Science Keywords>SOLID EARTH
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Rocky Mountain Snowpack Chemistry at Selected Sites, 1993-2010 Entry ID: USGS_CO53100 |
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Summary
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Abstract:
Rocky Mountain Regional Snowpack Chemistry Monitoring Study Area: High-elevation sites near the Continental Divide in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, 1993 to present Study Area: Continental Divide in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, and New Mexico Period of Project: 1993 to present Project Number: CO53100 Project Chief: George Ingersoll Cooperator: National Park Service; U.S.D.A. Forest Service; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Teton County, Wyoming BACKGROUND: Snowpacks collect atmospheric deposition throughout the snowfall season and offer a unique opportunity to obtain a composite sample of the chemistry of most (roughly November through April) of the annual precipitation at high elevations (> 1800 meters). This project was created to sample the full snowpack at selected sites to determine sources of acid deposition to sensitive mountain watersheds. Since 1993, the project has become the most expansive and comprehensive snowpack-chemical monitoring network of its kind. Beginning with sampling fewer than 20 sites in Colorado in 1993, the network has expanded to greater than 50 locations along the Continental Divide that have been sampled each year since 1993. In the process, techniques have been developed that use robust tracers to separate and quantify local and regional sources of atmospheric deposition of airborne pollutants. Through this program, long-term trends (>19 years, generally) are being developed in snowpack chemistry that enable estimation of normal or background levels, and identification of elevated chemical concentrations at a variety of locations where atmospheric deposition of acidic compounds is a concern. The project primarily monitors federally-managed lands in the Rocky Mountain region including several protected wilderness areas in National Forests and Parks. Applications of this regional snow-chemistry work include identifying regional trends in chemical concentration and deposition as well as monitoring subregional or local effects including power-plant emissions in Colorado or snowmobile usage in Yellowstone and other areas. OBJECTIVES: To develop methods to accurately represent seasonal snowpack chemistry of a variety of compounds in single, annual samples where repeated sampling is possible in subsequent years. To maintain year-to-year sampling of a core group of 50 sampling locations to develop long-term trends in atmospheric deposition throughout the region. To establish background concentrations of major ions, trace metals, and isotopes of nitrogen and sulfur in atmospheric deposition; identify areas of elevated concentrations relative to background levels. To identify probable sources of elevated atmospheric deposition to snowpacks, and identify trends in chemistry as emissions change from year-to-year. Distinguish local from regional sources. To support ongoing investigations of process-level studies of effects on sensitive ecosystems of elevated concentrations of acids and other chemicals in atmospheric deposition. To provide data for future management decisions regarding permitting new emissions sources or planning reduction of existing emissions. [Summary provided by the USGS.] |
Related URL
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Link:
GET DATA
Description: Data files and reports Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE Description: Rocky Mountain Regional Snowpack Chemistry Monitoring Project page Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION Description: Access the Rocky Mountain Snowpack Chemistry at Selected Sites, 2002 report. Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION Description: Rocky Mountain Snowpack Chemistry at Selected Sites, 2002 |
Geographic Coverage
| N: 51.0 | S: 32.0 | E: -106.0 | W: -124.0 |
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Data Set Citation
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Dataset Originator/Creator:
U.S. Geological Survey
Dataset Title: Rocky Mountain Regional Snowpack Chemistry Monitoring Study Area: High-elevation sites near the Continental Divide in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, 1993 to present Dataset Series Name: CO53100 Dataset Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Data Presentation Form: Online Files Online Resource: http://co.water.usgs.gov/projects/RM_snowpack/ |
Temporal Coverage
| Start Date: 1993-01-01 |
Location Keywords
Science Keywords
| ATMOSPHERE >PRECIPITATION >SNOW [Definition] |
| SOLID EARTH >GEOCHEMISTRY >GEOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES >ISOTOPES [Definition] |
| SOLID EARTH >ROCKS/MINERALS/CRYSTALS >ELEMENTS >MAJOR ELEMENTS [Definition] |
| SOLID EARTH >ROCKS/MINERALS/CRYSTALS >ELEMENTS >MINOR ELEMENTS [Definition] |
| SOLID EARTH >ROCKS/MINERALS/CRYSTALS >ELEMENTS >TRACE ELEMENTS [Definition] |
| CRYOSPHERE >SNOW/ICE >SNOW/ICE CHEMISTRY [Definition] |
ISO Topic Category
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CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE
GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION INLAND WATERS |
Platform
| FIELD INVESTIGATION [Information] |
Keywords
| OFR |
| Open File Report |
| Snow Chemistry |
| Snow Pack |
| Major Ions |
| Ammonium |
| Nitrate |
| Sulfate |
| Mercury |
| Sulfur |
| USGS_OFR_2004_1027 |
Data Set Progress
| IN WORK |
Originating Center
| USGS |
Data Center
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Publications-Western Region,Geological Division, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior
[Information]
Data Center URL: http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/
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Distribution
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Distribution_Media:
Online
Fees: No fees |
Personnel
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ASK USGS Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT Phone: 1-888-275-8747 Email: ask at usgs.gov Contact Address: U.S. Geological Survey 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive City: Reston Province or State: Virginia Postal Code: 20192 Country: USA |
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GEORGE
INGERSOLL Role: INVESTIGATOR Email: gpingers at usgs.gov Contact Address: USGS Colorado Water Science Center Denver Federal Center, MS-415 Building 53 City: Lakewood Province or State: CO Postal Code: 80225 Country: USA |
Creation and Review Dates
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SERF Creation Date:
2005-04-05
SERF Last Revision Date: 2012-08-31 |
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