Vital Sign - Wet & Dry Deposition - Snow Chemistry
ROMO Snow Sampling
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.
Preliminary Monitoring Objectives
- Determine annual status and trend in snow chemistry in snowpack (major ions with emphasis on nitrate, sulfate and ammonium).
- 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.
Potential Measures
- Snow Water Equivalent
- Major ion concentrations in samples (emphasis on nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium)
- Total loading of nutrients in snowpack
Protocol Development and Status
Protocol development began in 2006 through an Interagency Agreement with George Ingersoll and others at USGS Water Resource Division Alpine Hydrology Group. The draft protocol was completed in 2007. For the ROMN, snow chemistry monitoring will consist of working with the USGS Rocky Mountain Snow Chemistry Network continue sampling in GRSA, ROMO, and GLAC and to report, understand and interpret the results relative to ROMN parks. A link to the complete protocol appears below.
ROMO Snow Sampling Pit
Contact Information
Mike Britten
Rocky Mountain Network
Program Manager
Natural Resources Program Center
1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 200
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: (970)267-2150
George P. Ingersoll
Snow Hydrologist, USGS
US Geological Survey, Water Resources Division
MS 415, Federal. Ctr.
Denver, CO. 80225
Phone:(303)236-4882 x292