Hydrologic characteristics of White Clay Creek at Newark, Delaware
Date
2023
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This study was undertaken to develop a more thorough understanding of the hydrology of the White Clay Creek Watershed. Water samples were collected daily to bi-weekly from the White Clay Creek in Newark, Delaware, along with occasional precipitation samples near the same sampling site over the course of a year. These samples were then analyzed for their δ 18O and δ2H values and Cl- concentrations. Data was also collected from the USGS monitoring station near the sampling site and the local DEOS weather station to determine air and water temperature, discharge, specific conductance, and amount of precipitation. The δ 18O and δ 2H values plotted along the Global Meteoric Water line. Lag times between peak precipitation and peak discharge tended to decrease with increasing peak precipitation, likely due to saturation of soil in the watershed. Lastly, in winter months, anomalous spikes in specific conductance during precipitation events were found to correlate with increases in Cl- concentration in the White Clay Creek, which was possibly due to an influx of road salt being carried by runoff into the creek.
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Keywords
Hydrology, Watershed, White Clay Creek, Cl- concentration