Floodplain Hydrology and Biogeochemistry

dc.contributor.authorJones, Charles Nathanielen
dc.contributor.committeechairScott, Durelle T.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHester, Erich T.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSample, David J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKeim, Richard F.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHession, W. Cullyen
dc.contributor.departmentBiological Systems Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-26T07:00:25Zen
dc.date.available2017-02-26T07:00:25Zen
dc.date.issued2015-09-04en
dc.description.abstractRiver-floodplain connectivity is defined as the water mediated transfer of materials and energy between a river or stream and its adjacent floodplain. It is generally accepted that restoring and/or enhancing river-floodplain connectivity can reduce the downstream flux of reactive solutes such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and thus improve downstream water quality. However, there is little scientific literature to guide ecological engineering efforts which optimize river-floodplain connectivity for solute retention. Therefore, the aim of my dissertation research was to examine feedbacks between inundation hydrology and floodplain biogeochemistry, with an emphasis on analyzing variation experienced along the river continuum and the cumulative effects of river-floodplain connectivity at the basin scale. This was completed through four independent investigations. Field sites ranged from the Atchafalaya River Basin, the largest river-floodplain system in the continental US, to the floodplain of a recently restored headwater stream in Appalachia. We also developed a method to examine river-floodplain connectivity across large- river networks and applied that methodology to US stream network. Largely, our results highlight the role floodwater residence time distributions play in floodplain biogeochemistry. In headwater streams, residence times restrict redox dependent processes (e.g. denitrification) and downstream flushing of reactive solutes is the dominant process. However, in large-river floodplains, redox dependent processes can become solute limited because of prolonged residence times and hydrologic isolation. In these floodplains, the dominant process is often autochthonous solute accumulation. Further, results from our modeling study suggest large-river floodplains have a greater impact on downstream water quality than floodplains associated with smaller streams, even when considering cumulative effects across the entire river network.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:6194en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/75169en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectriver-floodplain connectivityen
dc.subjectinundation hydrologyen
dc.subjectsolute fate and transporten
dc.subjectecological engineeringen
dc.subjectbiogeochemistryen
dc.subjectnutrientsen
dc.subjectdissolved organic matteren
dc.subjectstream restorationen
dc.titleFloodplain Hydrology and Biogeochemistryen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Systems Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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