Multiyear trends in snowpack ion accumulation and loss, northern Michigan

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Water Resources Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/WR026i004p00721· OSTI ID:5967363

Stottleymer, R; Rutkowski, D ^[1]

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1. Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton (United States)

From December 1982 to May 1987 the quality and quantity of snowfall and snowpack were measured at four stations in a small (176 ha) gauged watershed adjacent to Lake Superior's south shore. Annual precipitation was less than and winter precipitation greater than observed east and south of the Lake Superior basin. Snowfall averaged 37% of annual precipitation but was quite variable. Snowfall significantly increased (from 21.1 to 35.7 cm, P < 0.001) with 150 m increase in elevation. Hydrogen and SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} were the dominant ions in precipitation and snowpack while Ca{sup 2+} and HCO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} dominated stream water. No significant time trends in winter precipitation chemistry were found. Snowpack ionic retention rarely matched precipitation input. Generally, midwinter freeze-thaw periods resulted in elevated concentrations of solutes in snow meltwater and greatly reduced snowpack ion loads prior to peak stream water discharge. All ions exhibited pulses in snowmelt each year. Preferential elution from the snowpack of SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} and K{sup +} was observed. Stream water H{sup +}, NH{sub 4}{sup +} and most NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} pulses were associated with midwinter thaws. Stream water SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} pulses were rare. For those years exhibiting the most pronounced spring increase in stream H{sup +}, NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} and SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} concentration, the magnitude and rate of concentration change was as great in a year of small peak snowpack ion load as it was following a more rapid ion loss from a larger snowpack load. This suggests that the pattern of snowpack melt and especially the pathway the meltwater follows to the stream may be important factors in determining whether stream water chemical pulses occur.

• OSTI ID: 5967363
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (United States) Vol. 26:4; ISSN 0043-1397; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
ACID CARBONATES
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CALCIUM IONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION V
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROGEN IONS
IONS
MASS TRANSFER
MICHIGAN
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING
RUNOFF
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SNOW
STREAMS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATERSHEDS