Biogeohydrodynamic in the forested humid tropical environment; the case study of the Nsimi small experimental watershed (South Cameroon)

This paper summarizes a six-year study of the Nsimi Small Experimental Watershed (SEW), considered as a model for the South Cameroon humid tropical ecosystem. When this small watershed was set up, no similar survey of input/output hydrobiogeochemical fluxes in granitoid rocks in stable cratonic envi...

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Veröffentlicht in:Bulletin de la Société géologique de France 2002-01, Vol.173 (4), p.347-357
Hauptverfasser: Braun, Jean-Jacques, Dupré, Bernard, Viers, Jérôme, Ndam Nagoupayou, Jules Rémy, Bedimo Bedimo, Jean-Pierre, Sigha-Nkamdjou, Luc, Freydier, Rémi, Robain, Henri, Nyeck, Brunot, Bodin, Jacques, Oliva, Priscia, Boeglin, Jean-Loup, Stemmler, Sébastien, Berthelin, Jacques
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container_title Bulletin de la Société géologique de France
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creator Braun, Jean-Jacques
Dupré, Bernard
Viers, Jérôme
Ndam Nagoupayou, Jules Rémy
Bedimo Bedimo, Jean-Pierre
Sigha-Nkamdjou, Luc
Freydier, Rémi
Robain, Henri
Nyeck, Brunot
Bodin, Jacques
Oliva, Priscia
Boeglin, Jean-Loup
Stemmler, Sébastien
Berthelin, Jacques
description This paper summarizes a six-year study of the Nsimi Small Experimental Watershed (SEW), considered as a model for the South Cameroon humid tropical ecosystem. When this small watershed was set up, no similar survey of input/output hydrobiogeochemical fluxes in granitoid rocks in stable cratonic environment was available, to our knowledge, on any site close to the Equator. Moreover, this is the first attempt, world-wide, to combine different approaches in hydrology, (bio) geochemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, microbiology, geophysics and pedology. Research is based on (1) regular hydrobiogeochemical surveys in various water reservoirs of the SEW ecosystem (atmospheric deposits, groundwater and stream), (2) surveys related either to the organisation and composition of different reservoirs in the superficial layers (basement rocks, saprolite, soils) or to various hydrological, biological and geochemical processes. These surveys aim at (1) finding the main parameters involved in the chemical and physical erosion processes of the humid tropical ecosystem, (2) understanding the source of a particular chemical composition in groundwater and rivers, (3) documenting accurately the different exportation processes of chemical elements in water and soil (4) investigating the possible relation between the biodegradation of soil organic matter and the leaching of metals (especially iron) and (5) comparing the long and short term weathering rates using mass balance calculations. An other important objective of this study is to provide a new scientific and engineering database for the future development of South Cameroon, which is still nowadays a relatively preserved ecosystem. One of the major results is the essential role played by the biological cycle (vegetation and soil organic matter) in the fractionation, exportation or storage of the chemical elements in humid tropical environments. Moreover we are able to propose a model of the current erosion for this SEW from the database obtained on (1) the mineralogy of the basement rocks and the soil layers, (2) the geochemistry of the soluble and colloidal phases of waters and (3) the hydrology within the different reservoirs of the hydrosystem. This model has been confirmed and extended on a regional scale (Nyong river basin). It emphasized the behaviour of the main elements of the tropical soil layers (Fe, Al,Si), the nutrients (C, Ca, Mg, K, Sr) and specific tracers of the weathering processes either with strong mo
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When this small watershed was set up, no similar survey of input/output hydrobiogeochemical fluxes in granitoid rocks in stable cratonic environment was available, to our knowledge, on any site close to the Equator. Moreover, this is the first attempt, world-wide, to combine different approaches in hydrology, (bio) geochemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, microbiology, geophysics and pedology. Research is based on (1) regular hydrobiogeochemical surveys in various water reservoirs of the SEW ecosystem (atmospheric deposits, groundwater and stream), (2) surveys related either to the organisation and composition of different reservoirs in the superficial layers (basement rocks, saprolite, soils) or to various hydrological, biological and geochemical processes. These surveys aim at (1) finding the main parameters involved in the chemical and physical erosion processes of the humid tropical ecosystem, (2) understanding the source of a particular chemical composition in groundwater and rivers, (3) documenting accurately the different exportation processes of chemical elements in water and soil (4) investigating the possible relation between the biodegradation of soil organic matter and the leaching of metals (especially iron) and (5) comparing the long and short term