Each April we conduct a snow intensive observation period. Surveys were conducted at Elson Lagoon, Imikpuk Lake, Chukchi Sea, and Tundra. At each of the 4 sites, we measured snow depth and other properties along three parallel lines, each 200-m long, 5 meters apart. Depth and surface elevation were measured at 0.5 m intervals using a laser leveling system and automatic depth probe. Ice or tundra surface elevation was computed from using the depth and surface elevation but is referenced to an arbitrary datum if sea level could not be determined. Snow water equivalent and bulk density was measured at 10 locations using a Federal corer. Stratigraphy was measured in the in 4 snow pits along the principle line at each site using standard methods.

The observations made during this period include:
     1) snow depth and density surveys
     2) surface roughness profiles using a laser level.
     3) snow water equivalent measurements
     4) snow stratigraphy from multiple snowpits.

Snowpit at the Tundra site, April, 2001.