Nitrogen dynamics in two high elevation catchments during spring snowmelt 1996, Rocky Mountains, Colorado

Linking Snow, Soil, and Stream During Snowmelt and Rain‐On‐Snow Events: Storage and Transport of Ions in an Acid‐Sensitive Alpine Catchment (Tatra Mountains, Poland)

“…The results of our laboratory experiment demonstrate that in the soil under alpine swards in the highest part of the catchment (KW site), nitrogen mineralization does not occur either at below zero or above zero temperatures, and in fact the loss of mineral nitrogen in the form of NH 4 − N and NO 3 − N occurs with the passage of time (Table 4). In contrast with the results obtained in forested soils, these results do not seem to be consistent with those obtained by other researchers working in alpine and tundra areas that were able to show that inorganic N content increased significantly in soils in the winter period due to intense mineralization (Brooks et al, 1996(Brooks et al, , 1998Heuer et al, 1999;Schimel et al, 2004). The loss of mineral N occurring in the studied soils at temperatures below zero theoretically may be explained by denitrification nitrogen as described by Mørkved et al (2006), while at temperatures above zero by the microbiological immobilization of nitrogen as described by Brooks et al (1998) and Sorensen et al (2020).…”

Linking Snow, Soil, and Stream During Snowmelt and Rain‐On‐Snow Events: Storage and Transport of Ions in an Acid‐Sensitive Alpine Catchment (Tatra Mountains, Poland)

“…The results of our laboratory experiment demonstrate that in the soil under alpine swards in the highest part of the catchment (KW site), nitrogen mineralization does not occur either at below zero or above zero temperatures, and in fact the loss of mineral nitrogen in the form of NH 4 − N and NO 3 − N occurs with the passage of time (Table 4). In contrast with the results obtained in forested soils, these results do not seem to be consistent with those obtained by other researchers working in alpine and tundra areas that were able to show that inorganic N content increased significantly in soils in the winter period due to intense mineralization (Brooks et al, 1996(Brooks et al, , 1998Heuer et al, 1999;Schimel et al, 2004). The loss of mineral N occurring in the studied soils at temperatures below zero theoretically may be explained by denitrification nitrogen as described by Mørkved et al (2006), while at temperatures above zero by the microbiological immobilization of nitrogen as described by Brooks et al (1998) and Sorensen et al (2020).…”

Stream Water Chemistry along an Elevational Gradient from the Continental Divide to the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains

“…In contrast, concentrations and yields of DOC are low at higher alpine elevations at Niwot Ridge and consist primarily of autochthonous parent material (Hood et al, 2003b, 2005), also consistent with the LCM. These and other findings (Heuer et al, 1999; Baron et al, 2000; Campbell et al, 2000) have demonstrated the unique manner in which alpine headwater catchments accumulate or export water and nutrients and how increased N deposition alters the biogeochemical cycles of these fragile ecosystems. Additionally, the mechanisms and effects of N saturation in temperate ecosystems have been widely studied in the northeast United States (Aber et al, 1989, 1998; Boxman et al, 1998; Goodale et al, 2000).…”

Seasonal variability in the concentration and flux of organic matter and inorganic nitrogen in a semiarid catchment, San Pedro River, Arizona

“…[23] The increase in DOM and nitrate and decrease in FI during the monsoon represents a flush of terrestrial solutes similar to that observed in both arid and semiarid southwest [Jones et al, 1996;Poff and Ward, 1989] and to DOC, DON and NO 3 -N in forested and alpine systems [Fenn et al, 2003;Heuer et al, 1999;Hood et al, 2003aHood et al, , 2003bStottlemyer and Troendle, 1992;Williams et al, 2001]. Both DOM and inorganic N concentrations remain higher than premonsoon values, similar to NO 3 -N in other streams in semiarid systems [Dent and Grimm, 1999;Holmes et al, 1998;Stanley and Boulton, 1995]; however, there is relatively little information on the dynamics of DOM in similar streams.…”

Linking Snow, Soil, and Stream During Snowmelt and Rain‐On‐Snow Events: Storage and Transport of Ions in an Acid‐Sensitive Alpine Catchment (Tatra Mountains, Poland)

“…The results of our laboratory experiment demonstrate that in the soil under alpine swards in the highest part of the catchment (KW site), nitrogen mineralization does not occur either at below zero or above zero temperatures, and in fact the loss of mineral nitrogen in the form of NH 4 − N and NO 3 − N occurs with the passage of time (Table 4). In contrast with the results obtained in forested soils, these results do not seem to be consistent with those obtained by other researchers working in alpine and tundra areas that were able to show that inorganic N content increased significantly in soils in the winter period due to intense mineralization (Brooks et al, 1996(Brooks et al, , 1998Heuer et al, 1999;Schimel et al, 2004). The loss of mineral N occurring in the studied soils at temperatures below zero theoretically may be explained by denitrification nitrogen as described by Mørkved et al (2006), while at temperatures above zero by the microbiological immobilization of nitrogen as described by Brooks et al (1998) and Sorensen et al (2020).…”

