Ion enrichment of snowmelt water by processes within a podzolic soil

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1992.00472425002100010015x· OSTI ID:5445929

Hazlett, P W; Foster, N W ^[1]; English, M C ^[2]

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1. Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Marie, Ontario (Canada)
2. Wilfrid Laurier Univ., Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)

Ion concentrations in snowmelt runoff, forest-floor percolate and mineral-soil percolate collected in a tolerant hardwood forest at the Turkey Lakes Watershed, ON, were determined during the spring snowmelt of 1986. The results were examined to assess the modification of snowmelt water after contact with the forest soil. Concentrations of NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} increased from 17 to 201 {mu}mol{sub c} L{sup {minus}1} and SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} increased from 25 to 107 {mu}mol{sub c} L{sup {minus}1} as meltwater passed through the organic layers and the upper mineral-soil horizons. Mineralization of organic N and S, and desorption of So{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} from the soil, provide sources of these ions for leaching during the snowmelt period. Ion-exchange reactions in the forest floor and upper mineral soil resulted in a decrease in H{sup +} and an increase in Ca{sup 2+} concentration is solution. In the steep topography of this forested basin, the altered snowmelt solutions are rapidly transported downslope towards the aquatic system by lateral flow. Processes within the forest soil may therefore play an important role in determining the effects of snowmelt water on surface water chemistry in the spring.

• OSTI ID: 5445929
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States) Vol. 21:1; ISSN JEVQA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACIDIFICATION
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CANADA
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISSOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FORESTS
IONS
LEACHING
MASS TRANSFER
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RUNOFF
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SNOW
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER QUALITY