Natural Snowpack Vs. Human Disturbed Snowpack
in the Subalpine
Brittany EnglekingWinter EcologySpring 2010Mountain Research Station-University of Colorado
Introduction: Purpose: Analysis/observe
snowpack changes once the snowpack has been disturbed.
Background: Digging snow pits disturbs the pack
Why/Objectives: Harmful to ecosystem? Animals/Soil
What we already know:
Methods: Site: Open exposed ground
surrounded by conifers.
1. Supplies
2. Setup
3. Record Data/Observations
Now leave this area alone for a couple of weeks… (in my case I collected data 2 weeks later then 1 week after that)
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/362480main_PainterPres2_400.jpg
First Week Snow Profiles:
http://culter.colorado.edu/~kittel/WEcol_ExerRes/10_SnowpitAnalysis_Blkboard_loR.jpg
The Second Week: Come back to the same
site
Test the undisturbed snow for comparison.
Dig two more snow pits:
Middle of Trench
Middle where we had piled up the snow: (near pit #2 from the first week also)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-iWijYO88k/R4-9kOgkGeI/AAAAAAAAChg/M1khJ1FTIuA/s400/SnowflakesWilsonBentley.jpg
Two Weeks Later:
3 Weeks Later:
Conclusion: Disturbed snow had no TG
on bottom=no subnevien space for animals
Animals must move along surface=exposed to predation
http://centria.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/dsc01302.jpg
Conclusion (count.) Shallower snowpack
Different layers than surrounding snow
Confusion of what the weak layers are if testing for an avalanche
Soil under/where snow used to be effected-colder/no longer a stable environment
Questions?
Literature Cited:
Snow Profiles for the 2009 / 2010 Season. Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center. <http://www.nwac.us/photos/view/snowpits/current/>