[M-GI25] Environmental changes in mountainous area

[MGI25-04] Observation of snow cover glide on Sub-Alpine Coniferous Forests in Mount Nishihodaka-dake, Northern Japanese Alps

*Akihiko SASAKI¹, Keisuke Suzuki¹ (1.Faculty of Science, Shinshu University)

Keywords:snow cover glide, snow water equivalent, sub-alpine zone, Abies mariesii forest, Northern Japanese Alps

This is the study to clarify the snow cover glide behavior in the sub-alpine coniferous forests on Mount Nishihodaka-dake, Northern Japanese Alps, in the winter of 2016-2017. We installed the glide-meter which is sled type, and measured the glide motion on the slope of Abies mariesii forest and its surrounding slope. In addition, we observed the air temperature, snow depth, density of snow, and snow temperature to discuss relationship between weather conditions and glide occurrence. The continuous snow cover of the 2016-17 winter started on November 23 and disappeared on July 2. The maximum snow depth was 676 cm thick, it was recorded at March 10. The snow cover glide on the slope in the A. mariesii forest was occurred first at December 10. The glide motion in this slope is continuing and its velocity was 0.2 cm per day. The cumulative amount of the glide was 25.1 cm. The snow cover glide in the A. mariesii forest was intermittent and extremely small.