Lake Ice and
Snow Science
LAKE ICE: Phenology at Poker Flat Research Range
Since Fall 1999, ice and snow data have been acquired at Poker Flat Research Range approximately 50 km northeast of Fairbanks, AK.
The freeze-up patterns at the 11 PFRR ponds are not systematic. In 2003, the ponds freeze over only to completely melt out again before the seasonal ice cover is established.
The break-up patterns of the 11 PFRR ponds is orderly compared to freeze-up. The ponds at PFRR have broken-up at increasingly earlier dates in the 4 years for which there are data.
PHENOLOGY FOR
MST POND AT PFRR
| Ice Growth Season | FU date (100% ice) MM/DD/YY |
BU date (0% ice) MM/DD/YY |
Ice duration (days) |
| 2000-2001 | 10/02/00 | 05/16/01 | 227 |
| 2001-2002 | 10/13/01 | 05/20/02 | 220 |
| 2002-2003 | 10/11/02 | 05/12/03 | 214 |
| 2003-2004 | 10/16/03 | 05/07/04 | 207 |
| 2004-2005 | 10/16/04 | 05/03/05 | 200 |
At MST Pond, freeze-up was about 2 weeks later and break-up was about 2 weeks earlier in the 2004-2005 season than in 2000-2001. This leads to a 27 day reduction in the ice cover duration.
QUESTION: What environmental factors might lead to such a reduction of the ice cover duration in Interior Alaska?