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SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Spatial variability of snow and avalanche conditions along a climatic gradient in Central Spitsbergen

Awarded: NOK 12,999

This project will study the regional variability of snow conditions around Longyearbyen and how the regional conditions influence snow avalanche potentials. The fieldwork will run over one winter season (January to May, 2014) and will be the basis for an MSc thesis in Physical Geography. Systematic field investigations of the snowpack in regions surrounding Longyearbyen will be done on a weekly basis to measure the snow packs regional variability and development through the season. Standardised snow prof iles, density measurements and stability tests will be utilised at fixed locations to develop a dataset, to answer a set of research questions: 1) How does the snowpack vary along the climatic gradient from the maritime environment regions near open wat er, to the relatively more continental environments further inland; 2) How the regional snow conditions influence snow avalanche hazard; 3) Measure how the snowpack evolves in its respective influential environment. Ten sampling locations have strateg ically been chosen based on their regional representativeness, elevation and proximity to weather stations. Maritime sampling locations are spread along Adventfjorden while the transitional and continental sites are further inland along the frequently use d snow scooter routes through Todalen, Bødalen and Longyeardalen, as well as the interconnecting mountain passes. The field data will in combination with meteorological data be analysed using spatial statistics to quantitatively describe the regional diff erences in snow and avalanche conditions in Central Spitsbergen. The dataset will also be compared with previous snow studies to investigate the interannual variability in the snow climate.

Funding scheme:

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum