suzuki_2005.htm
Bulletin of Glaciological Research 22 (2005)
57-61
©Japanese Society of Snow and Ice
Effect of winter warming on the stream water
acidification
Keisuke SUZUKI
Department of Environmental Sciences, Shinshu
University, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
Abstract
We studied the annual variation of the pH
of stream water in a snowy temperate area,
where rain or temporary warming can cause
frequent melting at the surface of snow cover,
even in mid-winter with its intermittent
snowfall. On the other hand, in the snowy
cold area, the air temperature seldom rises
above freezing point during winter. We reported
the seasonal variation of the pH of stream
water in a snowy temperate area. The pH value
of stream water in a snowy temperate area
was always changeably, decreasing in cold
seasons and increasing in warm seasons. The
drop in pH during the snowmelt season was
remarkable. Although the pH drop of stream
water was also temporarily observed in flooding
during warm seasons, relatively long pH drops
were observed in cold seasons. The air temperature
and the snow depth in winter determine the
pH of stream water in the snowmelt season.
We examine the relationship between the pH
of stream water in the snowmelt season and
the air temperature and the snow depth in
winter. The monthly mean temperature in February
is very closely correlated with the monthly
average pH of stream water in March. Furthermore,
the maximum snow depth is also closely correlated
with the monthly average pH of stream water
in March.
