Are the
Snowpack Structures Different
Between the Riparian and Upland
Environments?
Allie B. Cunningham
Winter Ecology
Spring 2015
CU Mountain Research Station
Introduction
Riparian Habitat:
Ecosystems located along the banks of rivers or
streams, or any other water networks. – (Freitag, 2014)
Important habitats for an array of wildlife, both
aquatic and terrestrial.
Water/Streams:
Less dense and warmer waters are on the surface of
the streams during winter time. (Smith, 2013)
Upland:
Area inland from stream
Introduction
• Snowpack: All new and old snow and ice on the
ground.
• Structure: Complex array of snow grains that are
a product of present and past weather
conditions.
• Rounds and Facets
Study Question
• When comparing snowpack in the Riparian
(within 1 meter from stream) and Upland (50
meters away from the stream), are the snowpack
structures different?
Hypothesis
• HO: The snow structure is independent of the
riparian and upland areas near the stream.
• HA: The snow structure is not independent of the
riparian and upland areas near the stream.
• If looking at the snow in the Riparian(distance of <1
m away) and Upland (50 m away) from the stream,
then the snowpack structure will differ due to the
various ecological systems in each area.
Methods
• West Lake Creek, Edwards, Colorado
• Find six study sites.
▫ 3 sites <1 m from lotic streams
▫ 3 sites 50 m from lotic stream
▫ Each with equal open exposure
• Non-random Sampling
• Dig a 2m x 3m plot, and as deep until soil/ice
• Take temperature for each 10 cm layer, the air
temperature & the temperature of water surface.
• Observe snow crystals of each snowpack layer
• Record observations on Snowpack data profile
sheet
Results
Z=70cm
- <1m Snow Profiles
Z=64cm
Z=67
Results
Z=74
- 50 Meter Snow Profiles
Z=70
Results
• Moist vs Wet
Liquid Water
Content
Moist
Wet
<1 m
0
3
50m
2
0
P=.025
Results - Penetrability
Top 2
Layers
4F
1F
F
<1m
2
2
2
50m
0
2
2
Middle 2
Layers
4F
F
<1m
3
3
50m
2
2
Bottom Layer
F
Ice
<1
50
3
2
P=.435
P=1.o0
P=.025
Results- Crystal Shape
Top Layers
Round
Cluster
Rounds
Shattered
<1m
2
3
1
50m
2
1
1
Middle Layers
Facet/Rounds
Facet
<1m
4
2
50m
2
2
Bottom Layer
Ice
Facet
<1
3
o
50m
0
2
P=.732
P=.598
P=.025
Results- Crystal Sizes
• (# of layers with size x)
Size(mm)
1
1.5
2
<1m
0
8
4
50m
3
3
4
P=.076
Limitations
• There was not enough time to run this study and
gain the amount of data needed to make
sufficient conclusions
▫ Length of day, amount of days, amount of plots
• Only 2 plots for the Upland area were observed
because of time restraint.
• Could not find depth of ice.
Discussions
Water
Content
Penetrability Crystal
Shape
Crystal Size
Between All
Layers
.025
n/a
n/a
.076
Top Layer
n/a
.435
.732
n/a
Middle Layer
n/a
1
.598
n/a
Bottom Layer
n/a
.025
.025
n/a
Some parts of the snow structure did support the that
they are dependent on location near stream. (In green)
-water content
-bottom layers of both penetrability and crystal shape
Others snow structures were independent. (in red).
Discussion
• Near Stream- Snow more water saturated, less
insulation properties.
• More wet on ground level=more vulnerable to
becoming iced over.
• The animals underneath the snow can either drown,
become hypothermic or famished. (Hull, 2010)
• Further Studies
Conclusions
• The different locations from the stream (upland
verse riparian) can alter the snow pack in some
ways, however there needs to be a more in-depth
study to have significant results.
• With the wetter snowpack structure along the
stream, it seems hard for animals to have a
habitat in the subnivean.
Acknowledgments
• Special thanks to Dr. Tim Kittel !!!!!!
• My study partner
• And to all you folks that have helped/listened!!
Citations
• Smith, Walter. "Why Do Streams Not Freeze in Winter?"
Appalachian Biodiversity and Society Lab. 8 Jan. 2013. Web. 28
Feb. 2015.
<https://walterhsmith.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/why-dostreams-not-freeze-in-winter/>.
• "Metamorphism, Snow." National Avalanche Center. Web. 28 Feb.
2015. <http://www.fsavalanche.org/metamorphism-snow>.
• Hull, Jeff. "Packed to the Hilt." Audubon Nov/Dec2010, Vol. 112
Issue 6. 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2015.
<http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/55053006/packedhilt>.
• Preacher, K. J. (2001, April). Calculation for the chi-square test: An
interactive calculation tool for chi-square tests of goodness of fit and
independence [Computer software]. Available from
http://quantpsy.org.