Item: Snow and Ice in Caribou-Poker Creeks Research Watershed, Central Alaska
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Title: Snow and Ice in Caribou-Poker Creeks Research Watershed, Central Alaska
Proceedings: Proceedings of the 1982 International Snow Science Workshop, Bozeman, Montana, USA
Authors:
- C. W. Slaughter [ Institute of Northern Forestry, 308 Tanana Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 ]
Date: 1982
Abstract: Seasonal snow and ice study has been conducted in the 104 km2 Caribou-Poker Creeks Research Watershed (Latitude 64°30' N) since 1969. Snow accumulation was measured annually on 1000 M "transects" at four locations on north- and south-facing slopes from 1970-1975. Three standard snow courses and one snow pillow installed in 1969 are operated by the Institute of Northern Forestry, USDA Forest Service (in cooperation with Soil Conservation Service). A special study of snowpack drifting at Caribou Peak (773 M elevation) was conducted in 1975-76, concentrating on snow drifting. The research basin provides good examples of both "taiga" snow (extensive depth hoar development, density < 0.20 g cm-3 ) and of "tundra" snow (extensive drifting, reworking, and wind-packing, density up to 0.45 g cm-3 ). Extensive seasonal ice (aufeis) forms in the valleys of this research basin during most winters. Aufeis can impound up to 10% of total winter streamflow as solid-state storage, with local accumulations up to 3 + m thick and occupying an entire valley floodplain. This aufeis is hydrologically significant: water is stored as ice, for release by melt following the major snowmelt season; aufeis obstructs streamflow, after re-directing flow out of normal channels; aufeis causes severe problems for streamflow measurement programs; aufeis markedly modifies local microclimate and aquatic habitats. The Caribou-Poker Creeks Research Watershed, which has been designated as one component of the national network of Experimental Ecological Reserves, provides an "outdoor laboratory" suitable for long-term observation and research on seasonal snow and ice in the subarctic.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: ice, drifting, aufeis
Page Number(s): 30-31
Subjects: seasonal snowcover snow drifting seasonal ice
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Digital Abstract Not Available
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