01835nas a2200169 4500008004100000245013700041210006900178260001200247300001800259490000700277520122000284100002101504700002501525700002401550700001701574856007401591 2018 eng d00aTransit times and rapid chemical equilibrium explain chemostasis in glacial meltwater streams in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aTransit times and rapid chemical equilibrium explain chemostasis c12/2018 a13322 - 133310 v453 a

Fluid  transit  time  is  understood  to  be  an  important  control  on  the  shape  of concentration-discharge (C-q) relationships, yet empirical evidence supporting this linkage is limited. We investigated C-q relationships for weathering-derived solutes across seven Antarctic glacial meltwate streams. We hypothesized that (H1) solute fluxes in McMurdo Dry Valley streams are reaction limited so that C-q relationships are characterized by dilution and that (H2) transit time explains between-stream variability in the degree of C-q dilution. Results show that C-q relationships are chemostatic because solute equilibrium times are shorter than stream corridor fluid transit times. Between-stream variability in the efficiency of solute production is positively correlated with transit time, suggesting that transit time is an important control on the solute export regime. These results provide empirical evidence for the controls on weathering-derived C-q relationships and have important implications for Antarctic ecosystems and solute export regimes of watersheds worldwide.

1 aWlostowski, Adam1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aLyons, Berry uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2018GL080369