The hydrochemistry of rivers in KwaZulu-Natal

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dc.contributor.authorDe Villiers S.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T15:58:11Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T15:58:11Z
dc.date.issued2005
dc.description.abstractThe chemistry of the major elements of KwaZulu-Natal river water draining the eastern Drakensberg Escarpment was monitored in October 2003 and compared to data obtained previously along the western Drakensberg Escarpment, i.e. the Caledon and Upper Orange Rivers. The data obtained in these two surveys reveal no significant differences in the Mg, Ca, Na, K and HCO3- content of rivers draining similar lithologies, despite slightly different climatic regimes and different suspended loads. The implication is that lithology is the dominant control on the major element chemistry of river water draining the Drakensberg. However, in the north-western part of KwaZulu-Natal, drought-stricken at the time of sampling, evaporation-induced concentration results not only in evaporite formation, but dramatic changes in river and stream water chemistry. Elevated levels of minor constituents such as NO 3- also indicate that in cultivated areas anthropogenic activities have an impact on water quality and composition.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationWater SA
dc.identifier.citation31
dc.identifier.citation2
dc.identifier.issn3784738
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/10819
dc.subjectClimate change
dc.subjectDrainage
dc.subjectEvaporation
dc.subjectStream flow
dc.subjectClimatic regimes
dc.subjectHydrochemistry
dc.subjectRiver water drainage
dc.subjectStream water chemistry
dc.subjectRivers
dc.subjecthydrochemistry
dc.subjectriver
dc.subjectAfrica
dc.subjectEastern Hemisphere
dc.subjectKwaZulu-Natal
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectSouthern Africa
dc.subjectSub-Saharan Africa
dc.subjectWorld
dc.titleThe hydrochemistry of rivers in KwaZulu-Natal
dc.typeArticle
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