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Processes regulating the solute concentrations of snowmelt runoff in two subalpine catchments of the Sierra Nevada, California
Author(s) -
Williams Michael R.,
Leydecker Al,
Brown Aaron D.,
Melack John M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2000wr900361
Subject(s) - snowmelt , surface runoff , weathering , bedrock , hydrology (agriculture) , plagioclase , geology , meltwater , geochemistry , calcite , deposition (geology) , environmental science , snow , environmental chemistry , geomorphology , chemistry , sediment , ecology , geotechnical engineering , biology , paleontology , quartz
Geochemical processes regulating solute concentrations in snowmelt runoff were investigated for the snowmelt periods of 1992 and 1993 in two subalpine catchments in Sequoia National Park, California. The catchments, 0.5 and 0.2 ha, have 10 and 25% soil coverage, respectively; the remaining area is exposed granodiorite bedrock. Mineral weathering was the major source of solutes in runoff. Calcium export in excess of stoichiometric plagioclase weathering was attributed to dry deposition and the weathering of mafic minerals and disseminated calcite. Cation exchange was important in the regulation of K and increased base cation export in response to rain‐on‐snow events and LiBr tracer. Sulfate fluxes were attributed to snowpack elution and SO 4 desorption after the beginning of melt. The selective retention of Li during tracer experiments suggests that acid‐neutralizing capacity is linked to soil stocks along convoluted flow paths and is not necessarily compromised in areas of sparse soil cover.