17 April, 2002

Take a small cookie cutter device and place it into the slab of snow. Pull it out and you now have a snow cookie. Not really, but a metal device is used to measure the density of the snow in the snow pits. The metal device cuts out exactly 100 cubic centimeters of snow. The metal device is then placed on the balance and the snow's mass is recorded. The snow density can be calculated by dividing the mass by it's volume. Remember your SWE density calculations??? Density = mass/volume.

The following density measurements were recorded while

doing a snow pit. Density measurements were taken from each of the snow pit layers.

Assignment: Make a line graph showing the relationship between the snow depth and density.

What relationship exits in this parcticular snow pit between depth and density??

Depth (cm) Density

47.5 0.109

46 0.444

28 0.390

25 0.399

24 0.320

18 0.242

17.5 0.257

13 0.228

9 0.215

WHERE IS MRS. CHEUVRONT??? LET'S PLOT!!! LATITUDE: 69.28171 degrees North

Longitude: 155.51049 degrees West

The Arctic is a windy, white world. The white makes the world have no beginning or end. It encompasses one's very being. Time and placement loses its value and meaning in this world. Disorientated and confused are common feelings. The whiteness can quickly overtake a human.

Clouds moved in over us last night and with the clouds came warmth. The temperature rose 20 degrees. Our departure from camp was during a whiteout. The whiteout lasted for the majority of the day. With the complete whiteness, came wind.

The Arctic wind bites strongly and is unforgiving. It

allows the cold to creep into our layers of clothing.

Measurements are difficult to take during the wind and the whiteness. The body wishes to shut down. The mind keeps pushing the body onward so the tasks can be accomplished.

When the whiteness finally cleared it was evident that our terrain had changed. The snow is deeper, averaging 70 cm, and as far as the eye can see lays this deep snow. Here there are great expanses of whiteness and gradual hills.

Camp is once again hidden between hills providing us with shelter from the wind. Light snow falls upon our evening quarters.

Temperature Max: -16 degrees Celsius Temperature Min: -29 degrees Celsius

Density measurements are taken in the snowpit using the metal cutter.

A balance is used to find the mass of the snow. The cutter is 100 cubic centimeters. Using the balance and the cutter, the density of the snow can be calculated.

Camp is usually taken on frozen rivers. The snowdrifts protect us from the wind.