T81 Hydrochemistry and Biogeochemistry of Tropical Mountainous Rivers & Estuaries

Sunday, 27 October 2013
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room 504

CARBON TRANSPORT IN RIVERS OF HAITI

Paper number: T81-2
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:05 PM – 1:25 PM

Authors

  • Wade McGillis Presenting Author
    Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY

Abstract

Since the earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, we have been measuring the hydrometeorology in the South of Haiti. This area is coated with small mountainous rivers. The area has also been susceptible to significant deforestation. It is of interest to determine the sources and types of carbon in the coastal oceans of the Caribbean. The extensive vegetation clearing and lack of management have mitigated the amount of carbon storage across Haiti.

With annual rainfall over 1.2 meters, the discharge from rivers varies drastically. We have detected everything from a near absence of flow to as much as 300 m2/s. In this talk we will explain the challenges of monitoring in Haiti. We will show seasonal variations in river discharge. We will quantify land use, and hydrometeorology, and carbon discharge. These findings indicate a significant burial at sea.

We will also comment on the variation of DIC and Cholera in these river watersheds.