uid=MCM,o=EDI,dc=edirepository,dc=org all public read SNWDNS Michael Gooseff michael.gooseff@colorado.edu http://goosefflab.weebly.com https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4322-8315 Andrew Fountain

P.O. Box 751 Portland OR 97207 US

(503) 725-3386 andrew@pdx.edu http://glaciers.pdx.edu/fountain/ https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5299-2273 McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER http://mcmlter.org/ Anna Wright anna.t.wright@colorado.edu https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4709-151X field technician Renée Brown rfbrown@unm.edu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4986-7663 data manager Anna Bergstrom annabergstrom@boisestate.edu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9684-4018 former field crew Hassan Basagic basagic@gmail.com former field crew Thomas Nylen thomasnylen@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9579-8702 former field crew Inigo San Gil

Department of Biology, MSC03 2020 University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131 US

(505) 277-2625 (505) 277-2541 isangil@lternet.edu former data manager 2025-03-11 English

As part of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, a systematic sampling program has been undertaken to monitor glacial mass balance and meltwater flow. This data package includes snow density measurements determined at each stake with snow present on glaciers in Taylor Valley (Canada, Commonwealth, Howard, and Taylor) and Miers Valley (Adams), all of which are located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Included here for each stake are the snow thickness and density for each layer and the average density for each pit. Most measurements began during the 93-94 field season. Adams measurements were established during the 14-15 field season. Measurements are ongoing for Adams, Commonwealth, and Howard glaciers. Monitoring the changes in these measurements over time provides a record of mass balance, and aids in determining the role of glaciers in the polar hydrologic cycle.

Antarctica density glacier mass snow thickness Station Keywords disturbance LTER Core Areas In some circumstances we have the opportunity or need to measure the glaciers in mid-season (Dec).                   View the dates the measurements were made at the following URL: http://mcmlter.org/sites/default/files/snowdates.pdf               

This data package is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which allows consumers (hereinafter referred to as “Data Users”) to freely reuse, redistribute, transform, or build on this work (even commercially) so long as appropriate credit is provided. Accordingly, Data Users are required to properly cite this data package in any publications or in the metadata of any derived products that result from its use (in whole or in part). A recommended citation is provided on the summary metadata page associated with this data package in the McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER Data Catalog (https://mcmlter.org/data), and a generic citation may be found on the summary metadata page in the repository where this data package was obtained. When these data contribute significantly to the contents of a publication, Data Users must also acknowledge that data were provided by the NSF-supported McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research program (OPP-2224760). This data package has been released in the spirit of open scientific collaboration. Hence, Data Users are strongly encouraged to consider consultation, collaboration, and/or co-authorship (as appropriate) with the data package creator(s). Data Users should be aware these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research; thus, coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. Data Users should also recognize that misinterpretation of data may occur if they are used outside the context of the original study. Hence, Data Users are urged to contact the data package creator(s) if they have any questions regarding methodology or results. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of this data package (with all its components), complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Periodic updates to this data package may occur, and it is the responsibility of Data Users to check for new versions. This data package is made available “as is” and comes with no warranty of accuracy or fitness for use. The creator(s) of this data package and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for any damages resulting from misinterpretation, use, or misuse of these data. Finally, as a professional courtesy, we kindly request Data Users notify the primary contact referenced in the metadata when these data are used in the production of any derivative work or publication. Notification should include an explanation of how the data were used, along with a digital copy of the derived product(s). Thank you.