weathering rates using mass balance calculations. An other important objective of this study is to provide a new scientific and engineering database for the future development of South Cameroon, which is still nowadays a relatively preserved ecosystem. One of the major results is the essential role played by the biological cycle (vegetation and soil organic matter) in the fractionation, exportation or storage of the chemical elements in humid tropical environments. Moreover we are able to propose a model of the current erosion for this SEW from the database obtained on (1) the mineralogy of the basement rocks and the soil layers, (2) the geochemistry of the soluble and colloidal phases of waters and (3) the hydrology within the different reservoirs of the hydrosystem. This model has been confirmed and extended on a regional scale (Nyong river basin). It emphasized the behaviour of the main elements of the tropical soil layers (Fe, Al,Si), the nutrients (C, Ca, Mg, K, Sr) and specific tracers of the weathering processes either with strong mobility (Cl, Na) or on the contrary with an extremely low mobility (Zr, Th, REEs). On the SEW scale, a strong geochemical contrast occurs between the different groundwater zones flooding (1) the hill slope lateritic profiles, (2) the weathering front (interface between the saprolite and the basement rocks), and (3) the swampy zone in which the Mengong brook flows. High DOC contents (15 mg/L) but also high Fe, Th, Al, Zr contents characterize the swampy zone waters. Na and Si have mainly a deep origin (exfiltration), Al, Th, Zr and REEs are strongly linked with colloidal organic matter located in the upper horizons of the swamp. Fe has a much more complex behaviour due to its change of redox state which can be independent of organic matter complexation. Concerning the major base cations, their origin can be constrained by the biological cycle (storage or leaching). K is typically influenced by the biological cycle. During the floods, Cl annual budget is balanced. These characteristics can be understood as the consequence of the weathering the minerals present in the saprolite (kaolinite, goethite, goethite, zircon, Th-oxide). This chemical weathering allows the leaching of base cations and also Al and Fe. It has been demonstrated that the microbial populations of the swampy zone can play an important role in the mobilization of transition metals (e.g. Fe). This study point out the role of humic acids in the transport and the weathering budget of elements usually considered as immobile in the superficial cycle (e.g. Al, Th, Zr, Fe). It must be mentioned that worldwide the SEW and even the Nyong network waters are among the least concentrated river waters. It means that even if the organic matter plays an important role in the mobilization and transport of some elements in the swampy zone, its action is limited in term of major cation fluxes on the SEW scale. The reason invoked is that the cation fluxes are directly linked to the pedological history and the geomorphology of the watershed. The presence of thick soil layers composed of saprolite and latosol on the hillsides and of hydromorphic soils in the swampy zone with constant mineralogy lead to isolating the bedrock. The long residence time of water close to the weathering front plays a major role in preserving the parent rock from the hydro-chemical outputs. Moreover, the topsoil layers are stabilized by the vegetation cover, which limits mechanical erosion. This should be taken into account for the carbon mass balance calculation because of the wide areas on stable shields concerned by the humid tropical ecosystems. Moreover, comparison between long and short-term weathering allows us to suggest that paleo-climatic conditions did not change since the Miocene (6-20 Ma) in this part of the world.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0037-9409</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1777-5817</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.2113/173.4.347</identifier><identifier>CODEN: BSGFAE</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>Paris: Société Géologique de France</publisher><subject>Africa ; biogenic processes ; Cameroon ; carbon ; case studies ; catchment hydrodynamics ; chemical weathering ; clastic rocks ; dissolved organic carbon ; drainage basins ; Earth sciences ; Earth, ocean, space ; Exact sciences and technology ; experimental studies ; field studies ; forests ; geochemistry ; Geomorphology, landform evolution ; ground water ; humid environment ; Hydrogeology ; hydrology ; laterites ; Nsimi Cameroon ; Nyong River basin ; organic carbon ; organic compounds ; physical weathering ; saprolite ; sedimentary rocks ; soils ; solutes ; southern Cameroon ; surface water ; Surficial geology ; terrestrial environment ; tropical environment ; vegetation ; watersheds ; weathering ; West Africa</subject><ispartof>Bulletin de la Société géologique de France, 2002-01, Vol.173 (4), p.347-357</ispartof><rights>GeoRef, Copyright 2022, American Geosciences Institute.