Change in surface water chemistry during snowmelt in a watershed draining into Lake Superior
Stottlemyer R and Toczydlowski D. 1992. Change in surface water chemistry during snowmelt in a watershed draining into Lake Superior. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 73(2):358
From 1982 to the present, snowmelt and surface and soil water chemistry were measured in a small (153 ha) gauged watershed vegetated by northern hardwoods. Most streamwater ion "pulses" occurred during midwinter thaws with little or no measurable change in streamwater discharge. Ions with high soil solution concentrations relative to precipitation/snowmelt, CB and HC03-, often showed little decline in streamwater concentration during snowmelt indicating elevated soil solution contributions. The maximum streamwater ANC reduction occurred late in the snowmelt period, and >85% of it was due to dilution by meltwater which had already lost most of its solute concentration. During peak snowmelt, overland flow, which was <10% of winter streamwater discharge, was the rule, and total N, P, Al and DOC concentrations in streamwater were highest.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Stottlemyer, Robert; Toczydlowski, David
- Units
- ISRO
- Keywords
- Aquatic Sciences, Chemistry, Physical Sciences, Rivers & Streams, Runoff, Snow, Water Quality