https://mcm.lternet.edu/content/glacier-snow-density-measurements-mcmurdo-dry-valleys-antarctica-1993-2023-ongoing Located in the Miers Valley, this glacier became object of the MCMLTER program study in 2015. 163.582477569580 163.732166290280 -78.097276633989 -78.118713184740 The Canada Glacier a small glacier flowing south-east into the northern side of Taylor Valley.  The glacier receives less than 10 cm of snowfall annually. Its seasonal melting feeds Lake Hoare to the west and Lake Fryxell to the east. 162.894287109375 163.057708740234 -77.598403930664 -77.632133483887 The Commonwealth glacier flows in a southeasterly direction and enters the northern side of Taylor Valley immediately west of Mount Coleman. Named by the British Antarctic Expedition for the Commonwealth of Australia in the early 1900s.   163.197784423828 163.373565673828 -77.545059204102 -77.589111328125 286 286 meter Howard is a small alpine glacier just west of Crescent Glacier, flowing into Taylor Valley on the north from the Kukri Hills. Geologist T.L. Pewe studied and named it for Arthur D. Howard, 163.036087036133 163.147994995117 -77.662025451660 -77.687744140625 717 717 meter The Taylor Glacier is an Antarctic glacier about 54 kilometres (34 mi) long, flowing from the plateau of Victoria Land into the western end of Taylor Valley, north of the Kukri Hills, south of the Asgard Range. The middle part of the glacier is bounded on the south by Beacon Valley.Scott (early nineties British Antarctic expedition) named the glacier for Griffith Taylor, geologist and leader of the Western Journey Party of the British Antarctic expedition.Like other glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Taylor Glacier is “cold-based,” meaning its bottom is frozen to the ground below.   161.683044433594 162.280426025391 -77.721229553223 -77.769035339355 1993-10-25 2023-01-24 The goal of each summer season is to take measurements in early spring (Oct/Nov) and late summer (late January). This provides a measure of seasonal winter/summer changes of glacier mass. Data for the glacier snow densities was submitted by Andrew G. Fountain to the data manager in  August, 1997. The column showing "file name" identifies the original file containing that record.                           These are provenance ascii text files and can be found by the McMurdo LTER data manager's office.    Once submitted, the data manager used Microsoft Excel, Access or/and Toad for Oracle software to produce files that were in more of a relational mode.                            In March, 2000, Thomas Nylen submitted data from the 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons. Instead of lumping all of the snow density values for each glacier under one file, they were    separated into files for each glacier. Metadata fields were also completed at this time.                           In April, 2000, Denise Steigerwald added fields for dataset code and glstkid. Dataset code would allow  the data to be linked to the metadata in a relational database. Glstkid is a code that ties stake records to points on a GIS base map being developed by Michael Prentice at the University of New Hampshire.                      In 2006, Chris Gardner and Inigo San Gil standardized the metadata using the EML format. In addition, metadata was distributed at the LTER Metadata catalogs and Federal metadata clearinghouses.   In 2014, metadata was revamped by Inigo San Gil, using the Drupal Ecological Information Management System (DEIMS)   Metadata completed in 2016 McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER Information Manager im@mcmlter.org McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER http://mcmlter.org/ McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER

The average snowpack density is determined by digging a snowpit near each of the stakes that has any amount of snow present on the surface. The snowpit is dug to the surface of the ice for stakes in the ablation zone and to depth of the previous year's snow surface in the accumulation zone. The different layers in the snowpit are identified in the field. The thickness of each layer is measured and a sample is collected using a 100cm3 metal sampler. Excess snow is removed by a brush and the contents are placed in a pre-weighed bag. The weight is measured using a spring scale. Note about measurement timing: The goal of each summer season is to take measurements in early spring (Oct/Nov) and late summer (late January). This provides a measure of seasonal winter/summer changes of glacier mass. In some circumstances we have the opportunity or need to measure the glaciers in mid-season (Dec). View the dates the measurements were made at the following URL: http://www.mcmlter.org/data/glaciers/timing/snowdates.pdf A Note about Stake names: A stake with an H or V indicates a stake along the ice cliff that forms the boundary of the glacier terminus. An H is a horizontal stake placed into the vertical wall of the glacier terminus, and V is a stake placed into the ice apron at the base of the ice cliff. The vertical stakes were installed to support the horizontal stakes and provide a nearby measure of ablation for a surface with a much different slope.

