General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

thermometer [.1]

Patents

N/A

General Description

Clear colourless glass; black scale; metallic bulb; thin silver line of mercury.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

22.6 cm

Width

N/A

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Chemistry

Category

Test-measurement equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

British Columbia

Period

late 1970’s – ca. 2000’s

Canada

Parks Canada operates a snow study plot in Rogers Pass National Historic Site of Canada in Glacier National Park, B.C. Combined with meteorological data, the daily information gathered, recorded and monitored from studying the snowpack was used to produce daily avalanche forecasts and bulletins. Set in the context of “Snow Research” for “Avalanche Control”.

Function

Part of the snow study kit, these standard thermometers were used to measure the temperature within the snow pack, where temperatures can fluctuate drastically (called the temperature gradient) - from the warmer snow temps which promote high crystal growth rate found in deeper layers, to cooler temps that favor slower crystal growth rate typically found nearer the surface. Generally, snow crystal growth increases under high temperature gradients where the formation of faceting of the crystals is associated with unstable snow, weak layers and bonds, and favorable to avalanche conditions. At lower temperature gradients however, snow crystal growth is slower, promoting rounded snow crystals whose bonds are stronger - a more stable snowpack .

Technical

These standard thermometers can be used to determine air temperature as well as snow temperatures within the snowpack.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

None.

Missing

Nothing missing.

Finish

Clear colourless glass; black scale; metallic bulb; thin silver line of mercury.

Decoration

None.