</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-a347t-7a6a0203ad79997e5bfbe471471f963bacc32a7b05e3cb4d98ee7fc3c7ef1a6f3</citedby></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><link.rule.ids>314,780,784,27923,27924</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttp://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetail&amp;idt=14313913$$DView record in Pascal Francis$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Braun, Jean-Jacques</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Dupré, Bernard</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Viers, Jérôme</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Ndam Nagoupayou, Jules Rémy</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Bedimo Bedimo, Jean-Pierre</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Sigha-Nkamdjou, Luc</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Freydier, Rémi</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Robain, Henri</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Nyeck, Brunot</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Bodin, Jacques</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Oliva, Priscia</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Boeglin, Jean-Loup</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Stemmler, Sébastien</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Berthelin, Jacques</creatorcontrib><title>Biogeohydrodynamic in the forested humid tropical environment; the case study of the Nsimi small experimental watershed (South Cameroon)</title><title>Bulletin de la Société géologique de France</title><description>This paper summarizes a six-year study of the Nsimi Small Experimental Watershed (SEW), considered as a model for the South Cameroon humid tropical ecosystem. When this small watershed was set up, no similar survey of input/output hydrobiogeochemical fluxes in granitoid rocks in stable cratonic environment was available, to our knowledge, on any site close to the Equator. Moreover, this is the first attempt, world-wide, to combine different approaches in hydrology, (bio) geochemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, microbiology, geophysics and pedology. Research is based on (1) regular hydrobiogeochemical surveys in various water reservoirs of the SEW ecosystem (atmospheric deposits, groundwater and stream), (2) surveys related either to the organisation and composition of different reservoirs in the superficial layers (basement rocks, saprolite, soils) or to various hydrological, biological and geochemical processes. These surveys aim at (1) finding the main parameters involved in the chemical and physical erosion processes of the humid tropical ecosystem, (2) understanding the source of a particular chemical composition in groundwater and rivers, (3) documenting accurately the different exportation processes of chemical elements in water and soil (4) investigating the possible relation between the biodegradation of soil organic matter and the leaching of metals (especially iron) and (5) comparing the long and short term weathering rates using mass balance calculations. An other important objective of this study is to provide a new scientific and engineering database for the future development of South Cameroon, which is still nowadays a relatively preserved ecosystem. One of the major results is the essential role played by the biological cycle (vegetation and soil organic matter) in the fractionation, exportation or storage of the chemical elements in humid tropical environments. Moreover we are able to propose a model of the current erosion for this SEW from the database obtained on (1) the mineralogy of the basement rocks and the soil layers, (2) the geochemistry of the soluble and colloidal phases of waters and (3) the hydrology within the different reservoirs of the hydrosystem. This model has been confirmed and extended on a regional scale (Nyong river basin). It emphasized the behaviour of the main elements of the tropical soil layers (Fe, Al,Si), the nutrients (C, Ca, Mg, K, Sr) and specific tracers of the weathering processes either with strong mobility (Cl, Na) or on the contrary with an extremely low mobility (Zr, Th, REEs). On the SEW scale, a strong geochemical contrast occurs between the different groundwater zones flooding (1) the hill slope lateritic profiles, (2) the weathering front (interface between the saprolite and the basement rocks), and (3) the swampy zone in which the Mengong brook flows. High DOC contents (15 mg/L) but also high Fe, Th, Al, Zr contents characterize the swampy zone waters. Na and Si have mainly a deep origin (exfiltration), Al, Th, Zr and REEs are strongly linked with colloidal organic matter located in the upper horizons of the swamp. Fe has a much more complex behaviour due to its change of redox state which can be independent of organic matter complexation. Concerning the major base cations, their origin can be constrained by the biological cycle (storage or leaching). K is typically influenced by the biological cycle. During the floods, Cl annual budget is balanced. These characteristics can be understood as the consequence of the weathering the minerals present in the saprolite (kaolinite, goethite, goethite, zircon, Th-oxide). This