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Rocky Mountain Regional Snowpack Chemistry Monitoring Study

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By Colorado Water Science Center November 5, 2021

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:

Map of Rocky Mountain region showing select sample snow chemistry sites, SNOTEL sites
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Map of Rocky Mountain region showing sampled snow chemistry sites, SNOTEL sites.Click to use interactive snowpack chemistry site map.

Monitoring Sites:

Snowpack Chemistry Data Collected:

 

 

 

 

 

Publications associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 34

Runoff sensitivity to snow depletion curve representation within a continental scale hydrologic model

The spatial variability of snow water equivalent (SWE) can exert a strong influence on the timing and magnitude of snowmelt delivery to a watershed. Therefore, the representation of subgrid or subwatershed snow variability in hydrologic models is important for accurately simulating snowmelt dynamics and runoff response. The U.S. Geological Survey National Hydrologic Model infrastructure with the P
Authors
Graham A. Sexstone, Jessica M. Driscoll, Lauren Hay, John C. Hammond, Theodore B. Barnhart
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Linking transit times to catchment sensitivity to atmospheric deposition of acidity and nitrogen in mountains of the western United States

Transit times are hypothesized to influence catchment sensitivity to atmospheric deposition of acidity and nitrogen (N) because they help determine the amount of time available for infiltrating precipitation to interact with catchment soil and biota. Transit time metrics, including fraction of young water (Fyw) and mean transit time (MTT), were calculated for 11 headwater catchments in mountains o
Authors
David W. Clow, M. Alisa Mast, James O. Sickman
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Colorado Water Science Center

Increasing aeolian dust deposition to snowpacks in the Rocky Mountains inferred from snowpack, wet deposition, and aerosol chemistry

Mountain snowpacks are a vital natural resource for ∼1.5 billion people in the northern Hemisphere, helping to meet human and ecological demand for water in excess of that provided by summer rain. Springtime warming and aeolian dust deposition accelerate snowmelt, increasing the risk of water shortages during late summer, when demand is greatest. While climate networks provide data that can be use
Authors
David W. Clow, Mark W. Williams, Paul F. Schuster
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Colorado Water Science Center

Climate-change signals in national atmospheric deposition program precipitation data

National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)/National Trends Network precipitation type, snow-season duration, and annual timing of selected chemical wet-deposition maxima vary with latitude and longitude within a 35-year (1979–2013) data record for the contiguous United States and Alaska. From the NADP data collected within the region bounded by 35.6645°–48.782° north latitude and 124°–68° west
Authors
Gregory A. Wetherbee, M. Alisa Mast
By
Colorado Water Science Center

Changing regional emissions of airborne pollutants reflected in the chemistry of snowpacks and wetfall in the Rocky Mountain region, USA, 1993–2012

Wintertime precipitation sample data from 55 Snowpack sites and 17 National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)/National Trends Network Wetfall sites in the Rocky Mountain region were examined to identify long-term trends in chemical concentration, deposition, and precipitation using Regional and Seasonal Kendall tests. The Natural Resources Conservation Service snow-telemetry (SNOTEL) network p
Authors
George P. Ingersoll, Debra C. Miller, Kristi H. Morris, Jill A. McMurray, Garrett M. Port, Brian Caruso
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Isotopes in North American Rocky Mountain snowpack 1993–2014

We present ∼1300 new isotopic measurements (δ18O and δ2H) from a network of snowpack sites in the Rocky Mountains that have been sampled since 1993. The network includes 177 locations where depth-integrated snow samples are collected each spring near peak accumulation. At 57 of these locations snowpack samples were obtained for 10–21 years and their isotopic measurements provide unprecedented spat
Authors
Lesleigh Anderson, Max Berkelhammer, M. Alisa Mast
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Colorado Water Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Spatial patterns of atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur using ion-exchange resin collectors in Rocky Mountain National Park, USA

Lakes and streams in Class 1 wilderness areas in the western United States (U.S.) are at risk from atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S), and protection of these resources is mandated under the Federal Clean Air Act and amendments. Assessment of critical loads, which are the maximum exposure to pollution an area can receive without adverse effects on sensitive ecosystems, requires
Authors
David W. Clow, Heidi Roop, Leora Nanus, Mark Fenn, Graham A. Sexstone
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Mapping critical loads of nitrogen deposition for aquatic ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains, USA

