream portions of the catchment, while carbon dissolution and organic matter degradation control carbon isotope signatures downstream. Contributions of DIC from various biogeochemical processes were determined using steady state equations for different sampling seasons at the mouth of the Kamniška Bistrica River; results indicate that: (1) 1.9 to 2.2% of DIC came from exchange with atmospheric CO2, (2) 0 to 27.5% of DIC came from degradation of organic matter, (3) 25.4 to 41.5% of DIC came from dissolution of carbonates, and (4) 33 to 85% of DIC came from tributaries. δ15N values of nitrate ranged from −5.2‰ at the headwater spring to 9.8‰ in the lower reaches. Higher δ15N values in the lower reaches of the river suggest anthropogenic pollution from agricultural activity.
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RC C4808: 'Hydrogeochemistry and isotope geochemistry of river systems as impacted by biogeochemical processes and pollution', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Oct 2012
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AC C5266: 'Comment to referee 1', tjaša kanduč, 29 Oct 2012
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RC C5268: 'Biogeochemical processes and pollution sources with stable isotopes in river systems', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Oct 2012
- AC C5270: 'comment to referee 1', tjaša kanduč, 29 Oct 2012
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RC C5268: 'Biogeochemical processes and pollution sources with stable isotopes in river systems', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Oct 2012
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AC C5266: 'Comment to referee 1', tjaša kanduč, 29 Oct 2012
- RC C6894: 'Referee comments on MS No.: bg-2012-272 “Tracing biogeochemical processes and pollution sources with stable isotopes in river systems: Kamniška Bistrica, North Slovenia” by Kanduč et al.', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Dec 2012
- EC C6899: 'recommendation from the editor', Tom J. Battin, 27 Dec 2012
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RC C4808: 'Hydrogeochemistry and isotope geochemistry of river systems as impacted by biogeochemical processes and pollution', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Oct 2012
-
AC C5266: 'Comment to referee 1', tjaša kanduč, 29 Oct 2012
-
RC C5268: 'Biogeochemical processes and pollution sources with stable isotopes in river systems', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Oct 2012
- AC C5270: 'comment to referee 1', tjaša kanduč, 29 Oct 2012
-
RC C5268: 'Biogeochemical processes and pollution sources with stable isotopes in river systems', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Oct 2012
-
AC C5266: 'Comment to referee 1', tjaša kanduč, 29 Oct 2012
- RC C6894: 'Referee comments on MS No.: bg-2012-272 “Tracing biogeochemical processes and pollution sources with stable isotopes in river systems: Kamniška Bistrica, North Slovenia” by Kanduč et al.', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Dec 2012
- EC C6899: 'recommendation from the editor', Tom J. Battin, 27 Dec 2012
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Cited
3 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Mineralogical, hydrogeochemical and isotopic characteristics of the Žveplenica sulphide karstic spring (Trebuša Valley, NW Slovenia) M. Zega et al. 10.1007/s12665-015-4357-z
- Hydrogeochemical Processes in a Small Eastern Mediterranean Karst Watershed (Nahr Ibrahim, Lebanon) N. Hanna et al. 10.1007/s10498-018-9346-x
- Using stable isotopes in tracing contaminant sources in an industrial area: A case study on the hydrological basin of the Olt River, Romania R. Popescu et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.078