Snow as a conducting media for Temperature

Jyh-How Huang

Winter Ecology – Spring 2006

Mountain Research Station – University of Colorado, Boulder

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1 145 289 433 577 721 865 1009 1153 1297 1441 1585 1729 1873 2017

East Top Temp

East Mid Temp

East Bottom Temp

What in the world caused these spikes?

Does this travels down?

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2/1 2/8 2/15

2/22 3/1 3/8

Avg Temp

Max Temp

Min Temp

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1 145 289 433 577 721 865 1009 1153 1297 1441 1585 1729 1873 2017

East Mid Temp

East Bottom Temp

East Mid Light

East Bottom Light

And There is Light…

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91 235 379 523 667 811 955 1099 1243 1387 1531 1675 1819 1963 2107

West Top Temp

West High Temp

West Low Temp

West Bottom Temp

Is this light again?

Maybe Not…

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91 235 379 523 667 811 955 1099 1243 1387 1531 1675 1819 1963 2107

West High Temp

West Low Temp

West Bottom Temp

West High Light

West Low Light

West Bottom Light

40cm/28hrs = 1.43cm/hr

Conclusion Snow conducts temperature bi-directionally Really? Bi-directional only? Light is a big influence to temperature Between the two pits

Ground sensors have very similar temperature patterns

Temperature from different pits will vary from depth, snow structure(history), pit location, light, etc…

Temperature data patterns at sensors that can see light is very different from those who don’t

Questions?

Wireless Sensors for Wildlife and Environment Monitoring