Long-Term Dynamics of Snow Depth and Snow Composition in Terms of the Geochemical Landscape of Upper Reaches of the Klyazma River

Abstract

The dynamics of snow depth and snow composition in the period of 2013–2018 has been discussed. The annual snow cover dynamics is characterized by the alternation of high and low values. The highest values were typical for winter of 2012/2013 followed by a decrease in 2013/2014. The leading role in the snow cover distribution belongs to the elementary landscape position within the geochemical landscape. Over the research years, the water equivalent of snow cover has been characterized by a bicarbonate–calcium composition. Contents of minor components have been generally of the same order of magnitude as the results obtained for the South Taiga landscapes. Some excess of individual components in the snow water in comparison with Мeshchera and Baikal landscapes, taken as a background, is due to the proximity of the studied geochemical landscape and the M-10 main road (Moscow–St. Petersburg). It is assumed that a relatively high Ca content in the snow water of the superaqueous landscape is related to a possible Ca arrival from external meadow–marsh carbonate soils boiling from the surface. Sulfate ion has been found out to play a key role in the diagnosis of atmogeochemical pollution which has been partially established for the studied landscapes.