Extent of snowpack influence on water chemistry in a North Cascades lake

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Water Resour. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/WR024i005p00723· OSTI ID:7040883

Loranger, T J; Brakke, D F

Integrated snowpack samples and lake water samples were collected from a low-alkalinity watershed in the North Cascades in 1984 and 1985 and analyzed for inorganic chemical parameters. Mean concentrations of NO/sub 3//sup -/ and SO/sub 4//sup -2/ from North Cascades snowpack were near 4.5 and 5.5 ..mu..eq L/sup -1/, respectively. Mean pH was 5.2-5.3. During melting, anion levels in the snowpack decreased and pH increased. By July, mean NO/sub 3//sup -/ and SO/sub 4//sup -2/ concentrations were 0.32 and 1.73 ..mu..eq L/sup -1/, respectively, and mean pH was 5.48. Acid neutralizing capacity at the lake outlet during snow melt was diluted to 50% of April premelt values. During snow melt runoff there was no apparent neutralization of bicarbonate by strong acids. By comparing lake water NO/sub 3//sup -/ concentrations to snowpack concentrations, over 75% of the NO/sub 3//sup -/ in the lake could be attributed to a snowpack source. An estimated 30% of the SO/sub 4//sup -2/ in the lake was derived from the snowpack.

• Research Organization: Western Washington Univ., Bellingham (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7040883
• Journal Information: Water Resour. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resour. Res.; (United States) Vol. 24:5; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ANIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEDERAL REGION X
IONS
LAKES
MONITORING
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SNOW
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS
WASHINGTON
WATER CHEMISTRY