The Tundra Microclimate During Snow-Melt at Barrow, Alaska

Abstract

The microclimate of the tundra during spring of 1971 (29 May to 17 June) at Barrow, is described and analysed in terms of the heat balance at the terrestrial surface and the effects of terrain parameters on the heat balance components. Changes through the snow-melting period are large. Within 2 weeks, 35 cm of snow are removed, soil interface temperatures increase by 15°C and the dry snow environment is replaced by a saturated water-soaked tundra surface. As a result, evaporation rates are high: up to 6 mm/day occurs immediately after the snow melt. The latent heat required for this is 40 times higher than during the pre-melting period.