CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Assini, J.; Young, K.L.; and Abnizova, A.
Date : 2008.
Title : Variability of snowcover and melt at a High Arctic wetland site.
Publication : 2008 Annual Meetings of the Canadian Association of Geographers, Ontario Division and the American Association of Geographers, East Lakes Division. October 17-19, 2008. Brock University. St. Catharines, Ontario.
Issue :
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Abstract
Snow is considered the predominate input of water to most hydrological systems in the north. This study examined the end-of-winter snow cover and spring melt of a High Arctic wetland ecosystem located at Polar Bear Pass, Bathurst Island, Nunavut (98o 30’ W, 75o 40’ N) from mid-May until July, 2008. Snow surveys were conducted across the different terrain types: wet meadows, ponds and bordering hillslopes using the approach by Woo and Young (2004). Melt was measured directly (Heron and Woo, 1972) and indirectly with a physically based snowmelt model. End-of winter snowcover on the ponds ranged from 28 to 73 mm. Lake snowcover was comparable at 52 mm. Deepest snowcover occurred at the sheltered late-lying snowbed sites (129 mm) and incised stream channels (59 mm). Spring 2008 was cool (avg. Tair = 2.5°C) and melt did not begin until June 9 and persisted for about 20 days. Good agreement between modelled and measured melt indicate that exposed areas with little snow (plateau zones) and windswept ponds melted out earlier (June 17, 2008), while sheltered areas (late-lying snowbed sites) and stream channels melted out 10 days later. Accurate estimates of snowcover and melt are required for assessing the water budget of this wetland system both at the local (pond) and the regional scale. Our plans for 2009 include expanding our snow survey to other areas in the pass and defining more clearly the link between climate and snowmelt across the wetland.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology