Research on the seasonal snow of the Arctic Slope. Annual progress report, January 16, 1987--January 15, 1988
This project deals with the seasonal snow on Alaska`s Arctic Slope. Although it is concentrated on snow of the R{sub 4}D project area, it is important to relate the snow cover of this area with the rest of the Arctic Slope. The goals include determination of the amount of precipitation which comes a...
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ftosti:oai:osti.gov:10183426 2023-07-30T04:01:00+02:00 Research on the seasonal snow of the Arctic Slope. Annual progress report, January 16, 1987--January 15, 1988 Benson, C.S. 2008-06-19 application/pdf http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10183426 https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10183426 https://doi.org/10.2172/10183426 unknown http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10183426 https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10183426 https://doi.org/10.2172/10183426 doi:10.2172/10183426 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ALASKAN NORTH SLOPE SNOW SEASONAL VARIATIONS ARCTIC REGIONS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION WIND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS MELTING PROGRESS REPORT 2008 ftosti https://doi.org/10.2172/10183426 2023-07-11T11:01:42Z This project deals with the seasonal snow on Alaska`s Arctic Slope. Although it is concentrated on snow of the R{sub 4}D project area, it is important to relate the snow cover of this area with the rest of the Arctic Slope. The goals include determination of the amount of precipitation which comes as snow, the wind transport of this snow and its depositional pattern as influenced by drifting, the physical properties of the snow, the physical processes which operate in it, the proportions of it which go into evaporation, infiltration and runoff, and the biological role of the snow cover. The 1984--1985, 1985--1986 and 1986--1987 seasonal snow was measured to determine its total quantity, its physical structure and its distribution as a function of wind and topography. Observations of meteorological parameters and snowpack characteristics during winter and spring have yielded information on the seasonal evolution of the snow in quantitative terms. A method of determining melt rates over large regions was developed and is being refined, progress was made on a model describing energy flux sources which control snow melting. A strong control is exerted by air mass advection on a broad scale. We are continuing to devote attention to the sources of energy and energy transfer mechanisms which control snow melt. The 1986 snow melt was two weeks later than the 1987 and 1985 meltouts. The delay was caused by advection of cold air from the Arctic Ocean. When it did get underway melting was very rapid and the snow pack disappeared in only half the time taken in 1985. Other/Unknown Material Arctic Arctic Ocean north slope Alaska SciTec Connect (Office of Scientific and Technical Information - OSTI, U.S. Department of Energy) Arctic Arctic Ocean |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
SciTec Connect (Office of Scientific and Technical Information - OSTI, U.S. Department of Energy) |
op_collection_id |
ftosti |
language |
unknown |
topic |
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ALASKAN NORTH SLOPE SNOW SEASONAL VARIATIONS ARCTIC REGIONS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION WIND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS MELTING PROGRESS REPORT |
spellingShingle |
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ALASKAN NORTH SLOPE SNOW SEASONAL VARIATIONS ARCTIC REGIONS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION WIND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS MELTING PROGRESS REPORT Benson, C.S. Research on the seasonal snow of the Arctic Slope. Annual progress report, January 16, 1987--January 15, 1988 |
topic_facet |
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ALASKAN NORTH SLOPE SNOW SEASONAL VARIATIONS ARCTIC REGIONS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION WIND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS MELTING PROGRESS REPORT |
description |
This project deals with the seasonal snow on Alaska`s Arctic Slope. Although it is concentrated on snow of the R{sub 4}D project area, it is important to relate the snow cover of this area with the rest of the Arctic Slope. The goals include determination of the amount of precipitation which comes as snow, the wind transport of this snow and its depositional pattern as influenced by drifting, the physical properties of the snow, the physical processes which operate in it, the proportions of it which go into evaporation, infiltration and runoff, and the biological role of the snow cover. The 1984--1985, 1985--1986 and 1986--1987 seasonal snow was measured to determine its total quantity, its physical structure and its distribution as a function of wind and topography. Observations of meteorological parameters and snowpack characteristics during winter and spring have yielded information on the seasonal evolution of the snow in quantitative terms. A method of determining melt rates over large regions was developed and is being refined, progress was made on a model describing energy flux sources which control snow melting. A strong control is exerted by air mass advection on a broad scale. We are continuing to devote attention to the sources of energy and energy transfer mechanisms which control snow melt. The 1986 snow melt was two weeks later than the 1987 and 1985 meltouts. The delay was caused by advection of cold air from the Arctic Ocean. When it did get underway melting was very rapid and the snow pack disappeared in only half the time taken in 1985. |
author |
Benson, C.S. |
author_facet |
Benson, C.S. |
author_sort |
Benson, C.S. |
title |
Research on the seasonal snow of the Arctic Slope. Annual progress report, January 16, 1987--January 15, 1988 |
title_short |
Research on the seasonal snow of the Arctic Slope. Annual progress report, January 16, 1987--January 15, 1988 |
title_full |
Research on the seasonal snow of the Arctic Slope. Annual progress report, January 16, 1987--January 15, 1988 |
title_fullStr |
Research on the seasonal snow of the Arctic Slope. Annual progress report, January 16, 1987--January 15, 1988 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Research on the seasonal snow of the Arctic Slope. Annual progress report, January 16, 1987--January 15, 1988 |
title_sort |
research on the seasonal snow of the arctic slope. annual progress report, january 16, 1987--january 15, 1988 |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10183426 https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10183426 https://doi.org/10.2172/10183426 |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Ocean north slope Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean north slope Alaska |
op_relation |
http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10183426 https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10183426 https://doi.org/10.2172/10183426 doi:10.2172/10183426 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.2172/10183426 |
_version_ |
1772811713573289984 |