Application of Geochemical Tracers to Fluvial Sediment (SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences)

This book takes an in-depth look at the theory and methods inherent in the tracing of riverine sediments. Examined tracers include multi-elemental concentration data, fallout radionuclides (e.g., 210 Pb, 137 Cs, 7 Be), radiogenic isotopes (particularly those of Pb, Sr, and Nd), and novel (“non-traditional”) stable isotopes (e.g., Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn), the latter of which owe their application to recent advances in analytical chemistry. The intended goal is not to replace more ‘traditional’ analyses of the riverine sediment system, but to show how tracer/fingerprinting studies can be used to gain insights into system functions that would not otherwise be possible. The text, then, provides researchers and catchment managers with a summary of the strengths and limitations of the examined techniques in terms of their temporal and spatial resolution, data requirements, and the uncertainties in the generated results. The use of environmental tracers has increased significantly during the past decade because it has become clear that documentation of sediment and sediment-associated contaminant provenance and dispersal is essential to mitigate their potentially harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, the use of monitoring programs to determine the source of sediments to a water body has proven to be a costly, labor intensive, long-term process with a spatial resolution that is limited by the number of monitoring sites that can be effectively maintained. Alternative approaches, including the identification and analysis of eroded upland areas and the use of distributed modeling routines also have proven problematic. The application of tracers within riverine environments has evolved such that they focus on sediments from two general sources: upland areas and specific, localized, anthropogenic point sources. Of particular importance to the former is the development of geochemical fingerprinting methods that quantify sediment provenance (and to a much lesser degree, sediment-associated contaminants) at the catchment scale. These methods have largely developed independently of the use of tracers to document the source and dispersal pathways of contaminated particles from point-sources of anthropogenic pollution at the reach- to river corridor-scale. Future studies are likely to begin merging the strengths of both approaches while relying on multiple tracer types to address management and regulatory issues, particularly within the context of the rapidly developing field of environmental forensics. This Book Takes An In-depth Look At The Theory And Methods Inherent In The Tracing Of Riverine Sediments. examined Tracers Include Multi-elemental Concentration Data, Fallout Radionuclides (e.g., 210pb, 137cs, 7be), Radiogenic Isotopes (particularly Those Of Pb, Sr, And Nd), And Novel (“non-traditional”) Stable Isotopes (e.g., Cd, Cu, Hg, And Zn), The Latter Of Which Owe Their Application To Recent Advances In Analytical Chemistry. The Intended Goal Is Not To Replace More ‘traditional’ Analyses Of The Riverine Sediment System, But To Show How Tracer/fingerprinting Studies Can Be Used To Gain Insights Into System Functions That Would Not Otherwise Be Possible. The Text, Then, Provides Researchers And Catchment Managers With A Summary Of The Strengths And Limitations Of The Examined Techniques In Terms Of Their Temporal And Spatial Resolution, Data Requirements, And The Uncertainties In The Generated Results.^ The Use Of Environmental Tracers Has Increased Significantly During The Past Decade Because It Has Become Clear That Documentation Of Sediment And Sediment-associated Contaminant Provenance And Dispersal Is Essential To Mitigate Their Potentially Harmful Effects On Aquatic Ecosystems. Moreover, The Use Of Monitoring Programs To Determine The Source Of Sediments To A Water Body Has Proven To Be A Costly, Labor Intensive, Long-term Process With A Spatial Resolution That Is Limited By The Number Of Monitoring Sites That Can Be Effectively Maintained. Alternative Approaches, Including The Identification And Analysis Of Eroded Upland Areas And The Use Of Distributed Modeling Routines Also Have Proven Problematic. The Application Of Tracers Within Riverine Environments Has Evolved Such That They Focus On Sediments From Two General Sources: Upland Areas And Specific, Localized, Anthropogenic Point Sources.^ Of Particular Importance To The Former Is The Development Of Geochemical Fingerprinting Methods That Quantify Sediment Provenance (and To A Much Lesser Degree, Sediment-associated Contaminants) At The Catchment Scale. These Methods Have Largely Developed Independently Of The Use Of Tracers To Document The Source And Dispersal Pathways Of Contaminated Particles From Point-sources Of Anthropogenic Pollution At The Reach- To River Corridor-scale. Future Studies Are Likely To Begin Merging The Strengths Of Both Approaches While Relying On Multiple Tracer Types To Address Management And Regulatory Issues, Particularly Within The Context Of The Rapidly Developing Field Of Environmental Forensics. Introduction -- Geochemical Fingerprinting -- Fallout Radionuclides -- Radiogenic Isotopes -- Stable ‘non-traditional’ Isotopes -- Abbreviations, Unit Conversions, And Elemental Data. By Jerry R. Miller, Gail Mackin, Suzanne M. Orbock Miller. Acknowledgments 7 Contents 8 1 Introduction 10 1.1 Tracers, Fingerprints, and Riverine Sediments 10 1.2 Book Format and Overview 15 References 17 2 Geochemical Fingerprinting 19 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 Conceptual Model and Inherent Assumptions 22 2.3 Methodological Approach 27 2.3.1 Source Delineation 27 2.3.2 Collection and Characterization of River Sediment 28 2.3.3 Identifying Effective Geochemical Fingerprints 31 2.3.4 Inverse/Unmixing Models 35 2.4 Applications 41 2.5 Use of Geochemical Fingerprinting as a Management Tool 49 References 51 3 Fallout Radionuclides 60 3.1 Introduction 60 3.2 Lead-210, Cesium-137 and Beryllium-7: General Characteristics 61 3.3 Applications 67 3.3.1 Use as a Geochemical Tracer to Determine Sediment Provenance 67 3.3.2 Determination of Sediment Redistribution and Erosion Rates 70 3.4 Estimating Sediment Age, Residence Times, Transport Distances, and Other Contemporary Sedimentation Processes 81 3.5 Use of Fallout Radionuclides as an Age Dating Tool 88 References 89 4 Radiogenic Isotopes 95 4.1 Introduction 95 4.2 Sr and Nd Isotopic Systems 96 4.2.1 Tracing Sediments and Other Geological Materials 96 4.2.2 Tracing Contaminated Particles 102 4.3 Pb Isotopes 105 4.3.1 General Characteristics 105 4.3.2 Applying Pb Isotopes as a Tracer in Riverine Environments 107 4.4 Summary and Management Implications 115 References 118 5 Stable `Non-Traditional' Isotopes 123 5.1 Introduction 123 5.2 Zn and Cd Isotopes 126 5.2.1 Use of Zn Isotopes as Contaminated Sediment Tracers 127 5.2.2 Use of Cd Isotopes as Contaminated Sediment Tracers 132 5.3 Copper Isotopes 134 5.4 Mercury Isotopes 137 5.5 Summary and Management Implications 139 References 140 Appendix A Abbreviations, Unit Conversions, and Elemental Data 145 Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction....Pages 1-9 Geochemical Fingerprinting....Pages 11-51 Fallout Radionuclides....Pages 53-87 Radiogenic Isotopes....Pages 89-116 Stable ‘Non-Traditional’ Isotopes....Pages 117-138 Back Matter....Pages 139-142