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<br />Tahle 1. T1J(' rn:ljor v"Xlt'rna1 phy!?1cfJJ f,Jclurs Clffl'('t1ng tIlL' \,;'111(1 <br />River SystL'm. <br /> <br />A. Dirl'ct O1tmCJspl1(,ric contribution <br /> <br />(1) l'rt'cipitlltion (dissolved, suspt:Bc!t.d sunst<lncl!s). <br />(2) Dry L:dl (nitrog,(:r!, phosphorus. metals, ete.). <br />(3) Ught (~lJ]ar radiation, pholop,..rlod, intensity). <br />(4) Bent (tl'rlll'Cr,<HUH:). <br /> <br />B. Surface flot.' from a2j<ti,,,,.nt watersheds <br /> <br />(l) Water. <br />(2) Dissolved const.ituents (nutrients, metals, erc.). <br />(3) Suspended canst ituents. <br /> <br />(a) Inorganic (s<ociment. silt. nitrogen, etc.). <br />(b) Organic (detritus. insects, plants, etc.). <br /> <br />C. Upstream contribution <br /> <br />(1) \vater. <br />(2) Dissolved constituents (nutrients, metals, etc.). <br />(3) Suspended constituents. <br /> <br />(a) Inorganic (~,-"ci.ITJ(:!1r, silt. nitrogen, ete.). <br />(b) Organic COt-Hirus, insects, plants. etc.). <br /> <br />(~) Heat (tl':T,peraturE-'). <br /> <br />D. F:vClporation - crystalliz<Jtion process <br /> <br />discharge patterns (Figure 4). <br /> <br />Major stream systems flowing through desert or arid <br />regions usually receive upstream contributions from higher <br />elevations which may receive comparatively high <br />precipitation. The upstream contribution occurs during <br />three periods. The first is spring melting of lowland <br />snow packs (lower basin runoff). Lower basin runoff <br />represents only a small portion of the spring runoff, but <br />the nutrient content of this source water is high. This <br />factor, in combination with the low quantity of water, <br />results in increasing nitrogen and phosphorous levels in <br />the White River at a time when temperatures are increasing <br />(Figures 4 and 6). The second major water input into the <br />White River is the snow melt from high elevations (upper <br />basin runoff). The third is baseflow. <br /> <br />The importance of discharge (seasonal or storm <br />events) on the biological components are numerous and <br />important because of the potential for large biological <br />changes brought about by rapid changes in the physical and <br />chemical environment (habitat). <br /> <br />270 <br />