Snow water equivalent (SWE) is a measurement used by water managers to determine the amount of water stored in mountain snowpacks. The SNOTEL network in the Western United States is located below treeline in wind sheltered locations, but much of the snowpack in mountainous regions is located in areas above tree line and exposed to high average wind speeds. Given the implications for water resources, the study of spatial variability of mountainous snow due to wind redistribution merits further study. In this study, we seek to resolve this gap in knowledge by investigating the wind-snowpack relationship at two co-located sites with differing wind exposure. The Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research station, located in the southern Rocky Mountains, is a water limited system where the effects of wind upon snow is the driving factor of snow depth and melt, thereby controlling water availability throughout the growing season. In this study, we performed correlation and regression analysis between wind speed and direction, snow density, and SWE using a 15-year record of snow profiles and climate data from a subalpine and alpine site. We expect to find that wind is a significant control over the accumulation of snow and snowmelt timing.
Elan.Rochell-share@colorado.edu (contact)
Geography Undergraduate ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, CU Boulder