Stream Water Chemistry along an Elevational Gradient from the Continental Divide to the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains

“…In contrast, concentrations and yields of DOC are low at higher alpine elevations at Niwot Ridge and consist primarily of autochthonous parent material (Hood et al, 2003b, 2005), also consistent with the LCM. These and other findings (Heuer et al, 1999; Baron et al, 2000; Campbell et al, 2000) have demonstrated the unique manner in which alpine headwater catchments accumulate or export water and nutrients and how increased N deposition alters the biogeochemical cycles of these fragile ecosystems. Additionally, the mechanisms and effects of N saturation in temperate ecosystems have been widely studied in the northeast United States (Aber et al, 1989, 1998; Boxman et al, 1998; Goodale et al, 2000).…”

Seasonal variability in the concentration and flux of organic matter and inorganic nitrogen in a semiarid catchment, San Pedro River, Arizona

“…[23] The increase in DOM and nitrate and decrease in FI during the monsoon represents a flush of terrestrial solutes similar to that observed in both arid and semiarid southwest [Jones et al, 1996;Poff and Ward, 1989] and to DOC, DON and NO 3 -N in forested and alpine systems [Fenn et al, 2003;Heuer et al, 1999;Hood et al, 2003aHood et al, , 2003bStottlemyer and Troendle, 1992;Williams et al, 2001]. Both DOM and inorganic N concentrations remain higher than premonsoon values, similar to NO 3 -N in other streams in semiarid systems [Dent and Grimm, 1999;Holmes et al, 1998;Stanley and Boulton, 1995]; however, there is relatively little information on the dynamics of DOM in similar streams.…”

Linking Snow, Soil, and Stream During Snowmelt and Rain‐On‐Snow Events: Storage and Transport of Ions in an Acid‐Sensitive Alpine Catchment (Tatra Mountains, Poland)

“…The results of our laboratory experiment demonstrate that in the soil under alpine swards in the highest part of the catchment (KW site), nitrogen mineralization does not occur either at below zero or above zero temperatures, and in fact the loss of mineral nitrogen in the form of NH 4 − N and NO 3 − N occurs with the passage of time (Table 4). In contrast with the results obtained in forested soils, these results do not seem to be consistent with those obtained by other researchers working in alpine and tundra areas that were able to show that inorganic N content increased significantly in soils in the winter period due to intense mineralization (Brooks et al, 1996(Brooks et al, , 1998Heuer et al, 1999;Schimel et al, 2004). The loss of mineral N occurring in the studied soils at temperatures below zero theoretically may be explained by denitrification nitrogen as described by Mørkved et al (2006), while at temperatures above zero by the microbiological immobilization of nitrogen as described by Brooks et al (1998) and Sorensen et al (2020).…”

Stream Water Chemistry along an Elevational Gradient from the Continental Divide to the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains

“…In contrast, concentrations and yields of DOC are low at higher alpine elevations at Niwot Ridge and consist primarily of autochthonous parent material (Hood et al, 2003b, 2005), also consistent with the LCM. These and other findings (Heuer et al, 1999; Baron et al, 2000; Campbell et al, 2000) have demonstrated the unique manner in which alpine headwater catchments accumulate or export water and nutrients and how increased N deposition alters the biogeochemical cycles of these fragile ecosystems. Additionally, the mechanisms and effects of N saturation in temperate ecosystems have been widely studied in the northeast United States (Aber et al, 1989, 1998; Boxman et al, 1998; Goodale et al, 2000).…”

Seasonal variability in the concentration and flux of organic matter and inorganic nitrogen in a semiarid catchment, San Pedro River, Arizona

“…[23] The increase in DOM and nitrate and decrease in FI during the monsoon represents a flush of terrestrial solutes similar to that observed in both arid and semiarid southwest [Jones et al, 1996;Poff and Ward, 1989] and to DOC, DON and NO 3 -N in forested and alpine systems [Fenn et al, 2003;Heuer et al, 1999;Hood et al, 2003aHood et al, , 2003bStottlemyer and Troendle, 1992;Williams et al, 2001]. Both DOM and inorganic N concentrations remain higher than premonsoon values, similar to NO 3 -N in other streams in semiarid systems [Dent and Grimm, 1999;Holmes et al, 1998;Stanley and Boulton, 1995]; however, there is relatively little information on the dynamics of DOM in similar streams.…”