Data Set Name:     SNOW DEPTH 1995-2001

Contact:      Person  Steven F. Oberbauer
        Department of Biological Sciences
        Florida International University
        Miami, FL 33199
        ph: 305-348-2580
        email: oberbaue@fiu.edu

Source of support: OPP-9321626OPP-9615845, OPP-9907185.  This work is 
part of the U.S. effort of the international tundra experiment (ITEX)

Data set overview:  These data represent initial snow depths on the 
season-extension project study site on May 2nd or 3rd  for years 1995-2001 

Study site:      Toolik Lake Field station, east facing slope above 
entrance stream to lake

Purpose:        Document initial snow depth at study site to determine 
year to year variation.

Treatments:      controls, snow removal (May 2), snow removal + soil
heating (heating started May 4). Treatments are not relevant for this 
data set.

Design:       10 replicates of each treatment in randomized blocks 
located 3 m apart.  Treatment plots are 1.5 x 1.5 m.  Plots 1-30 
represent plots initiated in 1995.  Plots 36-60 represent plots 
initiated in 1997.  

Sampling frequency      May 2nd or May 3rd at the beginning of field 
season

Data collection and processing:      Depth of snow is measured on all 
study plots using a steel tile probe at a single time at the beginning 
of field season and recorded in a notebook.  Depth is measured on each 
of the study plots and the destructive plots with 1-3 replicates that 
are averaged to produce the values presented here.  Measurements here 
simply represent initial snow depths on all plots and are treatment 
neutral at that time of season.  That is, these measurements represent a 
sampling of initial snow depth in the study area.  

Level of precision:     0.5 cm

Data Format:     Microsoft Excel 2000.

Computer:        Data prepared on Dell Optiplex  running Window 98

Data fields     Date (integer), Long (integer), Lat (integer), Plot 
(integer), Snow_depth (integer)

Conditions for use:    No restrictions

Note:    In 1996 data were not collected on control plots of study plots 
initiated in 1995.