Let it Snow!

1. Let it Snow! Snowfall Patterns as Related to CloudSat/AIM/Globe The Canadians, eh!

2. Curriculum Organizer: Processes of Science the study of processes and skills that enable students to develop their understanding of science Life Science the study of the diversity, continuity, interactions, and balance among organisms and their environments to extend students’ understanding of the living world and their place in it

3. Physical Science the study of matter and energy, and their interactions Earth and Space Science the study of the universe and the structure of the Earth to develop students’ understanding of the forces, processes, and dynamic life-supporting qualities of the Earth

4. Relevance of Topic • We want to know about snowfall and the role it plays in the hydrologic cycle, ecology and atmospheric sciences. • We live in a SNOW climate that is present for at least 6 months of the year. • Snow dramatically impacts all aspects of Northern life. • There are relatively few school activities relating to the study of snow.

5. Question • What is the correlation between cloud cover and CloudSat information with the water deposited as snow? Hypothesis • We believe CloudSat data on cloud water content will positively correlate to new snow following a snowfall event.

6. 1) Download weather satellite information (for a 5 day period) to predict when snowfall will occur. 2) Determine CloudSat overpass dates and times. 3) Correlate snowfall predictions with CloudSat overpass dates and times. 4) Conduct the CloudSat protocol. 5) Record the % of water in new snow. 6) Take an average of 10 new snow depths measurements. 7) Calculate the mass of water per square meter on the land. 8) Calculate the width and length of CloudSat image. 9) Relate mass of water on the land to mass of water in clouds as determined by CloudSat. Meterological data from Environment Canada Access to internet, Globe/CloudSat website CloudSat observation recording sheets 100ml measuring container Spring scale (100g) Meter stick/measuring tape Calculator Digital Camera Parabolic Mirror Cloud Cover Chart Method Materials

7. Data Sets and Analysis • Calculate the mass of water in the snow that has fallen within the footprint of CloudSat image (granule) • Calculate the mass of water in the clouds within the footprint of CloudSat image (granule) • Compare these two data sets to see if there is a positive correlation (graphing and numerical comparison) • Email results to CloudSat/Globe/Environment Canada, IPY Scientists and keep school records

8. Discussion • Barriers: adverse environmental conditions preventing studies from taking place; data communication in both directions • Teaching Challenges: English as a Second Language; Scheduling; Computer/Internet access; limited resources

9. Partners • Airport Station Weather Data • Environment Canada • Nunavut Research Institute, Arctic Institute • Aurora, Yukon and Arctic Colleges • Department of Environment, Departments of Education, Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth

10. References/Bibliography • www.globecanada.net/globe/english/activities/snowprotocols.cfm (Snow Protocols) • www.globe.gov • http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca (The Atlas of Canada Snowfall) • http://cloudsat.atmos.colostate.edu/ (CloudSat) • http://www-angler.larc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/predict/cloudsat.cgi (CloudSat overpass predictor) • http://education.nasa.gov/edprograms/core/home/index.html (NASA Programs) • http://www.globe.gov/arc/faq/view.cgi?convert-ut&lang=en&nav=1& (Universal Time) • http://training.globe.gov/sda-bin/m2h?gl/clouds.men (Globe Cloud Quiz) • http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cloudsat/main/index.html (Jet Propulsion Lab’s CloudSat Cloud Quiz) • http://www.taiga.net (Environmental Network hosted by Northern Canada) • http://www.ipy.org (International Polar Year)

11. That’s all…Eh?