15 March, 2002

Climate

Partly Cloudy, High 32, Low -5

Fridays are used for data entry. As of next week and

on, we will be going to Poker Flat on Mondays,

Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Data entry will be

done on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Measurements from

Poker Flat and Aurora ponds are entered in a data

based software called Sigma Plot. Igor is also used

but specifically for graphing purposes.

The Science Behind Ice thickness and Heat Flow

Have you decided which week ice will break up this

year? As explained before

January 24th journal entry-Ice thickness, ice

thickness measurements are recorded from either

drilling procedures or hotwire gauges. All but

Jalpertia pond have from 3 to 8 hotwire gauges each.

When ice grows downward, energy released from latent

heat of fusion or crystallization typically rises to

the atmosphere. Freezing point is 0 C (32 F) and the

atmosphere during the winter is colder than freezing

point. Heat will flow towards colder temperatures. To

better understand this concept, think of an old house

without insulation during the winter-heat is always

escaping through cracks and small openings.

Topic of the Day

The Nenana Ice Classic

http://www.ptialaska.net/~tripod is a traditional

event on the Nenana River in Tanana, outside of

Fairbanks. During the old railroad days, people made

bets on ice break up times using a tripod made from

sticks with a string attached to a clock. The tripod

is then placed on the ice. When the ice breaks, the

tripod will fall pulling the string and stopping the

clock. Ice break up documentations go way back to

1917. The tradition continues using a more

sophisticated tripod attached to a clock with a siren.

The person (s) with the exact time or perhaps the

closest will win. According to these records, average

break up is now 5.5 days earlier than in 1917. This

calls for some concerns for our global climate.

So, What Do You Think?

How is thermal conductivity associated with snow?

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