n 



Figure 37. Aerial oblique photograph of the hot-pipe 

 test section and the adjacent undisturbed birch and 

 spruce stands (photograph by Don Borchert and heli- 

 copter (light by Alyeska). 



Abiotic 



It was not possible to undertake any continuous measurements of microclimates (temperature, 

 wind, humidity, etc.) at sites along the gradient since the sites were visited briefly and, in most 

 cases, were not revisited, so that microclimate monitoring equipment or recorded data could 

 not be retrieved. 



However, the climatic data from Fairbanks permit several generalizations to be made about 

 the 1970 summer climate in the interior. Both temperature and precipitation appeared to be weU 

 within the normal range. June was slightly wetter than normal; July and August were slightly 

 warmer than normal. All averages were within a standard deviation of the 30-year normal mean fa 

 Fairbanks. Temperatures at several alpine sites have been monitaed by USA CRREL for a number 

 of years. These temperatures also appeared to be near normal. Table XXXVII presents a summary 

 of these data and those of a new lowland station at West Fork, near the junction of the TAPS road 

 and Elliott Highway. 



In early June 1970, thermocouples were installed at two sites in the birch and spruce stands 

 adjacent to the hot pipe on the University of Alaska campus. Figure 37 is an aerial ablique photo- 

 graph of the site. 



