Collaborative Research-AON: A Snow Observing Network to Detect Arctic Climate Change -- SnowNet-II

学术价值：该奖项将支持在国际极地年(国际极地年2007-2009)期间以SnowNet-I开始的雪观测和技术开发的继续。SnowNet-II观测工作是NSF北极观测网络(AON)的一部分，该网络支持长期的、科学驱动的观测，使研究能够了解北极环境系统的快速变化。怡安是更广泛的北极环境变化研究(SEARCH)的一个组成部分。SnowNet-II的目标是开发积雪测量技术和数据集，使其他人能够回答有关北极变化的关键问题。例如，冬季降水量是否在增加，积雪是如何变化的？雪新技术的发展，基本上是测雪设备的发明，也具有内在的智力价值。SnowNet-II将在(I)阿拉斯加北坡的Barrow和Imnavait，以及(Ii)与加拿大环境部合作，在育空地区的Trail Valley Creek的一个地点运行。将在每个地点运行的仪器包括固态雪水当量传感器、旋转式声波积雪深度探测仪和基于称重传感器的降雨计。此外，Barrow和ImNavait站点的测量将通过长达数十公里的延长雪道和机载激光雷达测量来补充和扩大地理范围。更广泛的影响：SnowNet-II将纠正北极观测网络的不足，通过这样做，该网络应该能够更好地提供能够回答有关北极变化的关键问题的数据。雪网数据向更广泛的科学界免费和公开地提供给CADIS(北极合作数据和信息服务)，这是一个全日空数据储存库。SnowNet包括与加拿大环境部科学家的国际合作。在阿拉斯加北坡的实地考察期间，雪网小组将通过访问巴罗、阿特卡苏克和努伊克苏特的学校，继续其长期参与的教育和对土著人民和北部居民的宣传。

Intellectual Merit: This award will support the continuation of snow observations and technology development that began as SnowNet-I during the International Polar Year (IPY 2007-2009). The SnowNet-II observing effort is part of the NSF Arctic Observing Network (AON), which supports long-term, science-driven observing that enables research into understanding rapid environmental system change in the Arctic. AON is a component of the broader Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH). SnowNet-II aims to develop snow measurement technologies and data sets that will enable others to answer critical questions concerning the changing Arctic. For example, is winter precipitation increasing, and how is snow cover changing? The development of new technologies for snow, basically the invention of snow-measuring gadgets, also has inherent intellectual value. SnowNet-II will operate at (i) Barrow and Imnavait on the North Slope of Alaska, and, (ii) in a collaboration with Environment Canada, at a site at Trail Valley Creek, Yukon. Instruments to be operated at each site include a solid-state snow water equivalent sensor, a rotating sonic snow depth sounder and a load cell-based precipitation gauge. In addition, the measurements at the Barrow and Imnavait sites will be supplemented and extended geographically by extended snow courses on the order of tens of kilometers in length and by airborne lidar surveys. Broader Impacts: SnowNet-II will rectify deficiencies in the Arctic Observing Network and by so doing the network should be better positioned to provide data that can answer key questions about Arctic change. SnowNet data are freely and openly available to the broader scientific community at CADIS (Cooperative Arctic Data and Information Service), the AON data repository. SnowNet includes international collaboration with Environment Canada scientists. During fieldwork on the North Slope of Alaska, the SnowNet team will continue its long-standing involvement in education and outreach to indigenous people and northern residents by visiting schools in Barrow, Atqasuk and Nuiqsut.