TEMPERATURES AND THE SUBNIVEAN ZONE
Meghan Burnham
Rivers2Lake Education Intern
Objectives: Students will discover the insulating effect of snow and understand that temperature
varies according to snow depth. Students will also learn what the subnivean zone is and how it
helps animals survive the winter.
Materials:
Thermometer
Paper
Shovel
Clipboard
Pencil
1 tbsp. Gelatin
Mixing bowl
1 c. water
2 film canisters
Procedure:
1. Have students predict if where the temperature will be the warmest—air, surface of snow, 4 in.
below surface, 8 in. below surface, 12 in. below surface—and why.
2.Divide students into teams to take and record temperatures. (Be sure that all students have a
chance to take some of the temperatures).
3. Go outside and have each team use the shovel to dig a “pit” in the snow at different locations
in your test area. Have them take temperatures at the following locations: the air temperature;
the temperature at the surface of the snow and every few inches below the surface down to
ground level if possible. Have them record their temperatures in a table. (Template at the end of
lesson)
4. Have groups place one canister in a shady, exposed area and bury their second one deep under
the snow.
5. When the surface canister begins to gel, check the buried ones.
6. Return to class and compare temperatures and layer observations.
Discuss how the temperatures are the same or different and why.
How might these differences affect animals struggling to survive in the winter?
Did anyone notice any difference in the snow layers as they took the temperatures?
What do they think could have caused that?
Which ones gelled first?
Why might small animals want to stay under the snow on a cold day?
Evaluation: Have each group share whether or not their prediction was correct or incorrect.
Have each group present their data and explain why the temperatures are different at each level.
Have each group define subnivean, supranivean, and intranivean.
SUBNIVEAN- below the snow
SUPRANIVEAN- above the snow
INTRANIVEAN- within the snow
http://www.nps.gov/glac/forteachers/upload/Winter%20Ecology%20Teacher%20Guide%202010
.pdf
TEMPERATURES AND THE SUBNIVEAN ZONE
Meghan Burnham
Rivers2Lake Education Intern
Group Members_______________________________________________________________________
Date___________________________________
Time___________________________________
Question: Where will the temperature be warmest—air, surface of snow, 4 in. below surface, 8 in.
below surface, 12 in. below surface? Do you know why?
Hypothesis:
Depth in Snow
Air
Surface of Snow
4 in. below surface
8 in. below surface
12 in. below surface
Conclusions:
Observations of layer:
hard, soft, fine,
coarse…
Team 1
Temperatures
Team 2
Temperatures
Team 3
Temperatures