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Temporal changes in chemical stratigraphy of snow cover

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kumiko Goto-azuma
Affiliation:
Nagaoka Institute of Snow and Ice Studies, NIED, Suyoshi, Nagaoka, Niigata 940, Japan
Masayoshi Nakawo
Affiliation:
Nagaoka Institute of Snow and Ice Studies, NIED, Suyoshi, Nagaoka, Niigata 940, Japan
Masujiro Shimizu
Affiliation:
Nagaoka Institute of Snow and Ice Studies, NIED, Suyoshi, Nagaoka, Niigata 940, Japan
Nobuhiko Azuma
Affiliation:
Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-21, Japan
Michio Nakayama
Affiliation:
Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-21, Japan
Kotaro Yokoyama
Affiliation:
Hokuriku National Agricultural Experiment Station, Joetsu 943-01, Japan
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Abstract

Chemical stratigraphy in association with the texture of snow cover was studied during the period from the severe winter to the early snowmelt season. The vertical concentration profiles of N03 −, SO4 2−, Cl− and Na+ were generally preserved until the initial stage of the snowmelt season, while there were appreciable variations in ionic concentrations. At the initial stage of the snowmelt season, redistribution of chemical constituents in the snow cover occurred in a complicated way, dependent on both the structure of internal layers and the chemical species. Major peaks, however, still remained in the profiles.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Glaciological Society 1993
Figure 0

Fig. 1.Visible stratigraphy of the snow cover with layers 1–13 numbered on right.

Figure 1

Fig. 2.Meteorological data obtained with an automated weather station. (a), daily mean air temperature and daily maximum air temperature; (b), depth of the snow cover and individual layers. (The dates on which pit observations were made are ticked on the horizontal axis.)

Figure 2

Fig. 3.a, temporal change in total water equivalent of the snow cover measured with an automated snow-weight meter. Arrowed dip in the curve is exaggerated due to an enoneous measurement resulted from a sudden melting by rainfall. Decrease in the water equivalent during this period was estimated to be 5–10 cm. b, temporal change in water equivalent of each layer. (Figures beside the curves indicate internal layers defined in Fig. 1.)

Figure 3

Fig. 4.Detailed concentration profiles of anions in each pit. G, granular snow layer; C, compacted snow layer; I, ice layer; ●, concentration level of a duplicate sample from the water channel.

Figure 4

Fig. 5.Mean concentrations of anions in each layer. (Figures beside the curves indicate internal layers defined in Fig. 1.)