Effects of Atmospheric Deposition on Water Quality in High Alpine Lakes of Grand Teton National Park Wyoming
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2004 Effects of atmospheric deposition on water quality in high alpine lakes of Grand Teton National Park Wyoming Jennifer Ann Corbin The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Corbin, Jennifer Ann, "Effects of atmospheric deposition on water quality in high alpine lakes of Grand Teton National Park Wyoming" (2004). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6931. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6931 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University of Montana Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. **Please check "Yes" or "No" and provide signature*’ Yes, I grant permission No, I do not grant permission Author's Signature: Date: Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. 8/98 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. EFFECTS OF ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION ON WATER QUALITY IN HIGH ALPINE LAKES OF GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING By Jennifer Ann Corbin B.Sc. University of Montana, 2001 B.A. University of Montana, 2001 presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science The University of Montana May 2004 Approved by: Chaifberson Dean, Graduate School ________ (q - \ - o 4 Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMl Number: EP37732 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Ow«Mtation Fhibliahing UMl EP37732 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Abstract Corbin, Jennifer Ann M.S. - May 2004 Resource Conservation Effects of Atmospheric Deposition on Water Quality in High Alpine Lakes of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Chairperson: Scott W. Woods ^ Atmospheric deposition is the primary cause of acidification in lakes and streams in the United States. Mountainous watersheds have an especially low buffering capacity for the nitrogen-based acidifying compounds in atmospheric deposition because of their sparse vegetation, short growing season, poor soil development and the presence of extensive areas of exposed bedrock. Twelve high-elevation lakes in Grand Teton National Park (GRTE), Wyoming, were sampled to determine the sensitivity of these lakes to acidification, and to understand the relationship between lake water chemistry and basin characteristics. Samples were analyzed for major anions and cations, ANC, alkalinity, conductivity, pH, DOC, total P, and total N. Step-wise multiple linear regression was used to associate water chemistry with basin characteristics, and to identify the independent variables that exert a strong influence on the association. Discriminant analysis was used to identify which variables make a significant contribution to the classification of lake sensitivity. The results indicate that many of the high elevation lakes in GRTE are sensitive to acidification, with seven of the twelve lakes having ANC concentrations < lOOpeq L '\ Lakes in basins with granitic and/or metamorphic bedrock are the most sensitive, particularly when the basin contains a high proportion of young (Holocene) debris. Lakes with basins that are at least partially underlain by limestone are the least sensitive to acidification, regardless of the presence of young debris. Granite and limestone served as the best predictors for solute concentrations with young debris and steep slopes playing significant roles for most solutes - especially major base cations, pH, and acidity. The regression model for ANC was an excellent predictor for buffering capacity and explained 86.5% of the variance. Glacier dissolution and the amount of talus in GRTE study basins may be responsible for seasonal increases in NO 3 concentrations in glacier-fed lakes, which in turn decreases the ANC. Additional monitoring is required in order to provide more information on long-term effects of atmospheric deposition on water quality in GRTE high elevation lakes. 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents Abstract.............................................................................................................................. ii Table of Tables................................................................................................................. iv Table of Figures........................ v Acknowledgements......................................................................................................... vi Introduction....................................................................................................................... 1 Methods...................................... 6 Atmospheric Deposition ................................................................................................ 6 Lake Selection and Sampling .........................................................................................7 Modeling of Lake Water Chemistry ..............................................................................9 Basin Characterization............................................................................................ 10 Model Development................................................................................................. 11 Results.............................................................................................................................. 12 Atmospheric Deposition .............................................................................................. 12 Lake Solute Concentrations ......................................................................................... 15 Trends in Solute Concentrations ..................................................................................20 Seasonal Trends ............................................................................................20 Temporal Trends...................................................................................................... 21 Field-filtered vs. Laboratory-filtered Samples ............................................................ 24 Lake Water Chemistry Modeling .................................................................................25 Basin Characterization............................................................................................25 Correlations Between Lake Chemistry and Basin Characteristics.................. 29 Prediction o f Solute Concentrations: Multiple Linear Regression........................32 Discriminant Analysis.............................................................................................. 37 Discussion......................................................................................................... 39 Atmospheric Deposition at Grand Teton National Park .............................................39 Water Chemistry of High Elevation Lakesin Grand Teton National Park ................41 Effect of Bedrock Geology....................................................................................... 42 Long Term Trends in Lake Water Chemistry ............................................................. 46 Conclusions................... 48 APPENDIX A - Solute chemistry for samples analyzed at the Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, Colorado........................................................................50 APPENDIX B - Quality assurance tests for solute chemistry analyzed at the RMRS, Fort Collins, Colorado................. 52 111 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Tables Table 1. Monthly mean maximum and minimum temperatures, and precipitation at Moose, Wyoming, and monthly mean precipitation at Phillips Bench SNOTEL site. Period of Record is 1958 to 2003 at Moose and 1971 to 2000 at Phillips Bench 6 Table 2. Lakes Surveyed in Grand Teton National Park during the summer of 2002 ........8 Table 3. Early and late season sample dates for selected GRTE lakes ................................ 9 Table