Table 6 
Cross-sectional area of snowdrifts. 
Total 80 m 
from road 
Traverse East West E/W 
T-1 A 
Area (m~*) 25.0 26.9 
Ratio 0.98 1.05 Oe 
T-3 ; 
Area (m*) 22.0 28.2 0.78 
Ratio 0.86 1.10 
T-5 
Area (m2) 43.7 29 en 
Ratio lez 0.87 i 
T-6 5 
Area (m~) 30.7 35.4 
Ratio 1.20 1.38 oy 
T-7 p 
Area (m~*) 37.6 38.2 
Ratio 1.47 1.49 oss 
T-8 Z 
Area (m~*) 51.2 2251 
Ratio 2.0 0.86 a8 
Total 80 m 
from road 
Traverse North South N/S 
T-9 3 
Area (m~*) 19.9 PAN a7) 
Ratio 0.78 0.85 OS? 
Total 150 m 
from road 
E 150 W150 
29.2 36.9 
0.61 0.77 
35.8 45.4 
0.74 0.94 
65.5 38.9 
1.36 0.81 
41.0 60.3 
0.85 1.26 
70.4 41.9 
1.47 0.87 
Total 150 m 
from road 
North South 
35.5 36.0 
0.74 0.75 
29 
E/W 
0.79 
0.79 
1.68 
0.68 
1.68 
N/S 
0.99 
For each traverse, the top row indicates the cross sectional area of the drift from the road to 80 m and to 150 m. The 
second row, labeled ‘’Ratio’’ compares the cross sectional area of the drift with the cross section area that would be made 
by a similar cut through snow with the constant average depth of 32 cm. At a distance of 80 m this area would be 25.6 m2, 
at a distance of 150 m it would be 150 m2. 
The cross-sectional areas summarized in 
Table 6 indicate the general distribution of 
drifted snow. However, they do not directly 
Depth range 
Average density 
(cm) (g cm 
yield information on the water equivalent in 0-50 0.34 
these drifts because the hard-packed drifted 50-100 0.35 
snow generally has higher density than the aver- 100-150 0.37 
age tundra snowpack. A trend to higher average 150-200 0.39 
density has been observed with increased snow 200-250 0.41 
depth. This can be seen in Fig. 9a, compared 250-300 0.42 
with the shallower pit studies. Based on data 
from drift traps along the Arctic Slope, the If we use these values we can calculate the water 
following general relationship has been establish- equivalent of slices of the drifts summarized in 
ed (Benson 1969). Table 6. The water equivalent of such a slice 
