Measuring frost boils

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Hi Stacy!

Looks like you are having a great time! Lots of interesting photos.

I was wondering about the scratched paint on the device that is measuring frost boil movement... Does the hard packed snow cover over the winter scratch the paint? How do they tell the difference between the pin scratches and other things that might mark up the paint?

Also, can you explain to the virtual audience, why we are measuring frost boils in the first place and what this has to do with the rest of the world? Smile

By the way, Hi from all of us!!

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 23

Janet posed two good questions so I will give my best shot at answering them.

First she asked about the heavometers that measure how much heave (rise) the boils have and how we know it is accurate. Well, the platform tends to stay up at the highest mark so you use that to verify your marks. The mark is a very fine line so if something else made marks (fox) you would see several marks from teeth not a nice fine line.

Second, why measure frost boils/hummocks? This is a new question to the team and it seemed to stem from discussions on abundance. The best way to do abundance is to start counting. It also will give them a good idea on differences in size between the different arctic zones.

Hope this helps!