Accessibility navigation


The water quality of the LOCAR Pang and Lambourn catchments

Neal, C., Jarvie, H. P., Wade, A. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5296-8350, Neal, M., Wyatt, R., Wickham, H., Hill, L. and Hewitt, N. (2004) The water quality of the LOCAR Pang and Lambourn catchments. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8 (4). pp. 614-635. ISSN 1027-5606

Full text not archived in this repository.

It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.

Abstract/Summary

The water quality of the Pang and Lambourn, tributaries of the River Thames, in south-eastern England, is described in relation to spatial and temporal dimensions. The river waters are supplied mainly from Chalk-fed aquifer sources and are, therefore, of a calcium-bicarbonate type. The major, minor and trace element chemistry of the rivers is controlled by a combination of atmospheric and pollutant inputs from agriculture and sewage sources superimposed on a background water quality signal linked to geological sources. Water quality does not vary greatly over time or space. However. in detail, there are differences in water quality between the Pang and Lambourn and between sites along the Pang and the Lambourn. These differences reflect hydrological processes, water flow pathways and water quality input fluxes. The Pangs pattern of water quality change is more variable than that of the Lambourn. The flow hydrograph also shows both a cyclical and 'uniform pattern' characteristic of aquifer drainage with, superimposed, a series of 'flashier' spiked responses characteristic of karstic systems. The Lambourn, in contrast, shows simpler features without the 'flashier' responses, The results are discussed in relation to the newly developed UK community programme LOCAR dealing with Lowland Catchment Research. A descriptive and box model structure is provided to describe the key features of water quality variations in relation to soil, unsaturated and groundwater flows and storage both away from and close to the river.

Item Type:Article
Divisions:Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science
Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science
Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Earth Systems Science
Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
ID Code:3917
Uncontrolled Keywords:water quality nitrate ammonium phosphorus pH alkalinity nutrients major elements trace elements rainfall river Pang Lambourn LOCAR MODELING STREAMWATER CHEMISTRY SOILWATER END-MEMBERS RIVER KENNET CALCITE SATURATION SOUTHERN ENGLAND CHALK STREAM UK PHOSPHORUS THAMES DYNAMICS
Additional Information:
Publisher:Copernicus

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Page navigation