Snow Chemistry

Snow chemistry monitoring in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Importance/Issues

Snowfall accumulates from October until March, April, or May and provides about 50 to 70 percent of the annual precipitation in headwater basins of the Rocky Mountains. As these snowpacks accumulate during the winter and spring, chemicals deposited from the atmosphere are stored until snowmelt begins in spring. Because snowmelt supplies most of the freshwater in mountain lakes, streams, and wetlands, monitoring the water quality of snow is important to understanding the effects of atmospheric deposition to these systems.

Monitoring Objectives

• Determine annual status and trend in snow chemistry in snowpack (major ions)
• Analyze winter snowpack for water content ("Snow Water Equivalent" or SWE) and total chemical loading
• Based on snowpack chemistry estimates, update network atmospheric deposition models

Measures

• Snow Water Equivalent
• Major ion concentrations in samples (emphasis on nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium)
• Total loading of nutrients in snowpack

Protocol Status

In cooperation with George Ingersoll and others at USGS Water Resource Division Alpine Hydrology Group, the Rocky Mountain Network Snowpack Chemistry Monitoring Protocol was developed and published in 2009. For the Rocky Mountain Network, snow chemistry monitoring consists of working with the USGS Rocky Mountain Snow Chemistry Network to continue sampling in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Glacier National Park and to report, understand and interpret the results relative to Rocky Mountain Network parks.

Parks This Protocol is Monitored At

• Glacier National Park
• Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
• Rocky Mountain National Park

Vital Signs This Protocol Monitors

• Weather and Climate
• Wet and Dry Deposition

Reports & Publications

Data, reports, maps, photographs and more information about the Rocky Mountain Network Snowpack Chemistry Monitoring can be found at: http://co.water.usgs.gov/projects/RM_snowpack/

Briefs

Source: Data Store Saved Search 3648. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Monitoring Protocol

Source: Data Store Saved Search 1823. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.