Effects of biotransport and hydro-meteorological conditions on transport of trace elements in the Scott River (Bellsund, Spitsbergen)

Sara Lehmann-Konera; Waldemar Kociuba; Stanisław Chmiel; Łukasz Franczak; Żaneta Polkowska

doi:10.7717/peerj.11477

Effects of biotransport and hydro-meteorological conditions on transport of trace elements in the Scott River (Bellsund, Spitsbergen)

PeerJ. 2021 Jun 28:9:e11477. doi: 10.7717/peerj.11477. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Sara Lehmann-Konera¹, Waldemar Kociuba¹, Stanisław Chmiel¹, Łukasz Franczak¹, Żaneta Polkowska²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.
² Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland.

Abstract

The shaping of surface water chemistry in the Svalbard Archipelago is strongly dependent on the geology of the catchment and the process of long-range transport of atmospheric pollutants (LRATP). It was found that the dissolved trace elements in the Scott River, which catchment is characterized by a decreasing degree of glaciation, were of the natural origin (i.a. weathering and dissolution of local geological substratum). The exception was Zn originated from LRATP. The paper describe the influence changes in hydro-meteorological conditions and the presence of a seabird colony on the variability in the transport of trace elements within the Scott River catchment. The work assesses long-time fluctuations in the concentration of twenty five trace elements (i.a. Al, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sr, and Zn) from eighty-four surface water samples and their relation to changes in water discharge (Q), precipitation (P), pH, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) at two river sites (with one being under the influence of the biotransport factor). Based on the results of matrix correlation and cluster analysis it was found that the additional load of DOC from the nesting site of Larus Argentatus in the mouth section of the river drastically changed the hydro-geochemical cycle of Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Sr, Rb, Ba and U (0.30 < r < 0.51). Furthermore, the results of cluster analysis confirmed that the bird colony's nesting site was strongly responsible for the presence of U, Rb, Zn, Ni and marine-derived nutrients (e.g. Se and Li). The discharge of glacier meltwater and the alkaline character of water have a negative effect on the dissolution of Li and Mn (-0.31 < r < -0.51), but positively affect the level of Rb and U (r = 0.31 and 0.35, respectively) due to it being washing out a seabird nesting colony in the mouth section of the Scott River. It was observed that the event of rises in air temperature and rain, which results in increased water discharge, caused an intense transport of the trace elements load. Moreover, results of the precipitation sensitivity coefficient factor (CF) proved that precipitation effect the occurrence of Li, Sr and U in the Scott River.

Keywords: Arctic; Glaciated catchment; Long-range atmospheric transport; Metals; Surface water; Transboundary pollutants.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Science Centre in Poland (NSC) (Grants Nos. 2011/01/B/ST10/06996 and 2015/17/N/ST10/03177) and subvention of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.