VARIATION IN STREAM CHEMISTRY ACROSS THE KANSAS PRECIPITATION GRADIENT

Abstract

How do stream order, land use, and stream position within the precipitation gradient across Kansas affect stream chemistry? Land use will drive changes in stream chemistry that are biologically driven (e.g., DOC, NO3-), whereas stream order or position in the precipitation gradient will have a greater affect on conservative (e.g., Cl- or Na+). Take home message is stream order was the most consistent factor for explaining variation in stream chemistry. Land use never explained the highest amount of variation in stream chemistry. Stream chemistry did not vary between Central and Eastern Kansas streams.