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Implications of Ice Thickness in Urban and Rural Locations

Student(s):Kaila Banister
Grade Level:Undergraduate
GLOBE Teacher:Christina Buffington
Contributors:
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Air Temperature, Precipitation, Surface Temperature, Land Cover Classification, Water Temperature
Presentation Poster: View Document
Optional Badges:I make an Impact, I am a STEM Storyteller
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:12/03/2021
Urban slough on left and rural slough on right in Alaska. Photos by K. Banister
Arctic and subarctic ecosystems rely on ice for many reasons. There are many organisms that rely on ice formation and ice thickness. Observing changes in this process will help understand the future condition of the water system. How does ice thickness vary in an urban slough location versus a rural slough location? If they are different, what characteristics are associated with ice thickness? Ice thickness measurements from urban and rural slough locations were collected and observed at the end of October and again in the beginning of November in Interior, Alaska. This was to allow time for ice to begin forming. Three measurements of the following factors were taken: ice thickness, snow depth on ice, water depth, air temperature, water temperature and distance from shoreline. The results indicate that the rural location developed thicker ice than the ice formation in the urban location. GLOBE observer landcover and Fresh Eyes on Ice application was used to capture vegetation, terrain, water coverage, structures, and impervious surfaces. It can be inferred that ice thickness in the rural slough location was thicker than in the urban slough location. Keywords: Ice thickness, land cover changes, ice factor measurements, urban and rural location, impervious surfaces



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