Using synoptic classification techniques, synoptic‐scale weather types associated with large exports of dissolved organic carbon and nitrate‐nitrogen in three forested watersheds in the northeastern United States are analyzed. In contrast to Siegert et al. (2021,
Synoptic typing is a method of classifying atmospheric conditions (i.e., pressure, temperature, wind direction) and can be used to relate those conditions to terrestrial processes. In this study, a daily synoptic calendar was developed for the northeastern United States to assess the atmospheric controls on variations in stream chemistry across three forested watersheds in Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maryland. Stream discharge along with dissolved organic carbon and nitrate concentrations were monitored in situ from March to November for 3 years (2014–2016) and then compared to the regional daily synoptic calendar to assess (a) which atmospheric patterns exported the greatest flux of water and solutes, (b) whether all three watersheds responded similarly to the regional atmospheric patterns, and (c) how these fluxes changed seasonally. Seven broad categories of atmospheric patterns were identified. In general, low pressure systems situated over the Great Lakes region produced the most rainfall which resulted in the highest peak streamflow by event along with daily fluxes of DOC and
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10449198
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
- Volume:
- 126
- Issue:
- 13
- ISSN:
- 2169-897X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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