Abstract
In order to investigate the seasonal and geographical distribution of snow concentrations anddeposition fluxes of environmentally relevant ionic species in the Alps, the international programSNOSP was initiated. In the framework of this program, intercomparisons of snow samplingtechniques and analytical methods to determine the ionic species C1-, NO -3 ,SO 2-4 , K+, Na+, NH4 +, Mg2+, and Ca2+, as well as the pH and the specificconductivity were performed. The concentrations of these species in the snow samples collectedin the SNOSP program varied by orders of magnitude with, e.g., concentrations of NO -3 , SO 2-4 , and NH4 + ranging from 0.2-60, 0.2-90, and 0.1-60 µeq L-1,respectively. The intercomparisons revealed a reasonable agreement of the determinations of thespecies Cl-, NO -3 , SO 2-4 , Na+, and NH4 + in snow. Results were less satisfactory for K+, Mg2+, Ca2+,and H+, mainly due to the very low concentrations. In conclusion, recommendations areformulated for the reliable derivation of chemical inventories from snow packs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baltensperger, U., Schwikowski, M., Gaggeler, H. W., Jost, D. T., Beer, J., Siegenthaler, U., Wagenbach, D., Hofmann, H. J. and Synal, H. A,: 1993, Atmospheric Environment 27A, 1881.
Batifol, F. M. and Boutron, C. F.: 1984, Atmospheric Environment 18, 2507.
Camuffo, D., Bemardi, A. and Bacci, P.: 1991, Atmospheric Environment 25A, 2863.
Colbeck, S. Akitaya, E., Armstrong, R., Gubler, H., Lafeuille, J., Lied, K., McClung, D. and Morris, E.: 1985, Report of the Working Group on Snow Classification, issued by The International Commission on Snow and Ice of the International Association of Scientific Hydrology.
De Angelis, M. and Gaudichet, A.: 1991, Tellus 43B, 61.
Delmas, R. and Aristarain, A.: 1978, in Benarie, M. M. (ed.), Atmospheric Pollution 1978, Studies in Environmental Sciences, Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 233.
Delmas, V. M., Ronseaux, F. and Delmas, R. J.: 1988, in Unsworth, M. H. and Fowler, D. (eds.), Acid Deposition at High Elevation Sites, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, p. 511.
Doscher, A., Schwikowski, M. and Gaggeler, H. W.: 1995, J. Chromatogr 706, 249.
Funk, M.: 1994, in: Haeberli, W. and Stauffer, B. (eds.), Greenhouse Gases,Isotopes and Trace Elements in Glaciers as Climatic Evidence of the Holocene, Report of the ESFEPC Workshop, Ziirich, 27–28 October 1992, p. 40.
Haeberli, W., Schotterer, U., Wagenbach, D., Haeberli-Schwitter, H. and Bortenschlager S.: 1983, Journal of Glaciology 29, 260.
Laird, L. B., Taylor, H. E. and Kennedy, V. C.: 1986, Environ.Sci.Technol. 20, 275.
Maupetit, F., Delmas, R. J., Wagenbach, D., Geis, K., Schwikowski, M., Baltensperger, U., Gaggeler, H. W., Novo, A., Rossi, G. C., Bendetta, G., Trockner, V., Nickus, U., Kuhn, M., Winiwarter, W. and Puxbaum, H.: 1993, in: Borrell, P. M., Borrell, P., Cvitas, T. and Seiler, W. (eds.), Proc.EUROTRAC Symposium 1992 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 23–27 March, 1992, SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, p. 757.
Maupetit, F. and Delmas, R. J.: 1994a, J.Geophys.Res. 99, 16491.
Maupetit, F. and Delmas, R. J.: 1994b, Tellus 46B, 304.
Maupetit, F., Wagenbach, D., Weddeling, P. and Delmas, R. J: 1995, Atmospheric Environment 29, 1.
Miles, L. J. and Yost, K. J.: 1982, Atmospheric Environment 16, 2889.
Nickus, U., Kuhn, M., Pichlmayer, F., Baltensperger, U., Delmas, R., Gaggeler, H. W., Kasper, A., Kromp-Kolb, H., Maupetit, F., Novo, A., Preunkert, S., Puxbaum, H., Rossi, G., Schoner, W., Schwikowski, M., Seibert, P., Staudinger, M., Trockner, V. and Wagenbach, D.: 1996, Tellus (submitted).
Oeschger, H., Schotterer, U., Stauffer, B., Haeberli, W. and Rothlisberger, H.: 1977, Zeitschrift fur Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 13, 193.
Puxbaum, H.: 1991, in Borrell, P. M., Borrell, P. and Seiler, W. (eds.), Proc.EUROTRACSymposium 1990, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 2–5 April, 1990, SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, p. 53.
Puxbaum, H., Kovar, A. and Kalina, M.: 1991, in: Davies, T. D., Tranter, M. and Jones H. G. (eds.) Seasonal Snowfiacks, NATO AS1 Series, Vol. G28, Verlag Springer Berlin, p. 273.
Puxbaum, H. and Wagenbach, D.: 1994, in: Borrell, P. M., Borrell, P. Cvitas T. and Seiler, W. (eds.) Proc.EUROTRAC Symposium 1994, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 11–15 April, 1994, SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, p. 597.
Ronseaux, F. and Delmas, R. J.: 1988, in Unsworth, M. H. and Fowler, D. (eds.), Acid Deposition at High Elevation Sites, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, p. 491.
Schotterer, U., Oeschger, H., Wagenbach, D. and Munnich, K. O.: 1985, Zeitschriftfiir Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 21, 379.
Wagenbach, D., Munnich, K. O., Schotterer, U. and Oeschger, H.: 1988, Ann.Glaciol. 10, 183.
Wagenbach, D. and Geis, K.: 1989, in Leinen, M. and Sarnthein, M. (eds.), Paleoclimatology and Paleometeorology: Modern and Past Patterns of Global Atmospheric Transport, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, p. 543.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schwikowski, M., Novo, A., Baltensperger, U. et al. Intercomparison of snow Sampling and Analysis Within the Alpine-Wide Snowpack Investigation (SNOSP). Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 93, 67–91 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022167507380
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022167507380