Snow Retention Research Articles

10.1007/s11475-008-3010-1

Variations in the salinity of virgin soils of solonetzic soil complexes at the Dzhanybek Research Station are characterized on the basis of field materials obtained by the author in 2002–2004. The soil salinity is characterized with respect to the depth of the upper boundary of salt-bearing horizons, the total amount of salts, the content of toxic salts, and the chemical composition of salts. Changes in the soil salinity under dry farming conditions are estimated for the following soil management practices: (1) agroforest amelioration with additional moistening of virgin soils owing to snow retention by the adjacent shelterbelts and forest plantations, (2) intense grazing, (3) soil fallowing after normal tillage to a depth of 20–25 cm, and (4) soil fallowing after deep tillage to a depth of 40–50 cm. It is shown that normal tillage and considerable grazing pressure do not affect the salinity of the studied soils. No definite effect of the shelterbelts on the salt status of the adjacent virgin soils of the solonetzic complex has been revealed. Deep soil tillage strongly affects the salt status of solonetzes: the content of toxic salts in the upper meter considerably decreases. Virgin solonetzes are usually moderately or strongly saline soils, whereas deeply tilled solonetzes are slightly or moderately saline soils.

Snow Characterization at a City Snow Storage Facility

A field investigation involving snow coring, surveying, and melt water collection was undertaken at a city snow storage facility to characterize the snow and melt water in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The investigation revealed a high content of both salts and sediment within the snow, a pile volume of 500,000 m3 , a snow density of 0.63–0.83 g/ cm3 , and an average road salt content of 1.2 g/L within the melted snow. The salt within the Poundmaker snow pile, one of Edmonton’s five snow storage sites, represented approximately 1.5–2.0% of the total amount of salt that was used on the city roads during the 2006/2007 winter. Melt water fractionation took place on-site during the spring melt and salt concentrations in the March melt water (early spring) were often more than 10 times the concentration of the bulk snow. Some of the factors affecting the snow and melt water composition included the snow retention time on streets, snow source, weather/climate, sampling technique, and snow site characteristics/ope...

Modern state of soil salinity in solonetzic soil complexes at the Dzhanybek Research Station in the North Caspian Region

Variations in the salinity of virgin soils of solonetzic soil complexes at the Dzhanybek Research Station are characterized on the basis of field materials obtained by the author in 2002–2004. The soil salinity is characterized with respect to the depth of the upper boundary of salt-bearing horizons, the total amount of salts, the content of toxic salts, and the chemical composition of salts. Changes in the soil salinity under dry farming conditions are estimated for the following soil management practices: (1) agroforest amelioration with additional moistening of virgin soils owing to snow retention by the adjacent shelterbelts and forest plantations, (2) intense grazing, (3) soil fallowing after normal tillage to a depth of 20–25 cm, and (4) soil fallowing after deep tillage to a depth of 40–50 cm. It is shown that normal tillage and considerable grazing pressure do not affect the salinity of the studied soils. No definite effect of the shelterbelts on the salt status of the adjacent virgin soils of the solonetzic complex has been revealed. Deep soil tillage strongly affects the salt status of solonetzes: the content of toxic salts in the upper meter considerably decreases. Virgin solonetzes are usually moderately or strongly saline soils, whereas deeply tilled solonetzes are slightly or moderately saline soils.

MID-WINTER STEMFLOW DRAINAGE FROM BIGTOOTH ASPEN (POPULUS GRANDIDENTATA MICHX.) IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS

