Snow and stream-water chemistry of the Ganga headwater basin, Garhwal Himalaya, India

Studies of the chemical composition of snowpack and stream water were carri ed out in a catchment having an are of 53km(2) (31 degrees 03'-30 degrees 5 5'N and 78 degrees 40'-78 degrees 51'E) in the Garhwal Himalaya, India. The dominant ions in the snowpack and stream water were Ca2+, Na+, NO3-, SO42- and HCO3-. Solute patterns in the snowpack show preferential elution. Inve stigation of the chemical composition of stream water shows that meltwater changes its composition substantially as it passes through soil pathways to the stream. The groundwater flushing perhaps controls the chemical composi tion of meltwater in the early spring. However. in the period from July to September, the stream water carries the chemical signature of monsoonal pre cipitation.