title: Strontium concentrations and isotope ratios in a forest-river system in the South Qinling Mts., China.
abstract: The concentrations of dissolved strontium (Sr) and isotope ratios ((87)Sr/(86)Sr) in rainwater, river water, and water from forest soil are measured to investigate the contributions of these sources to a river during base flow conditions in the relatively pristine South Qinling Mountains, China. Dissolved Sr concentrations and (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratios vary significantly between different water types (p < 0.01) suggesting that it is suitable for differentiating sources. Dissolved Sr is also positively correlated with most ions and a range of physicochemical parameters (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively) in water samples including Ca(2+), Mg(2+), EC, and TDS (p < 0.001) indicating their similarities in the drivers of biogeochemical processes and common origins. The correlations between Sr isotopes and Ca/Na, Ca/K, and 1000/Sr ratios suggest that three end-members of atmospheric inputs, carbonate and silicate weathering control the Sr water chemistry in the river water. Using the three-source mixing model, atmospheric inputs, carbonate, and silicate weathering contribute 74%, 20%, and 6% respectively to the dissolved Sr in the river water. This research has provided new insights into the contribution of sources of Sr to a river system in a mountainous catchment.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. Electronic address: buhm2004@163.com.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xianfang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
authors.forename: Quanfa
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld, 4111, Australia.
authors.forename: Michele A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burford
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D065928:Forests; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D005843:Geography; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013324:Strontium / Q000032:analysis*; D013325:Strontium Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D013325:Strontium Isotopes; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium; D013324:Strontium
keywords: (87)Sr/(86)Sr; Ca/K; Ca/Na; Forested catchment; Source contribution; Sr