Snow lysimeter troubles

Cover removed from lysimeter bucket to allow cleaning

Another day of sub-zero field work and snow survey difficulties, but we did at least have blue skies and sunshine! First up I had to dig out the lysimeter bucket at the larch site as looking at the logger data it had not moved at all. This is a sure sign of trouble as even during the coldest periods the bucket will tip several times a day due to ground heat melt at the base of the snowpack. I found the trouble - larch needles clogging the bucket intake - and cleaned it all up nicely. Mind you, I had to remove about 70cm of snowpack and get down on my knees to reach it, as it is set well below ground level.

Compared to two weeks ago, barely any new snow had accumulated. This is most rare for January, which along with December generally has the heaviest and most frequent snowfall. The weather can change dramatically over short distances in Japan. While we basked in sunshine all day in Murakami (albeit -3 degrees), the area from Niigata City to the south was getting hit by the biggest snow storm so far this year.