Alpine Level Snow Survey, Gros Morne National Park.
As part of a research study into the climate and weather of Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, a survey of snow cover conditions on the alpine summit area of Big Level plateau, at elevations near 750 metres, is undertaken at the time of maximum snow depth in late winter-early spring.

Photograph shows work being carried out at a prepared snow pit. The vertical variation in snow density and the presence of ice layers denoting thawing and re-freezing are recorded, which will be related to the record of precipitation and temperature from the nearby summit climate station (see last two photographs in Seasonal Characteristics page of Climate section). In addition, samples of snow and ice are being bagged to enable analysis of the changing chemistry of the snow as it accumulated since the previous late fall season; such changes can then be related to the geographical origins of the airflows bringing precipitation to the Gros Morne Park area and compared with other winter seasons.

Reproduced by permission of Colin Banfield. © 1999.