Hyporheic Exchange And Humic Redox Reactions In An Alpine Stream/Wetland Ecosystem, Colorado Front Range
Miller, Matthew 1 ; McKnight, Diane 2 ; Cory, Rose 3 ; Williams, Mark 4 ;Runkel, Robert 5
1 Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado
2 Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado
3 Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado
4 Department of Geography, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado
5 U.S. Geologic Survey, Denver, CO
The influence of hyporheic zone interactions on the redox state of humic substances and other redox active species in an alpine stream/wetland ecosystem was investigated. The specific goals of this study were as follows: (1) to examine the chemical differences in redox active species between the stream and wetland, (2) to quantify chemical changes caused by hyporheic exchange, and (3) to apply the results of a stream reach experiment to watershed scale processes. The information gained in response to these objectives suggests that hyporheic zone interaction influences the oxidation state of dissolved humic substances as well as other redox active species. Furthermore, these results suggest that hyporheic exchange at the stream reach scale is an important process in determining energy flow at the watershed scale.