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A Mixed Method Approach to Exploring and Characterizing Ionic Chemistry in the Surface

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A Mixed Method Approach to Exploring and Characterizing Ionic Chemistry in the Surface A mixed method approach to exploring and characterizing ionic chemistry in the surface waters of the glacierized upper Santa River watershed, Ancash, Peru THESIS Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Alex Michelle Eddy Graduate Program in Geography The Ohio State University 2012 Master's Examination Committee: Dr. Bryan Greenwood Mark, Advisor Dr. Darla Munroe Dr. Ola Ahlqvist Copyrighted by Alex Michelle Eddy 2012 Abstract Dramatic glacier loss in the upper Santa River watershed in Ancash, Peru has significant impact on proglacial hydrologic systems, with implications for downstream impact on human water use activities. Glacial resources serve as freshwater reservoirs, mitigating the rain shadow effect that deprives the western slopes of the Andes of regular annual water resources via precipitation. The reduction of glacial resources is coincidental with economic and population growth, and concern for the quality and quantity of water resources drives research that contributes to understanding regional hydrologic systems. This thesis integrates hydrochemical analysis and spatial exploration with the aim of assessing inorganic water quality characteristics and determinant processes within the region. The chemistry of proglacial surface waters is primarily determined by weathering processes in rock-water contact areas, and pristine glacial meltwater inherits the chemical properties of the surficial lithology along a flow path. Hydrochemical analysis methods identify elemental characteristics that are unique to the study region. Dominant hydrochemical processes include silicate weathering, coupled pyrite oxidation with silicate weathering, and to a lesser extent, carbonate weathering. Sulfate constituent is unusually high for portions of the study region and is attributed to highly acidified waters immediately downstream from glacial point sources. ii Geovisualization and exploratory data analysis extend the results of the hydrochemical analysis by showing temporal change and suggesting connections between lithology, areas of high erosion and weathering rates, rapid deglaciation, and elevated sulfate concentrations. iii Dedication Dedicated to my parents, Karen and Doug, and my sisters, Renée and Heather, for their love and support. iv Acknowledgments I wish to thank my advisor, Bryan Mark, for his continuous encouragement and guidance throughout my Master of Arts program. Without his support and positive attitude this thesis would not have been possible. I thank Darla Munroe for her valuable review of my thesis and for her support in helping me seek new and exciting opportunities within the field of Geography. I wish to thank Ola Ahlqvist for his insightful feedback on my thesis and for introducing me to the artistic and analytical possibilities of cartography during my undergraduate career. I thank Kathleen Welch and Sue Welch for their insights related to water chemistry analysis and interpretation. I am indebted to them for lending their tremendous expertise throughout our hydrochemistry explorations. I also thank our Peruvian colleagues, as well as the faculty and graduate students in our research group whose collaborative attitude and immense efforts in the field make our research possible. Finally, I’d like to thank my family and friends for their endless love, support, and sense of humor. v Vita 2005 - 2010 ...................................................B.S. Geography (2nd Major: Geology), The Ohio State University 2007 - 2010 ...................................................GIS Intern, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus, Ohio 2009 - 2010 ...................................................Student Research Assistant, Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University 2010 ...............................................................GIS/Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, D.C. 2011 - 2012 ...................................................Graduate Research Associate, Department of Geography, The Ohio State University Publications Howat, I.M., & A. Eddy. (2011) Mutidecadal retreat of Greenland’s marine-terminating glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 57 (203), 389-396(8). Szabo, J.P., M.P. Angle, & A. Eddy. (2011). Pleistocene Glaciation of Ohio, U.S.A. Quaternary Glaciations -Extent and Chronology, Volume 15: A Closer Look. Edited by Ehlers, J., Gibbard, P.L., & Hughes, P.D., 513-520. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Press. Fields of Study Major Field: Geography vi Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... v Vita ..................................................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vii List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... x List of Figures ................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research Objectives and Outline ......................................................................... 2 1.2 Physical Geography of the Santa River Watershed ............................................. 4 1.3 Water Resources and Human Vulnerability in the Santa River watershed ........ 11 1.4 Justification and Limitations for the Work ........................................................ 14 1.5 Overview of Methodology ................................................................................. 15 Chapter 2: Spatial Data and Synthesis .............................................................................. 18 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 18 vii 2.2 Managing and Designing GIS Attribute Data .................................................... 19 2.3 Managing Accuracy/Precision Issues and Manually Adjusting Point Data ....... 21 2.4 Refining Point Dataset and Establishing Subset Catchments ............................ 24 2.5 Existing Ancillary Data: Collection, Conversion, Repairs, and Editing ............ 27 2.6 Spatial Intersection ............................................................................................. 31 2.7 Vector Editing: Snapping, Tracing, and Attribution of Stream Order ............... 34 2.8 Summary ............................................................................................................ 36 Chapter 3: Hydrochemical Data and Analytical Methods ................................................ 37 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 37 3.2 Background and Operational Hypothesis ........................................................... 37 3.3 Water Sample Data Collection and Ion Concentration Measurement ............... 39 3.4 Units Conversions .............................................................................................. 40 3.5 Charge Balance .................................................................................................. 41 3.6 Ionic Ratios and Source Rock Deduction .......................................................... 48 3.7 Piper Diagrams ................................................................................................... 54 3.8 Summary ............................................................................................................ 58 Chapter 4: Exploring Spatial and Temporal Patterns ....................................................... 60 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 60 4.2 Discussion of Results ......................................................................................... 61 4.3 Thematic Maps ................................................................................................... 65 4.3 Parallel Coordinate Plots .................................................................................... 71 4.4 Temporal Change ............................................................................................... 73 4.5 Summary ............................................................................................................ 79 Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion ............................................................................. 81 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 81 5.2 Review of the Content ........................................................................................ 81 5.3 Discussion of Contribution................................................................................. 83 viii 5.4 Further Research ................................................................................................ 84 Appendix A: Glossaries ...................................................................................................
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