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Title: Predicting sedimentary bedrock subsurface weathering fronts and weathering rates: Dataset

Abstract

Although bedrock weathering strongly influences water quality and global carbon and nitrogen budgets, the weathering depths and rates within subsurface are not well understood nor predictable. Determination of both porewater chemistry and subsurface water flow are needed in order to develop more complete understanding and obtain weathering rates. In a long-term field study, we applied a multiphase approach along a mountainous watershed hillslope transect underlain by marine shale. Here we report three findings. First, the deepest extent of the water table determines the weathering front, and the range of annually water table oscillations determines the thickness of the weathering zone. Below the lowest water table, permanently water-saturated bedrock remains reducing, preventing deeper pyrite oxidation. Secondly, carbonate minerals and potentially rock organic matter share the same weathering front depth with pyrite, contrary to models where weathering fronts are stratified. Thirdly, the measurements-based weathering rates from subsurface shale are high, amounting to base cation exports of about 70 kmolc ha−1 y−1, yet consistent with weathering of marine shale. Finally, by integrating geochemical and hydrological data we present a new conceptual model that can be applied in other settings to predict weathering and water quality responses to climate change.

Authors:
ORCiD logo ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
  1. ESS-DIVE
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date:
Other Number(s):
paf_302
Research Org.:
Environmental System Science Data Infrastructure for a Virtual Ecosystem; Watershed Function SFA
Sponsoring Org.:
U.S. DOE > Office of Science > Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Bedrock Weathering; East River; Mancos Shale; Water Table; Weathering Front; Weathering Rates; Weathering Zone; element composition; element concentrations; weathering rates
OSTI Identifier:
1601290
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15485/1601290

Citation Formats

Wan, Jiamin, Tokunaga, Tetsu K., Williams, Kenneth H., Brown, Wendy, Dong, Wenming, Henderson, Amanda N., Newman, Alexander M., and Hubbard, Susan S. Predicting sedimentary bedrock subsurface weathering fronts and weathering rates: Dataset. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.15485/1601290.
Wan, Jiamin, Tokunaga, Tetsu K., Williams, Kenneth H., Brown, Wendy, Dong, Wenming, Henderson, Amanda N., Newman, Alexander M., & Hubbard, Susan S. Predicting sedimentary bedrock subsurface weathering fronts and weathering rates: Dataset. United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.15485/1601290
Wan, Jiamin, Tokunaga, Tetsu K., Williams, Kenneth H., Brown, Wendy, Dong, Wenming, Henderson, Amanda N., Newman, Alexander M., and Hubbard, Susan S. 2019. "Predicting sedimentary bedrock subsurface weathering fronts and weathering rates: Dataset". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.15485/1601290. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1601290. Pub date:Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 UTC 2019
@article{osti_1601290,
title = {Predicting sedimentary bedrock subsurface weathering fronts and weathering rates: Dataset},
author = {Wan, Jiamin and Tokunaga, Tetsu K. and Williams, Kenneth H. and Brown, Wendy and Dong, Wenming and Henderson, Amanda N. and Newman, Alexander M. and Hubbard, Susan S.},
abstractNote = {Although bedrock weathering strongly influences water quality and global carbon and nitrogen budgets, the weathering depths and rates within subsurface are not well understood nor predictable. Determination of both porewater chemistry and subsurface water flow are needed in order to develop more complete understanding and obtain weathering rates. In a long-term field study, we applied a multiphase approach along a mountainous watershed hillslope transect underlain by marine shale. Here we report three findings. First, the deepest extent of the water table determines the weathering front, and the range of annually water table oscillations determines the thickness of the weathering zone. Below the lowest water table, permanently water-saturated bedrock remains reducing, preventing deeper pyrite oxidation. Secondly, carbonate minerals and potentially rock organic matter share the same weathering front depth with pyrite, contrary to models where weathering fronts are stratified. Thirdly, the measurements-based weathering rates from subsurface shale are high, amounting to base cation exports of about 70 kmolc ha−1 y−1, yet consistent with weathering of marine shale. Finally, by integrating geochemical and hydrological data we present a new conceptual model that can be applied in other settings to predict weathering and water quality responses to climate change.},
doi = {10.15485/1601290},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 UTC 2019},
month = {Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 UTC 2019}
}