Rivers are the natural pathway of geochemical signals from terrestrial environment to the ocean realm. This life sustaining system is more reflexive to the adversities of urbanization, industrialization and other human interventions. The problem is severe in small tropical rivers of the southern Western Ghats. Although many studies have been carried out in the west flowing rivers of the Kerala, not much attempt has hither to been made on the east flowing rivers of the state. Therefore, an attempt has been made in this paper to address the major ion chemistry and solute transport of Bhavani river of Kerala which is east flowing and a tributary of the Cauvery river. Hydrochemical data of the Bhavani river, its different stretches, was obtained from field work, sampling, in-situ and laboratory analysis. In order to understand the spatio-temporal changes in the river water chemistry and causal mechanisms behind the changes in the long-term discharge characteristics, data from three gauging stations (Nellithurai, Thengumarahada and Savandpur) have been obtained from the Central Water Commission (CWC) via the surface water module of the India – WRIS (Water Resources Information System). The eastern part of the river basin experiences semiarid/ arid climate with rainfall predominated by the northeast monsoon, but the western most part of the river basin experiences humid climate with dominant southwest monsoon. The controlling factor of the major ion chemistry of the river water was characterised using Gibbs?s Diagram and it indicates that the chemistry of the river water is controlled mainly by silicate weathering in the river catchments rather than rainfall contributions. The river water chemistry of Bhavani river is dominated by Ca, Na and HCO3. The hydrochemical analysis shows that majority of the water samples are of Ca-HCO3 type. The particulate load/dissolved load ratio of the Bhavani river is much less than that of the west flowing rivers of Kerala indicating the dominance of chemical weathering and evaporation, over physical weathering. An overall evaluation of the major ions in the Bhavani river revealed that its availability in river water is contributed by both natural and man-made factors.
Major Element Chemistry of the Bhavani River, Kerala, SW India ? Weathering Processes and Solute Transport
₹100.00
Rivers are the natural pathway of geochemical signals from terrestrial environment to the ocean realm. This life sustaining system is more reflexive to the adversities of urbanization, industrialization and other human interventions. The problem is severe in small tropical rivers of the southern Western Ghats. Although many studies have been carried out in the west flowing rivers of the Kerala, not much attempt has hither to been made on the east flowing rivers of the state. Therefore, an attempt has been made in this paper to address the major ion chemistry and solute transport of Bhavani river of Kerala which is east flowing and a tributary of the Cauvery river. Hydrochemical data of the Bhavani river, its different stretches, was obtained from field work, sampling, in-situ and laboratory analysis. In order to understand the spatio-temporal changes in the river water chemistry and causal mechanisms behind the changes in the long-term discharge characteristics, data from three gauging stations (Nellithurai, Thengumarahada and Savandpur) have been obtained from the Central Water Commission (CWC) via the surface water module of the India – WRIS (Water Resources Information System). The eastern part of the river basin experiences semiarid/ arid climate with rainfall predominated by the northeast monsoon, but the western most part of the river basin experiences humid climate with dominant southwest monsoon. The controlling factor of the major ion chemistry of the river water was characterised using Gibbs?s Diagram and it indicates that the chemistry of the river water is controlled mainly by silicate weathering in the river catchments rather than rainfall contributions. The river water chemistry of Bhavani river is dominated by Ca, Na and HCO3. The hydrochemical analysis shows that majority of the water samples are of Ca-HCO3 type. The particulate load/dissolved load ratio of the Bhavani river is much less than that of the west flowing rivers of Kerala indicating the dominance of chemical weathering and evaporation, over physical weathering. An overall evaluation of the major ions in the Bhavani river revealed that its availability in river water is contributed by both natural and man-made factors.
Publication Mode |
Online |
---|---|
Publication Author |
Vipin T. Raj, Gayathri J. A., Vandana M., Sreelash K., K. Sajan, Padmalal D. |
Publication Language |
English |
Publication Type |
Conference Paper |
Publication Year |
2021 |
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