THE CLIMATOLOGY OF THE ARCTIC SLOPE OF ALASKA, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING CLIMATOLOGICAL ESTIMATES FROM THE DISTRIBUTION OF VEGETATION

Abstract

The region is bordered on the north by the Arctic Sea and on the south by the Brooks range (about 5000 ft high). The general climatic conditions during the growing season include light but frequent precipitation, moderate temperate, high RH, and much cloudiness. The light winter snowfall drifts continually and tends to leave the hummocks exposed while the vegetation on the sides of depressions remain protected. The macroclimate of the Umiat area in summer and winter should be similar to areas of the USSR that have the same topographical orientation. Preliminary analysis of data suggested that only a few microclimatic elements, such as prevailing wind direction during the growing season and average depth of snow cover in the fall at specific exposures exposures, can be determined directly from aerial photographs. The vegetation forms in most areas were concluded to be influenced by the frost action and soil moisture content. recommendations are mode for improving the techniques of gathering data.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1953
Accession Number
AD0013957

Entities

People

  • John H. Conover

Organizations

  • Boston University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Photographs
  • Air Masses
  • Cameras
  • Climate
  • Dew Point
  • Geography
  • Groundwater
  • Humidity
  • Isotherms
  • Measurement
  • Photographic Materials
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Precipitation
  • Radiation
  • Solar Radiation
  • Weather

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Climatology
  • Polar and Arctic Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design