ADASNWDNS Adams Glacier - Snow Densities mcmlter-glac-adams-snowdensity-20250311.csv 14354 1 1 \n column , " https://mcm.lternet.edu/sites/default/files/data/mcmlter-glac-adams-snowdensity-20250311.csv DATASET CODE DATASET CODE Code representing glacier snow density dataset string Code representing glacier snow density dataset GLACIER GLACIER NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE string NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE STAKE STAKE UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER string UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER DATE_TIME DATE_TIME DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT date MM/DD/YYYY LAYER LAYER Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. string Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. THICKNESS THICKNESS Height of distinct layer in snow pit centimeter real TOTAL_MASS TOTAL_MASS Mass of snow and bag measured by a scale in the field gram 0.1 real NULL None given BAG_MASS BAG_MASS Mass of the bag before adding snow gram 0.1 real NULL None given SNOW_MASS SNOW_MASS Subtraction of the mass of the bag from the total mass gram 0.1 real NULL None given DENSITY DENSITY Snow mass divided by 100cm3, which the volume of the sampling tool used to extract the snow sample gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 NULL None given WEIGHTED_DENSITY WEIGHTED_DENSITY the density times the thickness of the layer, which is used to weight the density if there are more than one layer in the pit gramsPerSquareCentimeter 0.1 real NULL None given AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY the sum of the weighted densities dived by the sum of the thickness of all the layers. gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 SDC SDC (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. string (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. LAYER_DESCRIPTION LAYER_DESCRIPTION Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. string Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. COMMENTS COMMENTS Notes on snow density measurements string Notes on snow density measurements GLSTKID GLSTKID CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) string CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) FILE NAME FILE NAME RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION string RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION CANSNWDNS Canada Glacier - Snow Density mcmlter-glac-canada-snowdensity-20250311.csv 41802 1 1 \n column , " https://mcm.lternet.edu/sites/default/files/data/mcmlter-glac-canada-snowdensity-20250311.csv DATASET CODE DATASET CODE Code representing glacier snow density dataset string Code representing glacier snow density dataset GLACIER GLACIER NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE string NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE STAKE STAKE UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER string UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER DATE_TIME DATE_TIME DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT date MM/DD/YYYY LAYER LAYER Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. string Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. THICKNESS THICKNESS Height of distinct layer in snow pit centimeter real TOTAL_MASS TOTAL_MASS Mass of snow and bag measured by a scale in the field gram 0.1 real NULL None given BAG_MASS BAG_MASS Mass of the bag before adding snow gram 0.1 real NULL None given SNOW_MASS SNOW_MASS Subtraction of the mass of the bag from the total mass gram 0.1 real NULL None given DENSITY DENSITY Snow mass divided by 100cm3, which the volume of the sampling tool used to extract the snow sample gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 NULL None given WEIGHTED_DENSITY WEIGHTED_DENSITY the density times the thickness of the layer, which is used to weight the density if there are more than one layer in the pit gramsPerSquareCentimeter 0.1 real NULL None given AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY the sum of the weighted densities dived by the sum of the thickness of all the layers. gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 SDC SDC (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. string (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. LAYER_DESCRIPTION LAYER_DESCRIPTION Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. string Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. COMMENTS COMMENTS Notes on snow density measurements string Notes on snow density measurements GLSTKID GLSTKID CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) string CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) FILE NAME FILE NAME RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION string RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION COMSNWDNS Commonwealth Glacier - Snow Densities mcmlter-glac-commonwealth-snowdensity-20250311.csv 297040 1 1 \n column , " https://mcm.lternet.edu/sites/default/files/data/mcmlter-glac-commonwealth-snowdensity-20250311.csv DATASET CODE DATASET CODE Code representing glacier snow density dataset string Code representing glacier snow density dataset GLACIER GLACIER NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE string NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE STAKE STAKE UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER string UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER DATE_TIME DATE_TIME DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT date MM/DD/YYYY LAYER LAYER Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. string Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. THICKNESS THICKNESS Height of distinct layer in snow pit centimeter real TOTAL_MASS TOTAL_MASS Mass of snow and bag measured by a scale in the field gram 0.1 real NULL None given BAG_MASS BAG_MASS Mass of the bag before adding snow gram 0.1 real NULL None given SNOW_MASS SNOW_MASS Subtraction of the mass of the bag from the total mass gram 0.1 real NULL None given DENSITY DENSITY Snow mass divided by 100cm3, which the volume of the sampling tool used to extract the snow sample gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 NULL None given WEIGHTED_DENSITY WEIGHTED_DENSITY