1. Snow Characteristics over Alaska: A Study of Alaskan Climate and its relationship to Snow Quality Marla R. Knebl GIS in Water Resources Fall 2002

2. Why study the climate of snow- covered regions? Much evidence of climate change in polar regions. Rapid climate shifts in snow-covered areas.

4. Goals of Project To gather data across Alaska in three areas: land use, climate, and snow/ice. To create a geodatabase of these datasets. To research causes of variations in snow characteristics. To better understand and demonstrate the feedbacks between snow quality and climate, mainly through the alteration of albedo, α

5. Land Cover over Alaska Coverage according to vegetation types. Much of snow is seasonal with vegetation near or at the surface. Cell_ValueVegetation_Class 0Ocean Water 1Water 2Permanent Ice & Snow 3Alpine Tundra & Barrens 4Dwarf Shrub Tundra 5Tussock Sedge/Dwarf Shrub Tundra 6Moist Herbaceous/Shrub Tundra 7Low Shrub/Lichen Tundra 8Low Shrub Tussock Tundra 9Low & Tall Shrub

6. How does Snow Affect Climate? Temperature: affected by snow extent Albedo : reflectivity of a surface. Impure snow decreases albedo. Hydrology; runoff effects, precipitation change. Large influence from the melting and freezing of snow. Sea Level; receding glaciers  sea level rise.

7. Z.L. Yang, 2002

8. DEM and State Roads  Topography dictates population concentration.  Clusters of human influence – predict resultant changes in snow quality.

10. Alaska: Counties & Cities

11. Positive Feedback of Albedo Decrease More energy retained in system Albedo decreases Warmer Less solar energy temperatures reflected Ice and snow melt A. Lynch, 2002

12. Negative Feedback of Albedo Decrease More energy retained in system Albedo increases Warmer More solar energy temperatures reflected More evaporation More clouds A. Lynch, 2002

13. Albedo over Alaska:.25 Degree Grid

14. Event Tables created from NOAA, Alaska Climate Data Center

15. Snow Coverages Glacial Moraine

16. Future Work Include more data points (selected cities) to strengthen climate trends.Include more data points (selected cities) to strengthen climate trends. Incorporate more snow data from NSIDC:Incorporate more snow data from NSIDC:  Snow composition data (soot, dust, manganese).  Snow composition data (soot, dust, manganese).  Wet vs. Dry snow.  Wet vs. Dry snow.