Spatially explicit estimates of critical loads of nitrogen (N) deposition (CLNdep) for nutrient enrichment in aquatic ecosystems were developed for the Rocky Mountains, USA, using a geostatistical approach. The lowest CLNdep estimates (3 kg N ha−1 yr−1), resulting in CLNdep exceedances ≥1.5 ± 1 kg N ha−1 yr−1. CLNdep and CLNdep exceedances exhibit substantial spatial variability related to basin c
Authors
Leora Nanus, David W. Clow, Jasmine E. Saros, Verlin C. Stephens, Donald H. Campbell
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Rocky Mountain snowpack physical and chemical data for selected sites, 2010

The Rocky Mountain Snowpack program established a network of snowpack-sampling sites in the Rocky Mountain region, from New Mexico to Montana, to monitor the chemical content of snow and to understand the effects of regional atmospheric deposition on freshwater systems. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service; the U.S. Department of Agriculture For
Authors
George P. Ingersoll, M. Alisa Mast, James M. Swank, Chelsea D. Campbell
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Rocky Mountain snowpack physical and chemical data for selected sites, 2009

The Rocky Mountain Snowpack program established a network of snowpack-sampling sites in the Rocky Mountain region from New Mexico to Montana to monitor the chemical content of snow and to understand the effects of regional atmospheric deposition. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service; the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service; the Colorado Department of
Authors
George P. Ingersoll, M. Alisa Mast, James M. Swank, Chelsea D. Campbell
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Rocky Mountain Snowpack Physical and Chemical Data for Selected Sites, 1993-2008

The Rocky Mountain Snowpack program established a network of snowpack-sampling sites in the Rocky Mountain region from New Mexico to Montana to monitor the chemical content of snow to help in the understanding of the effects of atmospheric deposition to this region. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, the USDA Forest Service, Teton County in Wyoming, Rio Blan
Authors
George P. Ingersoll, M. Alisa Mast, Donald H. Campbell, David W. Clow, Leora Nanus, John T. Turk
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Trends in snowpack chemistry and comparison to National Atmospheric Deposition Program results for the Rocky Mountains, US, 1993-2004

Seasonal snowpack chemistry data from the Rocky Mountain region of the US was examined to identify long-term trends in concentration and chemical deposition in snow and in snow-water equivalent. For the period 1993-2004, comparisons of trends were made between 54 Rocky Mountain Snowpack sites and 16 National Atmospheric Deposition Program wetfall sites located nearby in the region. The region was
Authors
G.P. Ingersoll, M.A. Mast, K. Campbell, D. W. Clow, L. Nanus, J.T. Turk
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

National Park Service (NPS)

Teton Conservation District

U.S. Forest Service (USFS)

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:

Map of Rocky Mountain region showing select sample snow chemistry sites, SNOTEL sites
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Map of Rocky Mountain region showing sampled snow chemistry sites, SNOTEL sites.Click to use interactive snowpack chemistry site map.

Monitoring Sites:

Snowpack Chemistry Data Collected:

 

 

 

 

 

Publications associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 34

Runoff sensitivity to snow depletion curve representation within a continental scale hydrologic model

The spatial variability of snow water equivalent (SWE) can exert a strong influence on the timing and magnitude of snowmelt delivery to a watershed. Therefore, the representation of subgrid or subwatershed snow variability in hydrologic models is important for accurately simulating snowmelt dynamics and runoff response. The U.S. Geological Survey National Hydrologic Model infrastructure with the P
Authors
Graham A. Sexstone, Jessica M. Driscoll, Lauren Hay, John C. Hammond, Theodore B. Barnhart
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Linking transit times to catchment sensitivity to atmospheric deposition of acidity and nitrogen in mountains of the western United States

Transit times are hypothesized to influence catchment sensitivity to atmospheric deposition of acidity and nitrogen (N) because they help determine the amount of time available for infiltrating precipitation to interact with catchment soil and biota. Transit time metrics, including fraction of young water (Fyw) and mean transit time (MTT), were calculated for 11 headwater catchments in mountains o
Authors
David W. Clow, M. Alisa Mast, James O. Sickman
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Colorado Water Science Center

Increasing aeolian dust deposition to snowpacks in the Rocky Mountains inferred from snowpack, wet deposition, and aerosol chemistry

Mountain snowpacks are a vital natural resource for ∼1.5 billion people in the northern Hemisphere, helping to meet human and ecological demand for water in excess of that provided by summer rain. Springtime warming and aeolian dust deposition accelerate snowmelt, increasing the risk of water shortages during late summer, when demand is greatest. While climate networks provide data that can be use
Authors
David W. Clow, Mark W. Williams, Paul F. Schuster
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Colorado Water Science Center

Climate-change signals in national atmospheric deposition program precipitation data

National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)/National Trends Network precipitation type, snow-season duration, and annual timing of selected chemical wet-deposition maxima vary with latitude and longitude within a 35-year (1979–2013) data record for the contiguous United States and Alaska. From the NADP data collected within the region bounded by 35.6645°–48.782° north latitude and 124°–68° west
Authors
Gregory A. Wetherbee, M. Alisa Mast
By
Colorado Water Science Center

Changing regional emissions of airborne pollutants reflected in the chemistry of snowpacks and wetfall in the Rocky Mountain region, USA, 1993–2012

Wintertime precipitation sample data from 55 Snowpack sites and 17 National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)/National Trends Network Wetfall sites in the Rocky Mountain region were examined to identify long-term trends in chemical concentration, deposition, and precipitation using Regional and Seasonal Kendall tests. The Natural Resources Conservation Service snow-telemetry (SNOTEL) network p
Authors
George P. Ingersoll, Debra C. Miller, Kristi H. Morris, Jill A. McMurray, Garrett M. Port, Brian Caruso
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Isotopes in North American Rocky Mountain snowpack 1993–2014

We present ∼1300 new isotopic measurements (δ18O and δ2H) from a network of snowpack sites in the Rocky Mountains that have been sampled since 1993. The network includes 177 locations where depth-integrated snow samples are collected each spring near peak accumulation. At 57 of these locations snowpack samples were obtained for 10–21 years and their isotopic measurements provide unprecedented spat
Authors
Lesleigh Anderson, Max Berkelhammer, M. Alisa Mast
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Colorado Water Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Spatial patterns of atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur using ion-exchange resin collectors in Rocky Mountain National Park, USA

Lakes and streams in Class 1 wilderness areas in the western United States (U.S.) are at risk from atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S), and protection of these resources is mandated under the Federal Clean Air Act and amendments. Assessment of critical loads, which are the maximum exposure to pollution an area can receive without adverse effects on sensitive ecosystems, requires
Authors
David W. Clow, Heidi Roop, Leora Nanus, Mark Fenn, Graham A. Sexstone
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Mapping critical loads of nitrogen deposition for aquatic ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains, USA

Spatially explicit estimates of critical loads of nitrogen (N) deposition (CLNdep) for nutrient enrichment in aquatic ecosystems were developed for the Rocky Mountains, USA, using a geostatistical approach. The lowest CLNdep estimates (3 kg N ha−1 yr−1), resulting in CLNdep exceedances ≥1.5 ± 1 kg N ha−1 yr−1. CLNdep and CLNdep exceedances exhibit substantial spatial variability related to basin c
Authors
Leora Nanus, David W. Clow, Jasmine E. Saros, Verlin C. Stephens, Donald H. Campbell
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Rocky Mountain snowpack physical and chemical data for selected sites, 2010

The Rocky Mountain Snowpack program established a network of snowpack-sampling sites in the Rocky Mountain region, from New Mexico to Montana, to monitor the chemical content of snow and to understand the effects of regional atmospheric deposition on freshwater systems. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service; the U.S. Department of Agriculture For
Authors
George P. Ingersoll, M. Alisa Mast, James M. Swank, Chelsea D. Campbell
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Rocky Mountain snowpack physical and chemical data for selected sites, 2009

The Rocky Mountain Snowpack program established a network of snowpack-sampling sites in the Rocky Mountain region from New Mexico to Montana to monitor the chemical content of snow and to understand the effects of regional atmospheric deposition. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service; the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service; the Colorado Department of
Authors
George P. Ingersoll, M. Alisa Mast, James M. Swank, Chelsea D. Campbell
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Rocky Mountain Snowpack Physical and Chemical Data for Selected Sites, 1993-2008

The Rocky Mountain Snowpack program established a network of snowpack-sampling sites in the Rocky Mountain region from New Mexico to Montana to monitor the chemical content of snow to help in the understanding of the effects of atmospheric deposition to this region. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, the USDA Forest Service, Teton County in Wyoming, Rio Blan
Authors
George P. Ingersoll, M. Alisa Mast, Donald H. Campbell, David W. Clow, Leora Nanus, John T. Turk
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Trends in snowpack chemistry and comparison to National Atmospheric Deposition Program results for the Rocky Mountains, US, 1993-2004

Seasonal snowpack chemistry data from the Rocky Mountain region of the US was examined to identify long-term trends in concentration and chemical deposition in snow and in snow-water equivalent. For the period 1993-2004, comparisons of trends were made between 54 Rocky Mountain Snowpack sites and 16 National Atmospheric Deposition Program wetfall sites located nearby in the region. The region was
Authors
G.P. Ingersoll, M.A. Mast, K. Campbell, D. W. Clow, L. Nanus, J.T. Turk
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

National Park Service (NPS)

Teton Conservation District

U.S. Forest Service (USFS)

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