Distribution and Composition Patterns of Snow Cover within the Landscapes of Chashnikovo

Abstract

The depth and reserves of snow cover, as well as chemical composition of the snow, have been investigated in the landscape of the upper reaches of the Klyazma River (Solnechnogorsk raion, Moscow oblast). Determination of the component composition of the snow cover was based on the geochemical taxonomy of chemical elements according to characteristics of their water migration ability and abundance. Data from 23 snow sampling points have been interpolated in SAGA GIS using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method. On this basis, zones differing in the chemical composition of snow have been identified. One of the zones is confined to the Moscow–St. Petersburg M-10 highway, while the second borders on populated areas. The highway-adjacent area is characterized by increased levels of calcium, sodium, aluminum, and chloride ions in the snow cover. The second zone, which is adjacent to populated areas, is characterized by a high content of calcium, copper, and manganese in the snow. The third zone is characterized by low concentrations of components in the snow, which is typical for a superaquatic landscape due to the distance from sources of pollution.

According to their composition, the studied snow waters belong to the bicarbonate–sodium–calcium–chloride class. It has been shown that the depth and reserves of snow cover are partially controlled by two factors: the type of elementary landscape and the type of ecosystem. The spatial distribution of elements and anions in snow is predominantly controlled by the anthropogenic factor.