Under winter conditions, stemflow drainage in forested ecosystems is often assumed to be a negligible component of the hydrological cycle. This paper reports on mid-winter stemflow drainage from the broadleaved deciduous tree species Populus grandidentata. Stemflow volumes from this species at air temperatures of < 0°C were found to be comparable to rainfall-generated stemflow during summer. Over the three-month period January–March 1993, stemflow ranged from 5.4 to 9.9% of the incident gross precipitation. Expressed as depth equivalents per unit trunk basal area, these stemflow inputs ranged from 1.8 to 4.9 m. These concentrated mid-winter inputs of liquid water to the bases of canopy trees were attributable to: (1) snow interception by the leafless woody frame of each tree; (2) snow retention by glazed ice precipitation associated with the snowfall event; (3) increased temperature at the bark/snow interface caused by the low albedo of the bark tissue; and (4) convergence of snowmelt drainage from steeply inclined upthrust primary branches. The hydrological and ecological significance of liquid water inputs to the forest floor under sub-zero conditions are discussed. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The formation of large marine snow and its sustained residence in surface waters

The formation of large marine snow macroflocs and stringers was monitored at a fixed station in the southern North Sea. During an 18‐month investigation, large marine snow flocs occurred in the water column on nine occasions for periods lasting between 5 and 16 d. Their formation coincided with both high phytoplankton biomass and low windspeeds. Retention of marine snow in the surface layer was related to slow sinking, neutral buoyancy, and rising of the large flocs. Applying a specially developed instrument showed buoyancy to be caused by gas bubbles incorporated in the flocs. Marine snow flotation coincided with periods of oxygen supersaturation in the water column, suggesting that oxygen production could be responsible for gas bubble formation within the flocs. Disappearance of the large marine snow flocs from the surface layer coincided with drastic increases in windspeed, indicating that enhanced wind‐induced turbulent mixing in the surface layer could have resulted in the breakup of these flocs. Formation and disappearance of marine snow had a marked influence on the light regime in the water.

9. Benefits of windbreaks to field and forage crops

Field shelterbelts increase yields of field and forage crops throughout the world. The increases are due to reduced wind erosion, improved microclimate, snow retention and reduced crop damage by high winds. Crops differ in their responsiveness to shelter. Of the field and forage crops tested, winter wheat, barley, rye, millet, alfalfa and hay (mixed grasses and legumes) appear to be highly responsive to protection, while spring wheat, oats and corn respond to a lesser degree. Shelterbelt height and longevity, field width and shelterbelt orientation are major considerations in determining the effect of shelterbelts on crop yields. Precipitation has an effect on the percentage yield increase reported. Generally, percentage yield increases due to shelterbelts have been higher in drier regions or in drier years. By proper shelterbelt design and maintenance and the use of responsiveness crops, shelterbelt benefits to crop yields can be optimized.

Tillage and water conservation: experience in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract. Tillage practices for water conservation in the Pacific Northwest, USA, wheat region emphasize the infiltration and retention of winter rain and snow and suppression of evaporation and transpiration by weeds. The wheat‐fallow system dominates in the semi‐arid areas and winter wheat‐spring crop rotations are most common in the sub‐humid areas. The main features of water conservation during the fallow season include chisel ploughing in the autumn to reduce winter runoff, and spring and summer tillage to kill weeds, minimize evaporation, and conserve seed‐zone water. Water in the seed zone is conserved by establishing a soil mulch having properties that thermally insulate the seed zone while at the same time restricting upward liquid and water vapour flow. Water conservation in the more humid zones involves chisel ploughing in autumn, uphill ploughing, and stubble retention to reduce winter runoff. New practices include minimum tillage and no‐till planting methods which maintain surface residues. However, heavy equipment associated with current trends in no‐till is causing soil compaction which may decrease infiltration rates. Methods under experimentation to improve infiltration with conservation tillage systems include slot mulching, paraplowing, and the use of basin pitters.

Snowmobile impact on old field and marsh vegetation in Nova Scotia, Canada: An experimental study

A study was carried out in Nova Scotia, Canada, to experimentally assess the effect of snowmobiles on old field and marsh vegetation. Snowmobile treatments ranging from a single pass to 25 passes (five passes on five separate days) were administered. The first pass by a snowmobile caused the greatest increase in snow compaction-roughly 75% of that observed after five sequential passes. Snowmobile treatment resulted in highly significant increases in snow retention in spring. Frequency was more important than intensity in this regard.

