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/>