Hydrochemical characterization and pCO dynamics in the surface waters of Himalayan River: A case study of river Alaknanda.

Chemical weathering processes are becoming increasingly important in studies on carbon cycling because they are responsible for increased solute fluxes in the proglacial zone, can effectively sequester atmospheric CO and raise carbon budgets for lateral transport via rivers. Here, we examined the hydrochemical and hydrogeochemical processes, solute sources and factors controlling riverine pCO of the Alaknanda River and its tributaries for three sampling seasons, viz. pre-monsoon (May 2021), post-monsoon (October 2021) and winter (January 2022).

Assessment of non-point source of pollution using chemical mass balance approach: a case study of River Alaknanda, a tributary of River Ganga, India.

The low ionic concentration meltwaters of the rivers originating from the Himalayan glaciers play a significant role in diluting the high solute load emanating from Ganga plain catchments. Hence, any change in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the Himalayan tributaries of River Ganga under the changing climatic scenario will impact the hydrochemical parameters of River Ganga as well. Hydrochemical investigations have been carried out in the River Alaknanda, a tributary of River Ganga during the period September 2016-May 2018 and revealed that TSS and COD values were observed above the prescribed criteria limit of 10 mg/L for drinking purpose for river as prescribed by CPCB.