About CLPX Snow Pit Data
Investigators for the Cold Land Processes Field Experiment (CLPX) dug and took measurements from approximately 2,000 snow pits as part of the CLPX project. The majority of the snow pit data were collected within the Intensive Study Areas (ISAs) inside each Meso-cell Study Area (MSA), during the four Intensive Observation Periods (IOPs). In addition, snow pit data were collected across the North Park MSA and in several other areas as part of other field collection efforts.
Although different investigators collected snow pit data for different purposes and in different locations, they all followed the same data sampling protocol and all snow pit data are presented in the same format. See the CLPX Snow Pit Measurements documentation for details of the sampling protocol and data format.
Snow Pit Maps
The following links correspond to interactive maps which display snow pit locations within each regional CLPX study area. Each map contains links to additional detail of each study area. Refer to the CLPX Snow Pit Map Legend in Table 1 for information regarding snow pit type, location, and description, as well as links to select data and documentation.
CLPX Small Regional Study Area Map
Fraser MSA Snow Pit Map
North Park MSA Snow Pit Map
Rabbit Ears MSA Snow Pit Map
Locations of Snow Pits Within Each Intensive Study Area (ISA)
Snow Pit Symbol |
Snow Pit Type | