Analyzing Particle-Associated Pollutant Transport to Identify In-Stream Sediment Processes during a High Flow Event
Urban areas are a leading source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that result from combustion processes and are emitted into rivers, especially during rain events and with particle wash-off from urban surfaces. In-stream transport of suspended particles and attached PAHs is linked strongly...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1794 |
| _version_ | 1797564308306001920 |
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| author | Clarissa Glaser Christiane Zarfl Hermann Rügner Amelia Lewis Marc Schwientek |
| author_facet | Clarissa Glaser Christiane Zarfl Hermann Rügner Amelia Lewis Marc Schwientek |
| author_sort | Clarissa Glaser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urban areas are a leading source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that result from combustion processes and are emitted into rivers, especially during rain events and with particle wash-off from urban surfaces. In-stream transport of suspended particles and attached PAHs is linked strongly to sediment turnover processes. This study aimed to identify particle exchange processes that contribute to the transport of suspended particles during flood events. An urban high-flow signal was tracked in high temporal resolution at two sampling sites in the Ammer River (South-western Germany). Samples were analyzed for turbidity, total suspended solids concentrations (TSS), particle-size distribution, organic carbon, and PAH. Maximum discharge and the highest TSS occurred nearly simultaneously at the upstream sampling site, whereas a temporally shifted course was observed for downstream. The total load of particles was similar, yet a decrease of PAH mass (~28%) and an increase of the particulate organic carbon (POC) content (~3.5%-points) occurred. Coarser particles (≥26 µm) dominated at the beginning of the event at both sampling sites. The signal of remobilized riverbed sediment increases downstream and leads to well-established, robust linear correlations between TSS and PAHs. This study highlights that riverbed sediment acts as intermediate storage for contaminated particles from upstream sources that shape, together with the fresh urban input, the “particle signature” of suspensions moving through catchments during high discharge conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:56:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95c57790d4954fc28bb0d5314cf84486 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:56:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-95c57790d4954fc28bb0d5314cf844862023-11-20T04:45:38ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-06-01126179410.3390/w12061794Analyzing Particle-Associated Pollutant Transport to Identify In-Stream Sediment Processes during a High Flow EventClarissa Glaser0Christiane Zarfl1Hermann Rügner2Amelia Lewis3Marc Schwientek4Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, GermanyCenter for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, GermanyCenter for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, GermanyOberlin College Geology Department, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USACenter for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, GermanyUrban areas are a leading source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that result from combustion processes and are emitted into rivers, especially during rain events and with particle wash-off from urban surfaces. In-stream transport of suspended particles and attached PAHs is linked strongly to sediment turnover processes. This study aimed to identify particle exchange processes that contribute to the transport of suspended particles during flood events. An urban high-flow signal was tracked in high temporal resolution at two sampling sites in the Ammer River (South-western Germany). Samples were analyzed for turbidity, total suspended solids concentrations (TSS), particle-size distribution, organic carbon, and PAH. Maximum discharge and the highest TSS occurred nearly simultaneously at the upstream sampling site, whereas a temporally shifted course was observed for downstream. The total load of particles was similar, yet a decrease of PAH mass (~28%) and an increase of the particulate organic carbon (POC) content (~3.5%-points) occurred. Coarser particles (≥26 µm) dominated at the beginning of the event at both sampling sites. The signal of remobilized riverbed sediment increases downstream and leads to well-established, robust linear correlations between TSS and PAHs. This study highlights that riverbed sediment acts as intermediate storage for contaminated particles from upstream sources that shape, together with the fresh urban input, the “particle signature” of suspensions moving through catchments during high discharge conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1794polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsfirst flushsuspended solidswater quality |
| spellingShingle | Clarissa Glaser Christiane Zarfl Hermann Rügner Amelia Lewis Marc Schwientek Analyzing Particle-Associated Pollutant Transport to Identify In-Stream Sediment Processes during a High Flow Event Water polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons first flush suspended solids water quality |
| title | Analyzing Particle-Associated Pollutant Transport to Identify In-Stream Sediment Processes during a High Flow Event |
| title_full | Analyzing Particle-Associated Pollutant Transport to Identify In-Stream Sediment Processes during a High Flow Event |
| title_fullStr | Analyzing Particle-Associated Pollutant Transport to Identify In-Stream Sediment Processes during a High Flow Event |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analyzing Particle-Associated Pollutant Transport to Identify In-Stream Sediment Processes during a High Flow Event |
| title_short | Analyzing Particle-Associated Pollutant Transport to Identify In-Stream Sediment Processes during a High Flow Event |
| title_sort | analyzing particle associated pollutant transport to identify in stream sediment processes during a high flow event |
| topic | polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons first flush suspended solids water quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1794 |
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