Development of a comprehensive sediment transport method in first order watersheds with contour coal mining

D. K. Martin, N. A. Adams, J. F. Fox, A. Jones, H. Rowe, S. Kelly, K. Foley

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

δ13C, δ15N, TOC, TN, and C/N measurements in the Southern Appalachian forested region were obtained from forest surface soils, reclaimed surface soils, the streambanks, and the transported sediments at the watershed outlet in first-order watershed with differing disturbances. It was found that the δ13C and δ15N tracers successfully discriminated between the sediment sources because of the δ13C and δ15N tracers' ability to reflect the biogeochemical changes that occur in the soil matrix. The δ13C and δ15N tracers successfully reflected the degree of disturbance in a watershed. A shift in the δ13C and δ15N values was evident between the summers of 2007 and 2009, which was attributed to tree throw caused ice and rain storms and high velocity winds. The un-mixing model determined that the percentage of sediment originating from the forest soils increased from 2007 to 2009 in both disturbed watersheds because erosion rates in the forest increased after the tree throw occurred. The ability of the δ13C and δ15N tracers to reflect land-use disturbances as well as natural disturbances is a new contribution that has not been presented in the literature. An advancement of the dual isotope tracer method was presented to account for the percentages of carbon and nitrogen eroding from all three sediment sources.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2011
Subtitle of host publicationBearing Knowledge for Sustainability - Proceedings of the 2011 World Environmental and Water Resources Congress
Pages4717-4734
Number of pages18
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
EventWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2011: Bearing Knowledge for Sustainability - Palm Springs, CA, United States
Duration: May 22 2011May 26 2011

Publication series

NameWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2011: Bearing Knowledge for Sustainability - Proceedings of the 2011 World Environmental and Water Resources Congress

Conference

ConferenceWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2011: Bearing Knowledge for Sustainability
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPalm Springs, CA
Period5/22/115/26/11

Keywords

  • Coal mining
  • Sediment transport
  • Watersheds

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science

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