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Natural Snowpack Vs. Human Disturbed Snowpack in the Subalpine

Natural Snowpack Vs. Human Disturbed Snowpack in the Subalpine. Brittany Engleking Winter Ecology Spring 2010 Mountain Research Station-University of Colorado. Introduction:. Purpose: Analysis/observe snowpack changes once the snowpack has been disturbed.

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Natural Snowpack Vs. Human Disturbed Snowpack in the Subalpine

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  1. Natural Snowpack Vs. Human Disturbed Snowpack in the Subalpine Brittany Engleking Winter Ecology Spring 2010 Mountain Research Station-University of Colorado

  2. 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:

  3. 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

  4. First Week Snow Profiles: http://culter.colorado.edu/~kittel/WEcol_ExerRes/10_SnowpitAnalysis_Blkboard_loR.jpg

  5. 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

  6. Two Weeks Later:

  7. 3 Weeks Later:

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Questions?

  11. Literature Cited: • Snow Profiles for the 2009 / 2010 Season. Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center. <http://www.nwac.us/photos/view/snowpits/current/>

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