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Date Permissions Signed

7-21-2017

Date of Award

Summer 2017

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Sciences

First Advisor

Sofield, Ruth M.

Second Advisor

Bodensteiner, Leo R., 1957-

Third Advisor

All, John

Abstract

Water chemistry in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru, where glaciers provide crucial freshwater to the arid Andes Mountains, was characterized during the dry season (June-August), 2014. Metal concentrations, anion concentrations, and physical and chemical parameters were assessed at 94 sample sites in seven river valleys. Nonparametric multivariate exploratory statistics were used to compare sample sites.

Compared to other river valleys, high metal concentrations were evident in the Quilcayhuanca valley. Water chemistry and visual signs indicated that acid rock drainage (ARD) is occurring in the Cordillera Blanca, likely due to glacial recession. Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed on the results of a principal components analysis on the chemical data. The results of these two analyses showed cobalt, manganese, and nickel were the top metals that distinguished the different clusters.

In addition to the exploratory analysis, the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) was used to predict toxicity to aquatic life based on the chemical measurements at the sampling sites. Approximately 20% of the sites had predicted toxic responses to metals and another 20% of the sites were outside of the pH tolerance range of individual species. These sites outside of the pH ranges were assumed to cause toxicity to the aquatic organisms due to hydrogen ions rather than metals. From this, the altered water quality in headwater streams in the Cordillera Blanca is predicted to be detrimental to aquatic life. The reduction in water quality makes the understanding of these headwater streams critical in efforts to mitigate the loss of crucial water resources.

Type

Text

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25710/6tvj-3f09

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1000055916

Subject – LCSH

Glaciers--Climatic factors--Peru--Blanca, Cordillera, Acid mine drainage--Environmental aspects--Peru--Blanca, Cordillera; Acid sulfate soils--environmental aspects--Peru--Blanca, Cordillera; Water quality biological assessment--Peru--Blanca, Cordillera; Climatic changes--Peru--Blanca, Cordillera; Blanca, Cordillera (Peru)--Environmental aspects

Geographic Coverage

Blanca, Cordillera (Peru)

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this thesis for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

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