Water and Soil Chemistry Interactions in the Khumbu Valley, Nepal

In the Khumbu Valley, Nepal, carbon and nitrogen cycling can be tracked through water chemistry and soil sample data. Precipitation and surface water chemistry from the Pyramid International Laboratory and surrounding areas from 2012 to 2014 is evaluated for trends in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and nitrate. The spatial and temporal variability of the surface water chemistry is compared to ratios of carbon to nitrogen in soil samples. Soil carbon to nitrogen ratios decrease with elevation, consistent with dilution in surface water chemistry. The trends explored are representative of the influence of both debris-covered glacier outflow of the upper valley and biogeochemical processes on the water and soil.