Fort Lewis College Research

 

During the winter of 2004/2005 Fort Lewis College student Jason Straddling conducted a project at the Swamp Angel Study Plot designed test the effect of dust color on the rate of snowmelt. Here, on April 17 th , Jason and his partner are monitoring one of the three layers of dust which he placed on the snowpack surface, in narrow 'rows', earlier in the winter. The CSAS provided technical assistance and extensive weather and radiation data from our instrumentation at the Swamp Angel site.

By late May Jason's three rows of differently colored dust are clearly showing the effects that dark material at the snow surface has on snowmelt rates. Jason's work nicely parallels the CSAS's 'dust on snow' research and he will continue his project during the winter of 2005/2006.