Scheda di dettaglio – i prodotti della ricerca
| Dato | Valore |
|---|---|
| Title | Catchment features controlling nitrogen dynamics in running waters above the tree line (central Italian Alps). |
| Abstract | he study of nitrogen cycling in mountain areas has a long tradition, as it was applied to better understand and describe ecosystem functioning, as well as to quantify long-distance effects of human activities on remote environments. Nonetheless, very few studies, especially in Europe, have considered catchment features controlling nitrogen dynamics above the tree line with focus on running waters. In this study, relationships between some water chemistry descriptors - including nitrogen species and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - and catchment characteristics were evaluated for a range of sites located above the tree line (1950-2650m a.s.l.) at Val Masino, in the central Italian Alps. Land cover categories as well as elevation and slope were assessed at each site. Water samples were collected during the 2007 and 2008 snow free periods, with a nearly monthly frequency. In contrast to dissolved organic nitrogen, nitrate concentrations in running waters showed a spatial pattern strictly connected to the fractional extension of tundra and talus in each basin. Exponential models significantly described the relationships between maximum NO3 and the fraction of vegetated soil cover (negative relation) and talus (positive relation), explaining almost 90% of nitrate variation in running waters. Similarly to nitrate but with an opposite behavior, DOC was positively correlated with vegetated soil cover and negatively correlated with talus. Therefore, land cover can be considered one of the most important factors affecting water quality in high-elevation catchments with contrasting effects on N and C pools. |
| Source | Hydrology and earth system sciences 17 (3), pp. 989–1001 |
| Journal | Hydrology and earth system sciences |
| Editor | Copernicus Publ., Göttingen, Germania |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.5194/hess-17-989-2013 |
| Authors | Balestrini R 1, C Arese 1, M Freppaz 2, A Buffagni 1 |
| Text | 238213 2013 10.5194/hess 17 989 2013 ISI Web of Science WOS 000316961300008 Catchment features controlling nitrogen dynamics in running waters above the tree line central Italian Alps . Balestrini R 1, C Arese 1, M Freppaz 2, A Buffagni 1 Universita degli Studi di Torino, DISAFA and NatRisk Laboratorio Neve Suoli Alpini, Grugliasco TO , Italy he study of nitrogen cycling in mountain areas has a long tradition, as it was applied to better understand and describe ecosystem functioning, as well as to quantify long distance effects of human activities on remote environments. Nonetheless, very few studies, especially in Europe, have considered catchment features controlling nitrogen dynamics above the tree line with focus on running waters. In this study, relationships between some water chemistry descriptors including nitrogen species and dissolved organic carbon DOC and catchment characteristics were evaluated for a range of sites located above the tree line 1950 2650m a.s.l. at Val Masino, in the central Italian Alps. Land cover categories as well as elevation and slope were assessed at each site. Water samples were collected during the 2007 and 2008 snow free periods, with a nearly monthly frequency. In contrast to dissolved organic nitrogen, nitrate concentrations in running waters showed a spatial pattern strictly connected to the fractional extension of tundra and talus in each basin. Exponential models significantly described the relationships between maximum NO3 and the fraction of vegetated soil cover negative relation and talus positive relation , explaining almost 90% of nitrate variation in running waters. Similarly to nitrate but with an opposite behavior, DOC was positively correlated with vegetated soil cover and negatively correlated with talus. Therefore, land cover can be considered one of the most important factors affecting water quality in high elevation catchments with contrasting effects on N and C pools. 17 Catchment features controlling nitrogen dynamics in running waters above the tree line central Italian Alps . BalesriniHESS2013.pdf Articolo in rivista Copernicus Publ. 1027 5606 Hydrology and earth system sciences Hydrology and earth system sciences Hydrol. earth syst. sci. Hydrology and earth system sciences. HESS Gottingen. Print Hydrology and earth system sciences Print raffaella.balestrini BALESTRINI RAFFAELLA andreastefano.buffagni BUFFAGNI ANDREA STEFANO |