Updated:
May 7, 2009

16 -19 March 2009: Field Campaign

Matthew, Sveta, and Chris measured ~50 SWE cores and 5200 snow depths at the snow fence and SnowNet site and performed SnowNet site maintenance.  Air temperatures were cold (-35 to -15 F), but the sky was clear and wind was absent.  The snow seems relatively deep again (mean is 45 cm) this year, much like last year, and the snow was hard and windblown.  The upwind and downwind snow drifts on the snow fence are impressive.  The crew also interacted with the OASIS group (http://www.oasishome.net/), participated in NSF interviews conducted by Peter Lourie, and examined snow on the sea ice. Below are just a few of the photos from this trip. Additional photos can be found in the Barrow photo section.

What's next?

Our next field campaign will begin April 19th through April 24th at Imnavait Creek. The whole gang will be driving up from Fairbanks to conduct a snow and LIDAR surveys. Then on April 25, Matthew, Art, and Chris will be flying to Barrow to continue LIDAR surveys out on the tundra and sea ice through May 1st.

Out on the sea ice, Matthew looks towards the lead.
The open lead.
Peter Laurie interviews Matthew.
The drift at the Cake Eater snow fence was quite large this year. The snow depth sensor was moved to a higher point this last fall. Looks like we might want to go higher.
Matthew and Sveta working a snow pit.