Title: Changes in dissolved organic carbon quality and quantity: Implications for aquatic ecosystems and drinking water quality for northern communities
Citation: University of Waterloo. 2022. "CIMP167_ Changes in dissolved organic carbon quality and quantity: Implications for aquatic ecosystems and drinking water quality for northern communities" (dataset). 2.0.0. DataStream. https://doi.org/10.25976/hx2s-m606.
Study Site: Yellowknife, Wekweètì, and Daring Lake.
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to understand processes dictating DOC fate in northern aquatic environments in order to help predict how a warming climate could influence DOC quantity and quality.
Abstract: Using a space-for-time approach to represent differences between ‘warmer’ and ‘colder’ areas, water was collected from different aquatic environments including lakes, ponds, creeks, and subsurface peat water from three sites along a latitudinal gradient: Yellowknife, Wekweètì, and Daring Lake. In addition, baseline conditions were to be determined using historical geochemical records of the Yellowknife, Cameron, and Marian rivers. Water samples were analysed for concentrations of DOC and supplementary water quality parameters, in addition to water isotopes. DOC was characterized using ultra-violet and visible absorbance, size-exclusion chromatography, along with other techniques (i.e: PARAFAC and C:N ratios). In addition, laboratory experiments were conducted on select samples to see how easily DOC degrades via microbial or photolytic drivers. A wide range of DOC quality and quantity were encountered, with highest concentrations found in subsurface environments and lower concentrations in surface waters. Measures of DOC quality determined large, aromatic, humic molecules to be present within the subsurface around Yellowknife
Supplemental Information Summary:
Research:
Further Info:
Status: Complete
Keywords:
carbon accounting,
DOC,
water quality,
Geographical coordinates: North: 68.349, South: 61.148 East: -111.582 West: -133.745247
Bounding Temporal Extent: Start Date: 2014-07-01, End
Date: 2016-10-04