the density times the thickness of the layer, which is used to weight the density if there are more than one layer in the pit gramsPerSquareCentimeter 0.1 real NULL None given AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY the sum of the weighted densities dived by the sum of the thickness of all the layers. gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 SDC SDC (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. string (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. LAYER_DESCRIPTION LAYER_DESCRIPTION Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. string Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. COMMENTS COMMENTS Notes on snow density measurements string Notes on snow density measurements GLSTKID GLSTKID CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) string CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) FILE NAME FILE NAME RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION string RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION HOWSNWDNS Howard Glacier - Snow Density mcmlter-glac-howard-snowdensity-20250311.csv 131425 1 1 \n column , " https://mcm.lternet.edu/sites/default/files/data/mcmlter-glac-howard-snowdensity-20250311.csv DATASET CODE DATASET CODE Code representing glacier snow density dataset string Code representing glacier snow density dataset GLACIER GLACIER NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE string NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE STAKE STAKE UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER string UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER DATE_TIME DATE_TIME DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT date MM/DD/YYYY LAYER LAYER Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. string Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. THICKNESS THICKNESS Height of distinct layer in snow pit centimeter real TOTAL_MASS TOTAL_MASS Mass of snow and bag measured by a scale in the field gram 0.1 real NULL None given BAG_MASS BAG_MASS Mass of the bag before adding snow gram 0.1 real NULL None given SNOW_MASS SNOW_MASS Subtraction of the mass of the bag from the total mass gram 0.1 real NULL None given DENSITY DENSITY Snow mass divided by 100cm3, which the volume of the sampling tool used to extract the snow sample gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 NULL None given WEIGHTED_DENSITY WEIGHTED_DENSITY the density times the thickness of the layer, which is used to weight the density if there are more than one layer in the pit gramsPerSquareCentimeter 0.1 real NULL None given AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY the sum of the weighted densities dived by the sum of the thickness of all the layers. gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 SDC SDC (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. string (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. LAYER_DESCRIPTION LAYER_DESCRIPTION Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. string Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. COMMENTS COMMENTS Notes on snow density measurements string Notes on snow density measurements GLSTKID GLSTKID CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) string CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) FILE NAME FILE NAME RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION string RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION TAYSNWDNS Taylor Glacier - Snow Density mcmlter-glac-taylor-snowdensity-20250311.csv 1623 1 1 \n column , " https://mcm.lternet.edu/sites/default/files/data/mcmlter-glac-taylor-snowdensity-20250311.csv DATASET CODE DATASET CODE Code representing glacier snow density dataset string Code representing glacier snow density dataset GLACIER GLACIER NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE string NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE STAKE STAKE UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER string UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER DATE_TIME DATE_TIME DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT date MM/DD/YYYY LAYER LAYER Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. string Unit of snow identified as distinct by hardness from other units in a snow pit. THICKNESS THICKNESS Height of distinct layer in snow pit centimeter real TOTAL_MASS TOTAL_MASS Mass of snow and bag measured by a scale in the field gram 0.1 real NULL None given BAG_MASS BAG_MASS Mass of the bag before adding snow gram 0.1 real NULL None given SNOW_MASS SNOW_MASS Subtraction of the mass of the bag from the total mass gram 0.1 real NULL None given DENSITY DENSITY Snow mass divided by 100cm3, which the volume of the sampling tool used to extract the snow sample gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 NULL None given WEIGHTED_DENSITY WEIGHTED_DENSITY the density times the thickness of the layer, which is used to weight the density if there are more than one layer in the pit gramsPerSquareCentimeter 0.1 real NULL None given AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY AVG_SNOWPACK_DENSITY the sum of the weighted densities dived by the sum of the thickness of all the layers. gramsPerCubicCentimeter 0.1 real 0 1 SDC SDC (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. string (snow density competency) - a qualitative description of how readable the sample was extracted from the snow pit. One (1) indicates that a good sample, with little snow loss was collected, 2 indicates some loss of snow, while 3 indicates that obtaining a nearly complete sample was not possible due to either the lack of cohesion of the snow or the snow wasto hard to collect a sample. LAYER_DESCRIPTION LAYER_DESCRIPTION Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. string Field observations of the snow layer: hardness of the snow, and snow grain shapes and sizes. COMMENTS COMMENTS Notes on snow density measurements string Notes on snow density measurements GLSTKID GLSTKID CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) string CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING) FILE NAME FILE NAME RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION string RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION