Physical properties and stable isotope composition of snow in the Canadian Arctic tundra and subarctic taiga (Spring-Summer 2018, 2019)

This data set describes snow physical and geochemical observations collected in the Canadian Arctic between March 2018 and June 2019. Snow samples were collected as part of the project entitled "Development of a multi-scale cryosphere monitoring network for the Kitikmeot region and Northwest territories using in-situ measurements, modeling and remote sensing" led by Dr. Alex Langlois, Université de Sherbrooke. Sampling was carried out at two primary locations in the Canadian sub-Arctic and Arctic: Wekweètì (NWT), located just south of tree line, and Greiner Lake Watershed (NU), situated well into Arctic tundra on Victoria Island (near Cambridge Bay, NU). Data are also included from Herschel Island (NWT) and Trail Valley Creek (NWT). Sampling was conducted primarily from spring into summer, with snow samples collected in Wekweètì over the month of March 2018 and Cambridge Bay over the months of April and July 2018, and April to June 2019. Trail Valley Creek was visited in winter, January 2019, whereas Herschel Island samples were collected in April and May 2019. Snow physical properties were measured following the methods outlined in Levasseur et al., (submitted). Briefly, snowpits were excavated along transects to conduct observations of snow stratigraphy, density, temperature, grain size, and grain type following Langlois et al., (2009). Density profiles were measured by extracting snow samples at 3 cm intervals using 192 cm3 and 100 cm3 density cutters. The samples were weighed using a Pesola light series scale (100 g) from which density was calculated. Temperature profiles were also measured at 3 cm intervals using a digital temperature probe (+/- 0.1°C). Snow Water Equivalent was also determined for some layers after Langlois et al., (2009). Snow geochemical properties were also determined following the methods outlined in Levasseur et al., (submitted). Briefly, snow was collected into 1 L HDPE plastic snow containers using a clean plastic trowel. Snow samples were melted at room and/or fridge temperature, with melt progression checked at regular intervals. Once melted, samples were filtered through 0.22 μm Sterivex-GV filters into Wheaton 4 mL Amber Vials with TFE-Lined Caps for the analysis of stable isotope composition (δ18O-H2O and δ2H-H2O). For samples collected in 2018, stable isotope analyses were conducted at the Environmental Chemistry Facility at Brown University (RI) using a Picarro L1102-i Isotopic Water Liquid Analyzer with a standard error of +/- 0.1 ‰ for δ18O-H2O and +/-1 ‰ for δ2H-H2O. For samples collected in 2019, stable isotope analyses were conducted at the University of Calgary using a Los Gatos Research Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer with a reported analytical precision of ± 0.2‰ for δ18O-H2O and ± 2‰ for δ2H-H2O.

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