Natural Resources Research Articles
The role of soil organic matter in the geochemical cycling of chloride and bromide
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-27-2003
Journal Title
Journal of Hydrology
ISSN
ISSN: 0022-1694, eISSN: 1879-2707
Disciplines
Hydrology | Soil Science
Abstract
Chloride to bromide ratios were determined for rainfall in Western Australia and groundwaters and surface waters from a number of catchments in Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland. The ratio in rainfall, though showing a large short-term scatter, on average reflected the ratio in ocean water. Groundwaters and surface waters often showed characteristic differences in Cl−Br−, presumably associated with the cycling of bromide through soil organic matter. To prove this association it is shown that in the leachate of saturated small columns of soil the Cl−Br− ratio is governed by chloride and bromide, released from decomposing organic matter. On leaching the columns of soil the Cl−Br− weight ratio decreased rapidly from a high 300, reflecting rainfall, to a low 10, reflecting the ratio of chlorine to bromine bound to soil organic matter.
Recommended Citation
Robert G. Gerritse, Richard J. George, The role of soil organic matter in the geochemical cycling of chloride and bromide, Journal of Hydrology, Volume 101, Issues 1–4, 1988, Pages 83-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(88)90029-7
