Impact of Limestone Quarrying on Runoff and Stream Transit Times in a Tropical Watershed: A paired catchment study

Impact of Limestone Quarrying on Runoff and Stream Transit Times in a Tropical Watershed: A paired catchment study | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 24 January 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Impact of Limestone Quarrying on Runoff and Stream Transit Times in a Tropical Watershed: A paired catchment study Authors : Nicola Mathura and Kegan K. Farrick [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176924370.04201970/v1 285 views 101 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Limestone quarrying is a major economic activity across the globe. While the air quality and sediment transport implications of limestone quarries are well described, the effects on streamflow and runoff processes remain poorly understood. Using a paired catchment approach (natural and quarried watersheds), we measured rainfall characteristics and the hydrograph response to examine the changes in runoff generation, while a geochemical approach using stable water isotope and ions were used to estimate the stream transit time and source water contributions. The runoff response of the quarried watershed was substantially different from the natural watershed. The mean R/P (0.13) and peak discharge rates in the quarried watershed were two – three times higher than the natural watershed, while the response lag (26.3 min) and lag to peak (179.4 min) in the quarried watershed was significantly shorter than the natural watershed. The mean transit time (MTT) in the quarried watershed was 0.46 years and was substantially shorter than the MTT of 3.04 years in the natural watershed. The young water fraction in the quarry was 20% and was greater than the 5.2% observed in the natural watershed. These observations suggest that limestone quarry development resulted in changes to runoff and streamflow processes. The data suggests that limestone quarrying led to the higher contributions from surface or shallow subsurface flow paths during storm events while also reducing the overall catchment storage and contributions to streamflow from groundwater/deep subsurface sources. While the study sheds important light on limestone quarry impact on hydrological processes, a more detailed and long term investigation is needed where the use of other geochemical tracers and identification of more endmembers will provide more information on the processes. Supplementary Material File (mathura and farrick 2025 - with figures.docx) Download 3.70 MB File (table 1 catchment characteristics.docx) Download 16.55 KB File (table 2 runoff response.docx) Download 25.66 KB File (table 3 hydrograph response.docx) Download 25.83 KB File (table 4 ion source.docx) Download 16.43 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 24 January 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords land-use change source water contribution storm flow generation stream flow generation tracers tropics Authors Affiliations Nicola Mathura The University of the West Indies at St Augustine View all articles by this author Kegan K. Farrick [email protected] The University of the West Indies at St Augustine View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 285 views 101 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Nicola Mathura, Kegan K. Farrick. Impact of Limestone Quarrying on Runoff and Stream Transit Times in a Tropical Watershed: A paired catchment study. Authorea . 24 January 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176924370.04201970/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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