Rocky Mountain Regional Snowpack Chemistry Monitoring Study Active
Snowpacks collect atmospheric deposition throughout the snowfall season and offer a unique opportunity to obtain a composite sample of the chemistry of most of the annual precipitation at high elevations [> 1,800 meters]. The purpose of the snowpack network is to determine annual concentrations and depositional amounts of selected nutrients and other constituents in snow resulting from atmospheric deposition, determine long-term trends in these concentrations, and to support investigations of the effects of atmospheric deposition on local and regional ecological systems. Since 1993, the project has become the most expansive and comprehensive snowpack-chemical monitoring network of its kind.
Review data collected since 1993:
Monitoring Sites:
- Interactive Snowpack Chemistry Map
- Monitoring sites and links to collected data by region and state
- List of monitoring sites
Snowpack Chemistry Data Collected:
Publications associated with this project.
Major-ion chemistry of the Rocky Mountain snowpack, USA
Comparison of precipitation chemistry in the Central Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA
Snowpack chemistry at selected sites in Colorado and New Mexico during winter 1999-2000
Timescales for migration of atmospherically derived sulphate through an alpine/subalpine watershed, Loch Vale, Colorado
Effects of snowmobile use on snowpack chemistry in Yellowstone National Park, 1998
Snowpack chemistry at selected sites in northwestern Colorado during spring 1995
Maximum-accumulation snowpack chemistry at selected sites in northwestern Colorado during spring 1994
Processes controlling the chemistry of two snowmelt‐dominated streams in the Rocky Mountains
Particulate carbonate matter in snow from selected sites in the south-central Rocky Mountains
Initial findings of synoptic snowpack sampling in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Snowpacks collect atmospheric deposition throughout the snowfall season and offer a unique opportunity to obtain a composite sample of the chemistry of most of the annual precipitation at high elevations [> 1,800 meters]. The purpose of the snowpack network is to determine annual concentrations and depositional amounts of selected nutrients and other constituents in snow resulting from atmospheric deposition, determine long-term trends in these concentrations, and to support investigations of the effects of atmospheric deposition on local and regional ecological systems. Since 1993, the project has become the most expansive and comprehensive snowpack-chemical monitoring network of its kind.
Review data collected since 1993:
Monitoring Sites:
- Interactive Snowpack Chemistry Map
- Monitoring sites and links to collected data by region and state
- List of monitoring sites
Snowpack Chemistry Data Collected:
- Data
- Publications
Publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 34Major-ion chemistry of the Rocky Mountain snowpack, USA
During 1993-97, samples of the full depth of the Rocky Mountain snowpack were collected at 52 sites from northern New Mexico to Montana and analyzed for major-ion concentrations. Concentrations of acidity, sulfate, nitrate, and calcium increased from north to south along the mountain range. In the northern part of the study area, acidity was most correlated (negatively) with calcium. Acidity was sAuthorsJ.T. Turk, Howard E. Taylor, G.P. Ingersoll, K.A. Tonnessen, D. W. Clow, M.A. Mast, K. Campbell, J.M. MelackComparison of precipitation chemistry in the Central Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA
Volume-weighted mean concentrations of nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), and sulfate (SO42-) in precipitation were compared at high-elevation sites in Colorado from 1992 to 1997 to evaluate emission source areas to the east and west of the Rocky Mountains. Precipitation chemistry was measured by two sampling methods, the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) andAuthorsK. Heuer, K.A. Tonnessen, G.P. IngersollSnowpack chemistry at selected sites in Colorado and New Mexico during winter 1999-2000
Snowpacks at two high-elevation (> 3,000 m) sampling sites near McPhee and Sanchez Reservoirs in southern Colorado were selected to collect representative samples of atmospheric deposition to the surrounding watersheds during winter 1999-2000. In February 2000, annual snowpacks at two sites were sampled to determine concentrations of nitrate and sulfate; concentrations of the trace elements arseniAuthorsGeorge P. IngersollTimescales for migration of atmospherically derived sulphate through an alpine/subalpine watershed, Loch Vale, Colorado
Sulphur 35, a cosmogenically produced radioisotope with a short half‐life (87 days), was measured in snowpack during 1993–1997 and at four locations within the Loch Vale watershed during 1995–1997. The four sites include the two main drainages in the watershed, Andrews Creek and Icy Brook, a small south facing catchment flowing into Andrews Creek (Andrews Spring 1), and a similar north facing catcAuthorsRobert L. Michel, Donald H. Campbell, David W. Clow, John T. TurkEffects of snowmobile use on snowpack chemistry in Yellowstone National Park, 1998
Snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park has increased substantially in the past three decades. In areas of greatest snowmobile use, elevated levels of by-products of gasoline combustion such as ammonium and benzene have been detected in snowpack samples. Annual snowpacks and snow-covered roadways trap deposition from local and regional atmospheric emissions. Snowpack samples representing moAuthorsGeorge P. IngersollSnowpack chemistry at selected sites in northwestern Colorado during spring 1995
Samples of the alpine and subalpine snowpack were collected in and near the headwater basins of the Yampa River in northwestern Colorado during maximum annual accumulation of snowpack in spring 1995. Sampling protocol at seven selected sites at more than 2,500 meters above sea level divided the snowpack into two distinct strata to enable separate chemical analyses of upper and lower layers of theAuthorsG.P. IngersollMaximum-accumulation snowpack chemistry at selected sites in northwestern Colorado during spring 1994
No abstract available.AuthorsGeorge P. IngersollProcesses controlling the chemistry of two snowmelt‐dominated streams in the Rocky Mountains
Time‐intensive discharge and chemical data for two alpine streams in the Loch Vale watershed, Colorado, were used to identify sources of runoff, flow paths, and important biogeochemical processes during the 1992 snowmelt runoff season. In spite of the paucity of soil cover the chemical composition of the streams is regulated much as in typical forested watersheds. Soils and other shallow groundwatAuthorsDonald H. Campbell, David W. Clow, George P. Ingersoll, Alisa Mast, Norman E. Spahr, John T. TurkParticulate carbonate matter in snow from selected sites in the south-central Rocky Mountains
Trends in snow acidity reflect the balance between strong acid inputs and reactions with neutralizing materials. Carbonate dust can be an important contributor of buffering capacity to snow however, its concentration in snow is difficult to quantify because it dissolves rapidly in snowmelt. In snow with neutral or acidic pH, most calcite would dissolve during sample melting if snow samples were prAuthorsDavid W. Clow, George P. IngersollInitial findings of synoptic snowpack sampling in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
No abstract available.AuthorsJ.T. Turk, K. Campbell, G.P. Ingersoll, D.A. Clow - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.