Progress 07/01/03 to 06/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The major objectives of our study were to evaluate how climatic and hydrological factors interact to influence nitrate dynamics in forested watersheds during the winter season and how changes in winter climate impact rates of nitrate export in streams at a well studied watershed (Arbutus Watershed, Huntington Forest, Adirondack Mountains, State of New York.. Climatic and hydrological factors measured include air temperature, duration and depth of snowpack, soil temperature, soil freezing and flowpaths during rain-on-snow events, mid-winter thaws and snowmelt. Our research provided information on how soil and groundwater nitrate concentrations varied during the winter season and how these snowpack nitrate dynamics varied as a function of soil physical conditions. We gave specific focus on the role of rain on snow events in affecting the hydrology and nitrate dynamics of this site. PARTICIPANTS: Myron J. Mitchell, Principal Investigator, SUNY-ESF Laura Lautz, Principal Investigator, Syracuse University Laura Kurian, M.S. Graduate student Patrick McHale, Technical Support Specialist TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientists and policy makers interested in the impacts of atmospheric pollutants and climate change on watershed impacts including effects on vegetation, soil and water. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Our findings help link the role of snowmelt to nitrate export in forest watersheds and these results have implications related to climate change. Our study showed that continuous snowpack prevented soil freezing. Under climate change scenarios that result in less snow, soil freezing became more prominent. The increase in soil freezing affected the hydrology including changes in flow paths including infiltration rates and surface runoff. Both the timing and intensity of snow melt and mid-winter rain events were impact by soil flushing events and the export of solutes. Our findings indicated that minor melt events were detectable as changes in soil temperature, stream flow, groundwater level and snow depth but based on loading were relatively minor contributors to nitrate loss. A warmer climate and fluctuating snowpack may result in more major, mid-winter melt events and greater nitrate export to surface waters. This potential for increased nitrate concentrations in soil, ground and surface waters to increase as the climate warms, also indicates the potential of downstream water quality being impacted by the increased depletion of cations and the resulting acidification and demonstrates the need for a better understanding of climate change's potential impact on nitrate export during the winter season.
Publications
- Kurian, L.M., L. K. Lautz and M. J. Mitchell. 2012. Winter Hydrology and NO3- Export from a Forested Watershed: A Detailed Field Study in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, USA. Hydrogeology Journal (In review)
- Mitchell, MJ. 2011. Nitrate Dynamics of Forested Watersheds: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in North America, Europe and Japan. Journal of Forest Research 16:333-340.
- Campbell, J.L., L.E. Rustad, E.W. Boyer, S. F. Christopher, C. T. Driscoll, I.J. Fernandez, P.M. Groffman, D.Houle, J. Kiekbusch, A.H. Magill, M.J. Mitchell, and S.V. Ollinger. 2009. Consequences of climate change for biogeochemical cycling in forests of northeastern North America. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 39:264-284.
- Driscoll, C.T., K.M. Driscoll, M.J. Mitchell, D.J. Raynal, K. Roy. Human Impacts from Afar. 2009 p. 114-127. In: W.P. Porter, R.S. Whaley & J. D. Erickson (eds.). Light from an Adirondack Prism: The Great Experiment in Conservation Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, NY.
- Piatek, K. B., S.F. Christopher, S. F., and M.J. Mitchell. 2009 Spatial and temporal dynamics of stream chemistry in a forested watershed, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 13:423-439.
- Christopher, S.F., M.J. Mitchell, M.R. McHale, E.W. Boyer, D.A. Burns, C. Kendall. 2008. Factors controlling nitrogen release from two forested catchments with contrasting hydrochemical responses. Hydrological Processes. 22:46-62.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Overarching research themes include: 1) the response of watersheds and water resources to elevated atmospheric deposition of pollutants; 2) the influence of land management on water quantity and quality, particularly for the protection and management of water supplies; 3) the effects of urbanization and suburbanization on water quantity and quality including restoration efforts; and 4) effects of introduced species on water quality and use. Monitoring, research, restoration and policy development activities at various watersheds and across various scales provide an effective outdoor "laboratory" for understanding watershed resources and services. Research includes sites in the northeastern U.S., Rock Mountains, Japan and Central Europe. The approach focuses on watersheds, but also includes plot level analyses as well as regional approaches. A major focus is the monitoring a series of catchments in the Arbutus Watershed in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Also,
work includes studies of other watersheds such as the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire as well as catchments in Wyoming, the Catskill Mountains of New York, Central Europe and Japan. Experimental work is coupled with watershed monitoring and the application of hydrobiogeochemical models.
