Author Question: Several years during the 1940s were characterized by very deep mountain snowpacks in southern ... (Read 20 times)

sheilaspns · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

Several years during the 1940s were characterized by very deep mountain snowpacks in southern Colorado. What evidence do you see for impact of these snowpacks on Rio Grande flow at Albuquerque?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Why do E horizons not occur everywhere?

What will be an ideal response?

morrie123456 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

During the 1940's the peak discharges were very high, most over 10,000 cfs. Of those in excess of 10,000 cfs, all occur in the late spring, when the mountain snowpacks melted.

Answer to Question 2

The E horizon is a nearly white horizon defined by an absence of organic matter, clay, oxide and hydroxide minerals, or easily weathered minerals present in the parent material. E horizons form when weathering reactions dissolve soluble chemical components and flush the dissolved chemicals downward and when all solid weathering products (clay, oxide and hydroxide minerals) are flushed downward as well. E horizons contain only highly weathering-resistant minerals such as quartz. The process that forms an E horizon requires a considerable flux (throughput) of water and lots of reactive organic acids. These requirements are only met in humid forests, because they have the necessary high rainfall and organic material.