68 
2.0 T r == + 1 ———t 
°° (+) 1971 
|.6F (o) 1972 
aie t 
K 4 
ct 
m ° 
pp ost f 
- ° 2 
0.44 4 
Oo 4 J 4 1 zt i © ant! 1 
[ORZO) [ORSEZO omy 20 
Jun Jul), ss Aug 
Fig. 10. Potassium content of a small stream, 
1971 and 1972 (downstream). 
100 1 See = 
(*)I971 
BOF (o)I972 - 
60} 
Ca | 
ppm aot . ° | 
i 1 
20+ oon 
O L lt th “0 
10 20 10. 20 10. 20 
Jun | Jul Aug 
Fig. 11. Calcium content of a small stream, 
1971 and 1972 (downstream). 
2.0) ; ' - : 
NHN | (*)1971 (0)1972 
1.0} 
ppm or 5 | 
(@) 1 S fi at —! 1 1 
10. 20 10. 20 10. 20 
Jun Jul | Aug 
Fig. 12. Ammonia-N content of a small stream, 
1971 and 1972 (downstream). 
Considerable particulate iron was found, 
0.01 to 0.5 ppm being the usual range. Particu- 
late iron was proportional to water aeration, 
being higher where water flowed rapidly with 
much splash or where water was very shallow 
and slow flowing. Conditions which are con- 
ducive to high particulate (ferric) iron result in 
low soluble (ferrous) iron. One small stream had 
a very high soluble iron load (0.2 to 2.0 ppm); 
the concentration was low in June and increased 
through July and August. 
Conclusions 
In small streams and lakes a dramatic change 
in concentration of soluble nutrients occurs 
during the spring melt. The meltwater effective- 
ly flushes out the stream or lake. As the season 
progresses, runoff water (both surface and sub- 
surface) increases the concentration of nutrients 
in these lakes and small streams. In some local 
cases the concentration of nutrients may be 
controlled by oxidation or biological reactions. 
In small watersheds the concentration of 
nutrients in streams and lakes is proportional to 
the size of the watershed and the proportion of 
the watershed occupied by organic soils. 
In large rivers nutrient concentrations are 
relatively stable. The large amount of water in 
these rivers acts as a buffer, so that a complete 
flushing action is not carried out by the spring 
melt. 
In both small and large watersheds the nutri- 
ent levels are inversely proportional to rainfall. 
Acknowledgments 
Funds for this project were provided by the 
Prudhoe Bay Environmental Subcommittee; 
laboratory space at Prudhoe was provided by 
BP Alaska, Inc. and laboratory equipment by 
NARL from Barrow. 
References 
Bilgin, A. (1975). Nutrient status of surface 
waters as related to soils and other environ- 
mental factors in a tundra ecosystem. Ph.D. 
dissertation. Rutgers University, New Bruns- 
wick, N. J., 201 pp. 
Brown, J. (1967). Tundra soils formed over 
ice-wedges, northern Alaska. So// Sci. Soc. 
Amer. Proc., 31:686-691. 