chemical weathering allows the leaching of base cations and also Al and Fe. It has been demonstrated that the microbial populations of the swampy zone can play an important role in the mobilization of transition metals (e.g. Fe). This study point out the role of humic acids in the transport and the weathering budget of elements usually considered as immobile in the superficial cycle (e.g. Al, Th, Zr, Fe). It must be mentioned that worldwide the SEW and even the Nyong network waters are among the least concentrated river waters. It means that even if the organic matter plays an important role in the mobilization and transport of some elements in the swampy zone, its action is limited in term of major cation fluxes on the SEW scale. The reason invoked is that the cation fluxes are directly linked to the pedological history and the geomorphology of the watershed. The presence of thick soil layers composed of saprolite and latosol on the hillsides and of hydromorphic soils in the swampy zone with constant mineralogy lead to isolating the bedrock. The long residence time of water close to the weathering front plays a major role in preserving the parent rock from the hydro-chemical outputs. Moreover, the topsoil layers are stabilized by the vegetation cover, which limits mechanical erosion. This should be taken into account for the carbon mass balance calculation because of the wide areas on stable shields concerned by the humid tropical ecosystems. Moreover, comparison between long and short-term weathering allows us to suggest that paleo-climatic conditions did not change since the Miocene (6-20 Ma) in this part of the world.</description><subject>Africa</subject><subject>biogenic processes</subject><subject>Cameroon</subject><subject>carbon</subject><subject>case studies</subject><subject>catchment hydrodynamics</subject><subject>chemical weathering</subject><subject>clastic rocks</subject><subject>dissolved organic carbon</subject><subject>drainage basins</subject><subject>Earth sciences</subject><subject>Earth, ocean, space</subject><subject>Exact sciences and technology</subject><subject>experimental studies</subject><subject>field studies</subject><subject>forests</subject><subject>geochemistry</subject><subject>Geomorphology, landform evolution</subject><subject>ground water</subject><subject>humid environment</subject><subject>Hydrogeology</subject><subject>hydrology</subject><subject>laterites</subject><subject>Nsimi Cameroon</subject><subject>Nyong River basin</subject><subject>organic carbon</subject><subject>organic compounds</subject><subject>physical weathering</subject><subject>saprolite</subject><subject>sedimentary rocks</subject><subject>soils</subject><subject>solutes</subject><subject>southern Cameroon</subject><subject>surface water</subject><subject>Surficial geology</subject><subject>terrestrial environment</subject><subject>tropical environment</subject><subject>vegetation</subject><subject>watersheds</subject><subject>weathering</subject><subject>West Africa</subject><issn>0037-9409</issn><issn>1777-5817</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2002</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><recordid>eNpFkd1qGzEQhUVJoY6bi7yBbloawrora21Z9Cox-SmY9iLJtZjVjroKu5Ir7cb1G_SxM4kDgQEx4pvDnDOMnYpyNhdCfhdKzqqZrNQHNhFKqWKxEuqITcpSqkJXpf7EjnN-pHYpF2LC_l_6-Adju29SbPYBem-5D3xokbuYMA_Y8HbsfcOHFLfeQscxPPkUQ49h-PEKWsjI8zA2ex7d68-v7HvPcw8d4f-2mPwLTbM7GDDllkS_3cVxaPkaekwxhrPP7KODLuPJ2ztlD9dX9-vbYvP75uf6YlMAmRoKBUso56WERmmtFS5qV2OlBJXTS1mDtXIOqi4XKG1dNXqFqJyVVqETsHRyyr4edLcp_h3JoOl9tth1EDCO2YiVFiRXEXh2AG2KOSd0Zks2IO2NKM1L1oayNpWhtYj98iYKmSJyCYL1-X2gkkJqIYk7P3AUebYeg8VdTF1jHuOYAtk2c7qMoVtJ2uAZesGQIg</recordid><startdate>20020101</startdate><enddate>20020101</enddate><creator>Braun, Jean-Jacques</creator><creator>Dupré, Bernard</creator><creator>Viers, Jérôme</creator><creator>Ndam Nagoupayou, Jules Rémy</creator><creator>Bedimo Bedimo, Jean-Pierre</creator><creator>Sigha-Nkamdjou, Luc</creator><creator>Freydier, Rémi</creator><creator>Robain, Henri</creator><creator>Nyeck, Brunot</creator><creator>Bodin, Jacques</creator><creator>Oliva, Priscia</creator><creator>Boeglin, Jean-Loup</creator><creator>Stemmler, Sébastien</creator><creator>Berthelin, Jacques</creator><general>Société Géologique de France</general><general>Société géologique de France</general><scope>IQODW</scope><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>7UA</scope><scope>C1K</scope><scope>F1W</scope><scope>H96</scope><scope>L.G</scope></search><sort><creationdate>20020101</creationdate><title>Biogeohydrodynamic in the forested humid tropical environment; the case study of the Nsimi small experimental watershed (South Cameroon)</title><author>Braun, Jean-Jacques ; Dupré, Bernard ; Viers, Jérôme ; Ndam Nagoupayou, Jules Rémy ; Bedimo Bedimo, Jean-Pierre ; Sigha-Nkamdjou, Luc ; Freydier, Rémi ; Robain, Henri ; Nyeck, Brunot ; Bodin, Jacques ; Oliva, Priscia ; Boeglin, Jean-Loup ; Stemmler, Sébastien ; Berthelin, Jacques</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-a347t-7a6a0203ad79997e5bfbe471471f963bacc32a7b05e3cb4d98ee7fc3c7ef1a6f3</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2002</creationdate><topic>Africa</topic><topic>biogenic