Solute chemistry of snowmelt and runoff in an alpine basin, Sierra Nevada

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Water Resources Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90WR02774· OSTI ID:5745708

Williams, M W; Melack, J M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara (United States)

Snowpack runoff contributions to the hydrochemistry of an alpine catchment in the Sierra Nevada were evaluated n 1986 and 1987 by analyzing snowpack, meltwater, and stream water samples for major inorganic ions, conductance, acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), and silicate. Maximum concentrations of ions in meltwater were inversely related to the rate of snowmelt. Hydrogen concentration in meltwater was buffered by ANC produced in part by the dissolution of particulates. The anionic pulse in meltwater was observed in stream waters during the first 30 days of snowpack runoff, with NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} concentrations in stream waters at this time about 1.6-fold greater than the average NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} concentration for the time period of snowpack runoff, Cl{sup {minus}} about 1.5-fold greater and SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} about 1.3-fold greater. Maximum H{sup +} concentration during snowpack runoff (increase of 170% over winter concentrations) occurred near maximum discharge. ANC minima occurred at maximum discharge as a result of dilution, with a decrease from winter concentrations of 70% in 1986 and 60% in 1987. Eighty to ninety percent of the H{sup +} stored in the snowpack was consumed before it reached the base of the catchment. Soils were a sink for NH{sub 4}{sup +} from snowpack was consumed before it reached the base of the catchment. Soils were a sink for NH{sub 4}{sup +} from snowpack meltwater, with less than 1% of the NH{sub 4}{sup +}{sub 4} released from snowpack storage exported from the basin as NH{sub 4}{sup +}. Sulfate concentrations in stream waters were less variable than NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} or Cl{sup {minus}} concentrations.

• OSTI ID: 5745708
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (United States) Vol. 27:7; ISSN 0043-1397; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ANIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CALIFORNIA
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN IONS
HYDROGEN IONS 1 PLUS
IONIC COMPOSITION
IONS
MASS TRANSFER
MOUNTAINS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RUNOFF
SNOW
SOILS
STREAMS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER CHEMISTRY