What Causes Table Rock To Have The Most Slime Every Year Compare To Other Missouri Lakes ?

[Sam]

Apparently, when the snow forms it will pick up some of the nitrogen oxide that is emitted by internal combustion engines and when it falls nitrogen will accumulate in the snow.

I'm sure that's right, but wouldn't the same thing apply to rain? I know it takes only one inch of rain to make nine inches of snow, so most all the precipitation we get is in the form of rain. At high altitude where it forms, rain is usually frozen then it melts on the way down. Seems like if snow is cited as a source of nitrogen in the lakes, then rain would be a much bigger one.

[smallmouthjoe]

I'm sure that's right, but wouldn't the same thing apply to rain? I know it takes only one inch of rain to make nine inches of snow, so most all the precipitation we get is in the form of rain. At high altitude where it forms, rain is usually frozen then it melts on the way down. Seems like if snow is cited as a source of nitrogen in the lakes, then rain would be a much bigger one.

Speed is the factor that makes snow more of a nitrogen pollutant than rain. The snow builds and sticks around and accumulates higher concentrations of nitrogen simply because when it falls it is trapped. Then all of that nitrogen is released at once when the snow melts. I'm sure rain does contain the same levels of nitrogen as snow but the effects are not as intense due to the speed in which it is filtered through the system. Again, I believe that the main source of nitrogen, phosphorus or any other limiting factor that affects algal growth is agriculture or sewage run off. The amount of nitrogen oxide in our skies is no where near as bad as it is in some places out east where nitric acid is really having an effect on the diversity of freshwater communities.

[Sam]

Speed is the factor that makes snow more of a nitrogen pollutant than rain. ........ I'm sure rain does contain the same levels of nitrogen as snow but the effects are not as intense due to the speed in which it is filtered through the system.

OK, but from a common-sense point of view, I bet it's the other way around when it comes to putting nitrogen in lakes. I bet the books are saying snow is more of a nitrogen source because it goes into the SOIL and promotes plant growth. I've read before that farm fields get a little bit of help from a big snowfall - trace amounts of nitrogen. Snow soaks in and makes mud as it melts where rain mostly runs off - into the creeks and lakes.

If rain and snow contain the same amount of nitrogen, then I'd say rain puts it right in the lakes quick while snow takes a while to melt and soak into the soil to be used by land plants. If you can, ask your ecology class prof about that.

Like you, I think rain and snow add just a small amount of nutrients to the lakes compared with what people and agriculture put in there. Besides everything else, think about every fisherman, pontoon-rider, skier, and party-boat occupant peeing a pint or two a day (more when beer is involved) in the water. That's a bunch of nitrogen right there - and that's the least of it.