processes</topic><topic>Cameroon</topic><topic>carbon</topic><topic>case studies</topic><topic>catchment hydrodynamics</topic><topic>chemical weathering</topic><topic>clastic rocks</topic><topic>dissolved organic carbon</topic><topic>drainage basins</topic><topic>Earth sciences</topic><topic>Earth, ocean, space</topic><topic>Exact sciences and technology</topic><topic>experimental studies</topic><topic>field studies</topic><topic>forests</topic><topic>geochemistry</topic><topic>Geomorphology, landform evolution</topic><topic>ground water</topic><topic>humid environment</topic><topic>Hydrogeology</topic><topic>hydrology</topic><topic>laterites</topic><topic>Nsimi Cameroon</topic><topic>Nyong River basin</topic><topic>organic carbon</topic><topic>organic compounds</topic><topic>physical weathering</topic><topic>saprolite</topic><topic>sedimentary rocks</topic><topic>soils</topic><topic>solutes</topic><topic>southern Cameroon</topic><topic>surface water</topic><topic>Surficial geology</topic><topic>terrestrial environment</topic><topic>tropical environment</topic><topic>vegetation</topic><topic>watersheds</topic><topic>weathering</topic><topic>West Africa</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Braun, Jean-Jacques</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Dupré, Bernard</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Viers, Jérôme</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Ndam Nagoupayou, Jules Rémy</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Bedimo Bedimo, Jean-Pierre</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Sigha-Nkamdjou, Luc</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Freydier, Rémi</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Robain, Henri</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Nyeck, Brunot</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Bodin, Jacques</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Oliva, Priscia</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Boeglin, Jean-Loup</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Stemmler, Sébastien</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Berthelin, Jacques</creatorcontrib><collection>Pascal-Francis</collection><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>Water Resources Abstracts</collection><collection>Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management</collection><collection>ASFA: Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts</collection><collection>Aquatic Science &amp; Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) 2: Ocean Technology, Policy &amp; Non-Living Resources</collection><collection>Aquatic Science &amp; Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) Professional</collection><jtitle>Bulletin de la Société géologique de France</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Braun, Jean-Jacques</au><au>Dupré, Bernard</au><au>Viers, Jérôme</au><au>Ndam Nagoupayou, Jules Rémy</au><au>Bedimo Bedimo, Jean-Pierre</au><au>Sigha-Nkamdjou, Luc</au><au>Freydier, Rémi</au><au>Robain, Henri</au><au>Nyeck, Brunot</au><au>Bodin, Jacques</au><au>Oliva, Priscia</au><au>Boeglin, Jean-Loup</au><au>Stemmler, Sébastien</au><au>Berthelin, Jacques</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Biogeohydrodynamic in the forested humid tropical environment; the case study of the Nsimi small experimental watershed (South Cameroon)</atitle><jtitle>Bulletin de la Société géologique de France</jtitle><date>2002-01-01</date><risdate>2002</risdate><volume>173</volume><issue>4</issue><spage>347</spage><epage>357</epage><pages>347-357</pages><issn>0037-9409</issn><eissn>1777-5817</eissn><coden>BSGFAE</coden><abstract>This paper summarizes a six-year study of the Nsimi Small Experimental Watershed (SEW), considered as a model for the South Cameroon humid tropical ecosystem. When this small watershed was set up, no similar survey of input/output hydrobiogeochemical fluxes in granitoid rocks in stable cratonic environment was available, to our knowledge, on any site close to the Equator. Moreover, this is the first attempt, world-wide, to combine different approaches in hydrology, (bio) geochemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, microbiology, geophysics and pedology. Research is based on (1) regular hydrobiogeochemical surveys in various water reservoirs of the SEW ecosystem (atmospheric deposits, groundwater and stream), (2) surveys related either to the organisation and composition of different reservoirs in the superficial layers (basement rocks, saprolite, soils) or to various hydrological, biological and geochemical processes. These surveys aim at (1) finding the main parameters involved in the chemical and physical erosion processes of the humid tropical ecosystem, (2) understanding the source of a particular chemical composition in groundwater and rivers, (3) documenting accurately the different exportation processes of chemical elements in water and soil (4) investigating the possible relation between the biodegradation of soil organic matter and the leaching of metals (especially iron) and (5) comparing the long and short term weathering rates using mass balance calculations. An other important objective of this study is to provide a new scientific and engineering database for the future development of South Cameroon, which is still nowadays a relatively preserved ecosystem. One of the major results is the essential role played by the biological cycle (vegetation and soil organic matter) in the fractionation, exportation or storage of the chemical elements in humid tropical environments. Moreover we are able to propose a model of the current erosion for this SEW from the database obtained on (1) the mineralogy of the basement rocks and the soil layers, (2) the geochemistry of the soluble and colloidal phases of waters and (3) the hydrology within the different reservoirs of the hydrosystem. This model has been confirmed and extended on a regional scale (Nyong river basin). It emphasized the behaviour of the main elements of the tropical soil layers (Fe, Al,Si), the nutrients (C, Ca, Mg, K, Sr) and specific tracers of the weathering processes either with strong mobility (Cl, Na) or on the contrary with an extremely low mobility (Zr, Th, REEs). On the SEW scale, a strong geochemical contrast occurs between the different groundwater zones flooding (1) the hill slope lateritic profiles, (2) the weathering front (interface between the saprolite and the basement rocks), and (3) the swampy zone in which the Mengong brook flows. High DOC contents (15 mg/L) but also high Fe, Th, Al, Zr contents characterize the swampy zone waters. Na and Si have mainly a deep origin (exfiltration), Al, Th, Zr and REEs are strongly linked with colloidal organic matter located in the upper horizons of the swamp. Fe has a much more complex behaviour due to its change of redox state which can be independent of organic matter complexation. Concerning the major base cations, their origin can be constrained by the biological cycle (storage or leaching). K is typically influenced by the biological cycle. During the floods, Cl annual budget is balanced. These characteristics can be understood as the consequence of the weathering the minerals present in the saprolite (kaolinite, goethite, goethite, zircon, Th-oxide). This chemical weathering allows the leaching of base cations and also Al and Fe. It has been demonstrated that the microbial populations of the swampy zone can play an important role in the mobilization of transition metals (e.g. Fe). This study point out the role of humic acids in the transport and the weathering budget of elements usually considered as immobile in the superficial cycle (e.g. Al, Th, Zr, Fe). It must be mentioned that worldwide the SEW and even the Nyong network waters are among the least concentrated river waters. It means that even if the organic matter plays an important role in the mobilization and transport of some elements in the swampy zone, its action is limited in term of major cation fluxes on the SEW scale. The reason invoked is that the cation fluxes are directly linked to the pedological history and the geomorphology of the watershed. The presence of thick soil layers composed of saprolite and latosol on the hillsides and of hydromorphic soils in the swampy zone with constant mineralogy lead to isolating the bedrock. The long residence time of water close to the weathering front plays a major role in preserving the parent rock from the hydro-chemical outputs. Moreover, the topsoil layers are stabilized by the vegetation cover, which limits mechanical erosion. This should be taken into account for the carbon mass balance calculation because of the wide areas on stable shields concerned by the humid tropical ecosystems. Moreover, comparison between long and short-term weathering allows us to suggest that paleo-climatic conditions did not change since the Miocene (6-20 Ma) in this part of the world.</abstract><cop>Paris</cop><pub>Société Géologique de France</pub><doi>10.2113/173.4.347</doi><tpages>11</tpages></addata></record>
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identifier ISSN: 0037-9409
ispartof Bulletin de la Société géologique de France, 2002-01, Vol.173 (4), p.347-357
issn 0037-9409
1777-5817
language eng
recordid cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_18917144
source Alma/SFX Local Collection
subjects Africa
biogenic processes
Cameroon
carbon
case studies
catchment hydrodynamics
chemical weathering
clastic rocks
dissolved organic carbon
drainage basins
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
experimental studies
field studies
forests
geochemistry
Geomorphology, landform evolution
ground water
humid environment
Hydrogeology
hydrology
laterites
Nsimi Cameroon
Nyong River basin
organic carbon
organic compounds
physical weathering
saprolite
sedimentary rocks
soils
solutes
southern Cameroon
surface water
Surficial geology
terrestrial environment
tropical environment
vegetation
watersheds
weathering
West Africa
title Biogeohydrodynamic in the forested humid tropical environment; the case study of the Nsimi small experimental watershed (South Cameroon)
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