High school students visit Providence site for research project
19 Mar 2013
High school students from the Fresno area conduct research at the Providence site on snowpack depth and density - and how those vary around trees.
This winter and spring, Matt Meadows and Erin Stacy are mentoring high school students in snow research. Six students are a part of the 2013 spring project through the educational partnership with CART (the Center for Advanced Research and Technology, in Fresno, CA).
Students hike into sampling site on March 11, 2013.
The current 2013 spring group includes students Sergio Chairez, Chong Vue, Tristan Palmer, Trever Colver, Devan Liles and Darrel Her. They designed a research project to investigate variation in snowpack depth and density (the snow water equivalent) around trees. Variables include the 4 cardinal directions, distance from the tree trunk (inside or outside the canopy), the tree species, and the slope aspect. In addition to measurements they made in the field, students will use sensor data to assess the 2013 winter snowpack. We have made 2 trips to the Providence site to take measurements (on March 11th, and March 18th). The students are analyzing their data and will present their final research project in May.
Students hike into sampling site on March 11, 2013.
News Category:
RESEARCH |
EDUCATION/OUTREACH
Photos
SSCZO - CART Spring 2013 student group
Students cross a meadow on their way to the sampling site, 11 March 2013. Much of the snow in this meadow had melted by just a week later.
CART students and teachers on their first trip to the field, 11 March, 2013 (L to R): Trever Colver, Sergio Chairez, CZO staff Matt Meadows, CART teacher Steve Wilson, Chong Vue, Tristan Palmer, Darrel Her, and Devan Liles.
Matt Meadows, Chong Vue and Sergio Chairez pause for a picture while weighing a snowtube.
On March 11th, the snow was deep enough at some points to need an extension on the snow tube (about 1 m snow depth shown here, on the shaded south side of a meadow).
Sergio and Devan squeeze under branches to reach a sampling point.
CART students on their second trip to the field, 18 March, 2013 (L to R): Devan Liles, Sergio Chairez, Tristan Palmer, Darrel Her, and Trever Colver.
CZO staff Matt Meadows points out the ice layers revealed in the snow pit. After a week of warm weather, snow was melting quickly.
Three of the CART students take a sample from the exposed face of the snow pit with a metal wedge in order to quantify snow density in a certain layer.
The 2013 project was designed to measure the distribution and snow water equivalent of snowpack around the trees. Darrel and Devan wait as Tristan takes a snow sample on the west side of the tree. Snow was very patchy and shallow in comparison to just a week before.
Trever watches as Darrel (middle, black hat) and Tristan (right, striped sweater) weigh the snow in the snow tube.
The Spring 2013 student group from the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART). Six students from CART designed and exectued a research project looking at differences in snow depth and density in relation to trees (including slope aspect, cardinal direction from tree trunk and tree canopy). The students learned how to use a federal snow sampler, and to dig a snow pit for refined snow density analysis. Two trips to the CZO Providence site offered the students onsite experience with CZO staff Matt Meadows and Erin Stacy and CART teacher Steve Wilson. Students will present final work in May.
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