Hydrological conditions regulate dissolved organic matter quality in an intermittent headwater stream. From drought to storm analysis

AbstractStorms and droughts are an essential driver for the dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration in headwater streams. However, the relationship between DOM quality and discharge (Q) has not been addressed in depth and the impact of other hydro-climatic or biogeochemical drivers has not been explored. In this study DOM quality variability was explored at seasonal and storm event scales during an intensive 2.5-year-long sampling in a Mediterranean stream characterized by a severe summer drought. DOM quality was described in terms of absorbance and fluorescence properties. Most of the DOM properties were strongly related to discharge revealing the input of allochthonous, degraded, aromatic, humic and increased-molecular-size DOM under high flow conditions. However, these relationships disappeared or reversed during drying and rewetting periods. Each DOM response at the storm event scale (DOM-Q hysteresis) was outlined with two descriptors that summarised its trend (dilution/flushing/chemostasis) and shape (linear/nonlinear response). Multiple linear regression and commonality analysis showed that, in addition to the magnitude of storm episodes, antecedent hydrological conditions, namely pre-event basal flow and the magnitude of the previous storm event, played a significant role in regulating the trends and shapes of DOM-Q hysteresis