We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Nitrate sources and their influence on hydrogeochemistry in karst caves of Southwest China.
- Authors
Zhou, Zhongfa; Ding, Shengjun; Xiong, Yong; Shi, Liangxing; Su, Dan; Gong, Xiaohuan; Dong, Hui; Yan, Lihui
- Abstract
Nitrate (NO3−) pollution in karst areas has been widely discussed, which affects human health and the ecological environment. To investigate nitrate sources and their perturbations on cave hydrogeochemistry in karst cave systems, this study was conducted in Mahuang Cave, a karst cave in Southwest China, to assess the impact of human activities on the karst carbon cycle and the environment. The results show that (1) the variations of the water-soluble ions in Mahuang Cave are mainly controlled by carbonate weathering, and the cave water chemistry is characterized as the HCO3–Ca–Mg and HCO3–SO4–Ca–Mg types. (2) The dual isotopes and stable isotope Bayesian mixing model (SIAR) show that chemical fertilizers (41.5%) and soil nitrogen (33.75%) are the main nitrate sources in the cave water bodies, followed by manure and sewage (17.25%) and atmospheric precipitation (7.5%). (3) The significant enrichment of dissolved inorganic carbon isotope (δ13CDIC) in Mahuang Cave reveals that nitric acid produced by nitrification accelerates carbonate weathering in Mahuang Cave, and the carbon source effect of the carbon cycle in the cave is enhanced. Consequently, the response of cave drips and sediments to external environments is disturbed.
- Subjects
KARST; WATER chemistry; CHEMICAL weathering; SPELEOTHEMS; CARBON cycle; METEOROLOGICAL precipitation; STABLE isotopes; NITRATES
- Publication
International Journal of Earth Sciences, 2023, Vol 112, Issue 8, p2325
- ISSN
1437-3254
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00531-023-02343-0