Snowpack chemistry in south central British Columbia

This paper summarizes snowpack chemistry data collected at sixteen snowpack sampling sites in South Central British Columbia during the winter of 1980/81 to 1983/84. The samples were analyzed for pH, total acidity and strong acidity, sulphate, nitrate, chloride, flouride, phosphate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonia and aluminum. Preliminary analysis of data suggests pH of samples ranging from 5 to 5.5 with the exception of a few samples. The mean sulphate to nitrate equivalent ratio of the samples collected in the winter of 1982/83 and 1983/84 was 0.88, suggesting the nitrate loading in snowmelt water was more than sulphate loading. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to discuss: (a) the relationship between upper air temperatures and higher elevation snowpack chemistry(b) the relation between cationic ratios in snowpack samples and sea water and (c) observed spacial variation of pH.