Stream Water Chemistry On Niwot Ridge
The Niwot Ridge LTER has tracked water chemistry in mountain streams since the early 1980s. To learn more, explore our sulfate ion concentration data, visualized below.
Long-term trends in September Sulfate Concentrations
Annual Anomalies in September Sulfate Concentrations
Download Stream Water Chemistry Data and Code
The long-term data and code used to make the figures on this page are publicly available on GitHub and the Environmental Data Initiative Portal.
*Figures, content, and data on this page may be used with proper citation.
about Stream Water Chemistry Data from Niwot Ridge
Field Sites:
Surface water samples are collected from outflow streams leaving lakes and rock glaciers adjacent to Niwot Ridge (Figs. 1 - 3).
Figure 1: Albion outflow. Photo by Jen Morse.
Figure 2: Green Lake 4 outflow. Photo by Jen Morse.
Figure 3: View of Arikaree, Green Lake 4, and Green Lake 5 Rock Glacier. Photo by Jane Smith.
Data Collection:
Researchers collect surface water samples from outflow streams approximately twice per month (Fig. 4). Samples are collected in plastic jars and are refrigerated prior to filtering and laboratory analysis. Protocols for sample processing —as well as information about how these protocols have changed over time—are described in the metadata for each stream water chemistry data package.
Figure 4: Researchers collect water samples from outflow streams adjacent to Niwot Ridge. Photo by Jen Morse.
How To Cite Figures and Data On this page
The Niwot Ridge LTER welcomes use of the figures and content on this page when accompanied by the following citation:
Niwot Ridge LTER. 2026. Data Dashboard. Retrieved from https://nwt.lternet.edu/stream-water-chemistry.
We also welcome use of the data linked to on this page when accompanied by the following citations:
Albion: Caine, T., J. Morse, S. Yevak, H. Brandes, and Niwot Ridge LTER. 2026. Stream water chemistry data for Albion site, 1982 - ongoing. ver 16. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/ae013a0d39b2499f3b8feda36d59b86f
Green Lake 4: Caine, T., J. Morse, B. Gager, S. Yevak, H. Brandes, and Niwot Ridge LTER. 2026. Stream water chemistry data for Green Lake 4, 1982 - ongoing. ver 15. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/4c3446c0c939769f7cef88654ecd7be4
Green Lake 5 Rock Glacier: Caine, T., J. Morse, B. Gager, S. Yevak, H. Brandes, and Niwot Ridge LTER. 2026. Stream water chemistry data for Green Lake 5 Rock Glacier, 1998 - ongoing. ver 5. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/fb29d1c281cc934a890564f1e9bee5cf
Arikaree: Caine, T., J. Morse, B. Gager, S. Yevak, H. Brandes, and Niwot Ridge LTER. 2026. Stream water chemistry data for Arikaree cirque, 1984 - ongoing. ver 15. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/0947b991e4e6071a0ec8f7db3e8d17db
These data packages are hosted on the Environmental Data Initiative Data Portal. Data packages include additional detailed information about where and how Niwot Ridge stream water chemistry data is recorded and processed.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the data presented on this page, please email the Niwot Ridge LTER. To learn more about research, education, and outreach conducted by the Niwot Ridge LTER, please visit our website.