See also:

Snow depth at Eagle Plains
 
Snow density at Old Crow and Eagle Plains
 
Old Crow River Ice-free Period
 
Temperatures at Old Crow
 
Precipitation at Old Crow

Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op

What is happening?

• This graph shows the year-to-year variation in the amount of snow that is present at the beginning of March, April and May in Old Crow. Years where snow melt was early or late can be easily picked out by looking at May snow levels. For instance, the 2000, 2001 and 2002 springs were late leaving relatively high snow depths at the beginning of May.
• There do not appear to be any trends in the amount of snow accumulation or the rate of snow melt at Old Crow.

Why is it happening?

• Annual variations in winter precipitation levels and early spring temperatures result in year-to-year differences in the amount of snow that is present in late winter and how quickly it melts. Other factors can also affect how fast the snow melts, such as the amount of wind in the spring and how much dirt and debris is present in the snow.

Why is it important?

• Winter snow depth and the timing of snow melt have important effects on wildlife and vegetation. The snow pack provides a winter habitat for small mammals and gives insulation to vegetation located below the snow surface. Large amounts of snow may hinder movement and access to food for some large mammals, such as caribou and moose.
• The timing of snow melt also has an important effect on the start of the growing season, which affects the timing of food availability for many animals and influences the reproductive and vegetative development of plants.

Technical Notes

• The graph presented here covers the span of continuous records of annual snow depth at Old Crow, Yukon Territory. Data is missing for May 1, 1983 and 1997 and March 1, 1998 and 1999. The snow depth record for Old Crow also includes spot measurements made in 1977, 1981 and 1982 (not presented here). May 15 measurements are no longer taken as of 1995.