Geographical Distribution of Post-Glacial Slumping in Southern Alberta

Study of more than 100 post-glacial landslides of the slump variety in the plains of southern Alberta reveals that a remarkably high proportion (87%) has occurred on slopes of northerly, northeasterly, easterly, and southeasterly aspect. While lithologic and engineering properties of the Upper Cretaceous sediments and Pleistocene glacial mantle of this area undoubtedly have conditioned the geological behavior of the earth materials affected, it is here contended that microclimatic factors favoring the accumulation and retention of snow on slopes of particular exposure, or aspect, have more strongly controlled the geographical distribution of the observed slumps. Reasons for and consequences of microclimatic control are discussed.

Reducing the Dependence of Soviet Agriculture on Natural Elements to a Minimum

AbstractSoviet agriculture is still heavily dependent on the vagaries of nature because the findings of geographic research are not being properly applied in practical farming. Such research falls into three successive steps: (1) reclamation (irrigation, drainage); (2) control of natural factors (snow retention, smoke screens for frost control, cloud seeding, artificial melting of glacier ice); (3) complete redesign of regional environments. The author acknowledges the assistance of D. L. Armand, A. I. Budagovskiy, M. I. L'vovich, S. I. Sil'vestrov and L. N. Sobolev, all of the Institute of Geography.

Snow retention for agricultural purposes

Snow retention for agricultural purposes

Soviet Plans for Irrigation and Power: A Geographical Assessment

THE remodelling of nature, and the great construction works connected with it that were undertaken to increase progressively the productivity of Soviet agriculture, are some of the most important of the measures by means of which the Soviet Government seeks steadily to raise the material and cultural level of the people. Works of this kind have been in progress for a number of years over large areas of the country, particularly important being the great construction works in the arid south of the U.S.S.R.?in the forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and desert regions. The chief task here is, of course, to eliminate once and for all the pernicious influence of drought. Even before the Second World War many separate irrigation systems had been built in the Lower Volga districts, in the more arid regions at the foot? hills of the Caucasus, in the Central Asian Republics, Kazakhstan, the TransCaucasian Republics, in the southern part of West Siberia and in a number of other areas. One of the largest constructions of this type was the Katta Kurgan reservoir in Uzbekistan with a holding capacity of 600 million cubic metres and the 350-kilometre Great Fergana Canal named after J. V. Stalin. At the same time a system of integrated agro-technical and reclamation measures began to be employed in the forest-steppe and steppe areas to combat drought. This problem had just begun to attract attention at the close of the nineteenth century. Such outstanding Russian investigators as the great geographer and soil scientist V. V. Dokuchayev, the plant physiologist K. A. Timiryazev, the soil scientists A. A. Izmailsky, P. A. Kostichev and W. R. Williams, the geographer and silviculturist G. N. Visotsky, and the agro-biologist T. D. Lysenko, worked perseveringly in these fields. Already in the nineteenth century, Dokuchayev had proved that the water regimen of the steppe and forest-steppe soils deteriorates gradually as a result of irrational methods of farming; and, with Timiryazev and Izmailsky, he elaborated methods for preventing the further deterioration of the water regimen of the soil. These measures consisted in retaining rain and snow water, ensuring snow retention, initiating a system of ponds and reservoirs surrounded by trees and shrubs, planting shelter-belts in the steppe, completely afforesting huge stretches of sand and other non-arable areas, and utilizing artesian waters for irrigation. Kostichev, too, had elaborated the basic principles of the travopolye system 1 as a means of ensuring a crumb structure of the soil, and proved the great agronomic significance of this system as a means of retaining moisture. W. R. Williams elaborated a consistent system of measures to ensure the steady rise of soil fertility which

The influence of forest cover on snow‐melt

There is presented a survey of important literature on the effect of forest cover on snow‐melt, with recent results of investigations in the Fraser Experimental Forest, near Fraser, Colorado. It is shown that forest management by selective cutting influences greatly the accumulation and retention of snow on the ground. The evidence supports J. E. Church's fir forest possessing a maximum number of glades as the most desirable type for snow conservation.