Abstract
The chemical composition of water from two peatlands was investigated. Both peatlands, which are nature reserves, are located in central Poland in the Widawka and Rawka River valleys. The study concerned groundwaters, peat waters from different depths, and waters from draining ditches. The research permitted determination of the hydrochemical zoning of the peatlands resulting from the complex character of the water supply. The hydrochemical interpretation of surface waters outflowing alongside the ditches, in terms of their similarity to particular zones, provides an insight into the water-feeding structure of the peatlands. In the evaluation, hydrochemical indicators were applied, which have been used in hydrogeological studies. They are based on equivalent concentrations of the major ions: sodium, calcium, chlorides, and sulphates, selected from other hydrochemical elements by means of principal component analysis (PCA), conducted individually for each peatland. The analyses showed a high contribution of unconfined and confined groundwaters to the water supply, with clearly distinguishable zones, in terms of their transit through the structures of the peatlands.
Highlights
Peatlands located in river valleys represent complex water feeding patterns
Groundwaters responded by increasing supply. Their level successively increased from October 2009 to summer 2011 by 0.65 m in Kopanicha peatland (KA) and by 0.36 m in Korzeń peatland (KR)
The analysis of the hydrochemistry of two valley peatlands, Kopanicha (KA) and Korzeń (KR), permitted us to distinguish two groups of hydrochemical elements responsible for their character and related to the primary ecohydrological processes occurring in peatlands
Summary
Peatlands located in river valleys represent complex water feeding patterns. They are permanently supplied with groundwaters, periodically or irregularly with fluvial flood waters, and relatively regularly with precipitation waters. Depending on the local hydrological conditions, peat-forming processes in river valleys take various courses: from the development of full peat cover, through partial cover, to complete lack of peatlands (Żurek 1990). Irrespective of the degree of peat cover, the location of a peatland in a valley bottom has implications for the water budget. At the boundary of the valley, peatlands are primarily dependent on the groundwater supply, except in extreme flood events.
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