14 March, 2001

Baked Alaska anyone?

The newly-formed snow/ice research team from Fairbanks headed out to Poker Flat Research range yesterday in order to obtain data that could be used to calculate heat flux values for a specific lake (see last year's journal entries to learn more about heat flux or flow.)

The air temperature throughout the day hovered around zero degrees Celsius, and the team predicted that the heat flow values would be quite low. The teachers established temporary transects on one lake and proceeded to measure snow depth, snow surface temperatures, ice interface temperatures, and ice thicknesses (see photos below.) The group also took snow samples in order to calculate snow densities.

ALL MEASUREMENTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN TOMORROW'S JOURNAL ENTRY! A snow "angel" was reportedly seen hovering on the lake, but no photos were taken.

Ron drills furiously in order to determine ice thickness. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

Janet determines the snow surface temperature. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

LOOK!! NO GLOVES!! _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

Using the drill is a balancing act. I fell over & was "drilled" into the ground after this photo was taken. (But no major body piercings occurred!) _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

Notice the thin layer of "snow ice" at the lake surface. What do you suppose has caused it to form? _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com