Impacts
The understanding of the linkages to land use and other environmental impacts including global change, changes in species and inputs of atmospheric pollutants is needed for protecting water resources. The study provides information on basic and applied problems related to water quantity and quality.
Publications
- Inamdar, S.P. and M. J. Mitchell. 2007. Landscape controls on storm event runoff generation across multiple catchments in a forested glaciated watershed. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences (In Press).
- Lovett, G.M., D.A. Burns, C.T. Driscoll, J.C. Jenkins, M.J. Mitchell, L. Rustad, J.B. Shanley, G.E. Likens and R. Haeuber. 2007. Who Needs Environmental Monitoring? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment (In Press).
- McGee, G.G., M.J. Mitchell, D.J. Leopold and D.J. Raynal. 2007. Comparison of soil nutrient fluxes from tree-fall gap zones of an old-growth northern hardwood forest. J. Torrey Bot. Soc (In Press)
- McGee, G.G., M.J. Mitchell, D.J. Leopold, D.J. Raynal and M.O. Mbila. 2007. Relationships among forest age, composition and elemental dynamics of Adirondack northern hardwood forests. J. Torrey Bot. Soc (In Press)
- Mitchell, M.J. and C. Alewell. 2007. Sulfur Transformations and Fluxes. In: W. Chesworth (ed.) The Encyclopedia of Soil Science Springer-Verlag (In Press)
- Campbell, J., M.J. Mitchell and B. Mayer. 2006. Isotopic assessment of NO3- and SO42- mobility during winter in two adjacent watersheds in the Adirondack Mountains, New York. J. Geophys. Res., 111, G04007, doi:10.1029/2006JG000208.
- Christopher, S. F., M.J. Mitchell, M.R. McHale, E.W. Boyer, D.A. Burns, C. Kendall. 2007. Factors controlling nitrogen release from two forested catchments with contrasting hydrochemical responses. Hydrological Processes. In Press
- Christopher, S.F., B.D. Page, J.L. Campbell and M.J. Mitchell. 2006. Contrasting stream water NO3- and Ca2+ in two nearly adjacent catchments: the role of soil Ca and forest vegetation. Global Change Biology 12:364-381.
- Inamdar, S.P., N. O' Leary, M. J. Mitchell, J. T. Riley. 2006. Seasonal and event-scale patterns of solute exports from a glaciated forested watershed. Hydrological Processes 20: 3423-3439.
- Inamdar, S.P. and M.J. Mitchell. 2006. Hydrologic controls of storm-event exports of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrate across catchment scales. Water Resources Research, 42, W03421, doi:10.1029/2005WR004212, 16 p.
- Ito, M., M. J. Mitchell, C.T. Driscoll, R. M. Newton, C.E. Johnson, and K.M. Roy. 2006. Controls on nitrogen solutes in two lake-watersheds in the Adirondack region of New York. Hydrological Processes (In Press).
- Mitchell, M.J. K.B. Piatek, S. Christopher, B. Mayer, C. Kendall and P. McHale. 2006. Solute sources in stream water during consecutive fall storms in a northern hardwood forest watershed: a combined hydrological, chemical and isotopic approach. Biogeochemistry 78: 217-246.
- Novak, M. M. J. Mitchell, I. Jackova, F. Buzek, J. Schweigstillova, L. Erbanova1, R. Prikryl and D. Fottova. 2006. Processes affecting oxygen isotope ratios of atmospheric and ecosystem sulfate in two contrasting forest catchments in Central Europe. ES&T (In Press).
- Ogawa, A., H. Shibata, K. Suzuki, M.J.. Mitchell and Y. Ikegami. 2006. Relationship of topography to surface water chemistry with particular focus on nitrogen and organic carbon solutes within a forested watershed in Hokkaido, Japan. Hydrological Processes 20:251-265. Pardo, L.H. , P. H. Templer, C. L. Goodale, S. Duke, P. M. Groffman, M. B. Adams, P. Boeckx, J. Boggs, J. Campbell, B. Colman, J. Compton, B. Emmett, P. Gundersen, J. Kjonaas, G. Lovett, M. Mack, A. Magill, M. Mbila, M. J. Mitchell, G. Mcgee, S. Mcnulty, K. Nadelhoffer, S. Ollinger, D. Ross, H. Rueth, L. Rustad, P. Schaberg, S. Schiff, P. Schleppi, J. Spoelstra and W. Wessel. 2006. Regional assessment of N saturation using foliar and root del15N. Biogeochemistry 80:143-171
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