Snow Depth and Snow Density at Resolute, Northwest Territories

Abstract

Observations of the snow depth at 21 sites at Resolute were made twice weekly during the winter of 1957–58. As a result of these observations, and of other observations on snow made for the National Research Council, it is shown that the snow depth and the water content of the snow did not continue to increase during the winter as the snow fell. Rather the strong winds eroded the snow surface and the increase in depth was irregular and relatively slow. Furthermore, the observations on the density of the snow cover lead to the conclusion that attempts to measure the density in similar regions with an accuracy greater than ± 0.05 g. cm.⁻³ are not warranted.