Ionic elution from the acidic snowpack during spring thaw period in the northern part of Hokkaido [Japan]
1999
Satoh, F. (Hokkaido Univ., Sapporo (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Nomura, M. | Masumoto, H. | Ashiya, D. | Sasa, K.
The chemical composition of the snowfall and the meltwater in the forest area of northern Hokkaido was investigated during the 1995-1996 winter season. The snowfall pH was acidic (4.61, average, volume-weighted mean). The dominant ion species were Na(+) and Cl(-), indicating the strong influence of sea slat. A marked depression of pH values, dropping below 4.0, was obtained in the initial stage of the spring thaw, and the H(+) concentration decreased rapidly with the progression of the thaw. Approximately 70% of H(+) eluted out during the thaw was lost with the first 29% of meltwater. However, the concentration of other major ions did not decrease even in the later stage of the thaw. The amount of ions eluted in the snowmelt exceeded the total ion loading by snowfall. The influence of dry deposition on the chemical characteristics of the snowpack was also estimated from the ionic composition of the snowmelt
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