Spatio-temporal hydrochemistry of two selected Ramsar sites (Rara and Ghodaghodi) of west Nepal
Rita Bhatta,
Smriti Gurung,
Rajendra Joshi,
Shrija Tuladhar,
Dikshya Regmi,
Babi Kumar Kafle,
Bed Mani Dahal,
Nani Raut,
Kumud Raj Kafle,
Rabindra Kayastha,
Archana Prasad,
Lekhendra Tripathee,
Rukumesh Paudyal,
Junming Guo,
Shichang Kang,
Chhatra Mani Sharma
Affiliations
Rita Bhatta
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Smriti Gurung
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Rajendra Joshi
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Shrija Tuladhar
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Dikshya Regmi
Central Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Babi Kumar Kafle
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Bed Mani Dahal
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Nani Raut
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Kumud Raj Kafle
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Rabindra Kayastha
Department of Mathematics, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Archana Prasad
Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Lekhendra Tripathee
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Rukumesh Paudyal
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Junming Guo
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Shichang Kang
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Chhatra Mani Sharma
Central Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal; Corresponding author.
The present study was conducted in two Ramsar sites, Lake Rara and Lake Ghodaghodi, of the western Nepal covering pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2019 to find out the dynamics of the hydrochemistry. A total of 11 major ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, F−, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, NO2−, HCO3−) along with six on-site parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity) were sampled in replicates from 18 sites in Lake Rara and 13 sites in Lake Ghodaghodi. Major ions were analyzed using ion chromatography including field and procedural blanks to maintain quality standards, whereas on-site parameters were measured by using standard multi-meter probes. The most dominant cation and anions were Ca2+ and HCO3− in both lakes indicating rock dominance through carbonate weathering as the primary source of dissolved ions in the lake waters. Further analysis indicated that Rara belongs to Ca(Mg)HCO3 and Ghodaghodi belongs to Ca–HCO3 type. The higher concentrations of Na+ and Cl− during the post-monsoon indicates a possibility of long-range marine transport through monsoon precipitation.
