Seasonal changes in the snowpack have a profound influence on the movement, energy expenditure, and population dynamics of wildlife occupying snow-covered regions. However, in areas with sparse meteorologic data and complex terrain, the key process governing snowpack properties remain poorly understood. As a result, there is considerable uncertainty in the understanding of how snowpack dynamics impact wildlife populations. Thus, the impacts of climate change on wildlife inhabiting snowy landscapes are difficult to predict.
Our project seeks to understand the key factors driving snow processes, with the goal of determining which snow properties are most important for wildlife applications. Through these investigations, we aim to improve the understanding of how snowpack dynamics affect wildlife. This research builds on prior work from the Dall Sheep Project and the Washington Predator-Prey Project. |
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Study System
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This research is primarily funded by NASA's Interdisciplinary Science Program (IDS) and Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE). We receive additional support from the Graubard Fellowship in the Program on Climate Change at the University of Washington.
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photo: Jessica Lundquist