Light-absorbing particles in atmospheric dust deposited on snow cover (dust-on-snow, DOS) diminish albedo and accelerate the timing and rate of snow melt. Identification of these particles and their effects are relevant to snow-radiation modeling and water-resource management. Laboratory-measured reflectance of DOS samples from the San Juan Mountains (USA) were compared with DOS mass loading, particle sizes, iron mineralogy, carbonaceous matter type and content, and chemical compositions. Samples were collected each spring for water years 2011-2016, when individual dust layers had merged into one (all layers merged) at the snow surface. Average reflectance values of the six samples were 0.2153 (sd, 0.0331) across the visible wavelength region (0.4-0.7 ?m) and 0.3570 (sd, 0.0498) over the full-measurement range (0.4-2.50 ?m). Reflectance values correlated inversely to concentrations of ferric oxide, organic carbon (1.4-10 wt. %), magnetite (0.05-0.13 wt. %), and silt (PM63-3.9; median grain sizes averaged 21.4 ?m) but lacked correspondence to total iron and PM10 contents. Measurements of reflectance and M?ssbauer spectra and magnetic properties indicated that microcrystalline hematite and nano-size goethite were primarily responsible for diminished visible reflectance. Positive correlations between organic carbon and metals attributed to fossil-fuel combustion, with observations from electron microscopy, indicated that some carbonaceous matter occurred as black carbon. Magnetite was a surrogate for related light-absorbing minerals, dark rock particles, and contaminants. Similar analyses of DOS from other areas would help evaluate the influences of varied dust sources, wind-storm patterns, and anthropogenic inputs on snow melt and water resources in and beyond the Colorado River basin.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2020 |
---|---|
Title | Data for Dust deposited on snow cover in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, 2011-2016: Compositional variability bearing on snow-melt effects |
DOI | 10.5066/P9RGQ9KX |
Authors | Harland L Goldstein, Jeff Derry, Corey R Lawrence, N. Breith George, Peat Solheid, Seth M Munson, Ray F. Kokaly, Bruce Moskowitz, Richard L Reynolds |
Product Type | Data Release |
Record Source | USGS Digital Object Identifier Catalog |
USGS Organization | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
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Harland Goldstein
Deputy Center Director
Corey Lawrence
Research Geologist
Richard L Reynolds
Scientist Emeritus
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Harland Goldstein
Deputy Center DirectorEmailPhoneCorey Lawrence
Research GeologistEmailPhoneRichard L Reynolds
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhone