OUTLINEOUTLINE

IntroductionIntroductionBackground information Background information

HypothesisHypothesisMethodsMethodsResultsResultsDiscussionDiscussionConclusion Conclusion

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

The purpose of this investigation is to The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether or not urbanization has a determine whether or not urbanization has a significant effect on snow properties by significant effect on snow properties by sampling such properties and analyzing them sampling such properties and analyzing them in detailin detailOnce analyzed, the results will be graphed to Once analyzed, the results will be graphed to show correlations with one another and to show correlations with one another and to show whether or not noticeable trends exist show whether or not noticeable trends exist with urbanizationwith urbanization

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Snow Properties:Snow Properties:– TemperatureTemperature– DepthDepth– DensityDensity– Albedo Albedo – SnowmeltSnowmelt– Snow water EquivalenceSnow water Equivalence– Distribution Distribution

HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS

After a thorough investigation in both urban After a thorough investigation in both urban and rural environments and their respective and rural environments and their respective snow properties, it should be evident that snow properties, it should be evident that urbanization plays a major role in affecting urbanization plays a major role in affecting these propertiesthese properties

THE ROUTETHE ROUTE

METHODSMETHODS

Sampling commenced downtown Toronto Sampling commenced downtown Toronto on King St. and continued North for on King St. and continued North for approximately 120km to just North of approximately 120km to just North of BarrieBarrieSamples were taken at most major Samples were taken at most major intersectionsintersectionsInfrared thermometer was usedInfrared thermometer was used

to determine surface temperatureto determine surface temperature

METHODSMETHODS

25cm x 25cm quadrant was25cm x 25cm quadrant wasused for snow samples thenused for snow samples then weighed instantly in a zip-loc weighed instantly in a zip-loc bag on a portable electronic balancebag on a portable electronic balance

Depth was measured with a meter stickDepth was measured with a meter stickSWE was derived by plugging density and SWE was derived by plugging density and depth into the SWE equationdepth into the SWE equation

RESULTSRESULTS

As distance from the downtown core increases, there is a slight decrease in the surface temperature of the snow

RESULTSRESULTS

As distance from the downtown core increases, again there is a slight decrease in snow density

RESULTSRESULTS

As distance from the downtown core increases, snow depth on the other hand increases slightly

RESULTSRESULTS

As distance from the downtown core increases, there is a very slight decrease in Snow-Water Equivalence with random explainable peaks en route

COMPARING RESULTSCOMPARING RESULTS

CORRELATIONS

Figure #5: Correlation between Temperature and Density across the GTA at the selected sample sites taken on Februray 17, 2007

y = 63.776x - 16278R2 = 0.4061

050

100150200250300350400450

257.5 258 258.5 259 259.5 260 260.5 261 261.5

Temperature (K)De

nsity

(Kg/

m^3

)

Figure #6: Correlation between Temperature and Depth across the GTA at the selected sample sites taken on Februray 17,

2007

y = -0.0328x + 8.7117R2 = 0.6945

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

257.5 258 258.5 259 259.5 260 260.5 261 261.5

Temperature (K)

Dept

h (M

)

CORRELATIONS

Figure #7: Correlation between Temperature and Density across the GTA at the selected sample sites taken on Februray

17, 2007

y = -2048.4x + 656.79R2 = 0.6509

050

100150200250300350400450

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3

Depth (m)

Dens

ity (K

g/m

^3)

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSIONReferring to the data collected, there are possible errors involved in the collection of this data

The investigation commenced at the downtown core and continued North for about 120km

During this time incoming solar radiation affected the results and for example made the surface temperature greater in the North than it would have been if the samples were taken at the exact time of day

Due to the fact that we are not 20 people, avoiding such an error was far from possible

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION

Another error involved in this investigation was the fact that there was a severe snow storm about 3 days before these snow samples were taken

This was a regional storm throughout southern Ontario and diminishes the local effects of urbanization

Many factors are involved in the trends in this investigation such as anthropogenic heat release affecting samples taken near buildings such as downtown and on the York campus

Interception of snowfall/radiation, albedo, vegetation, materials, pollutants and road salts

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

After a thorough investigation in both urban After a thorough investigation in both urban and rural environments and their respective and rural environments and their respective snow properties, one can notice that there is an snow properties, one can notice that there is an obvious trend in these properties as proximity obvious trend in these properties as proximity from the downtown core increases due to from the downtown core increases due to urbanizationurbanization

HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS

After a thorough investigation in both urban After a thorough investigation in both urban and rural environments and their respective and rural environments and their respective snow properties, it should be evident that snow properties, it should be evident that urbanization plays a major role in affecting urbanization plays a major role in affecting these propertiesthese properties

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