Influence of snow on iron release from soil

The concentration of Fe in stream water and groundwater was measured monthly during a whole year. The study fields were Ozenuma lake and Senjougahara peatland, which snow covers for more than 5 months in winter. Iron concentration in water increased during snow-covered and thaw seasons with the synchronized decrease in Eh and pH for both stream water and groundwater. In snow-covered seasons, it is hypothesized that supply of melt water and/or coverage with ice layers during this period could cause the development of an anaerobic zone in underlying soil. This study suggests that change in the amount of snowfall or in the length of snow season may influence the geochemical cycle of iron.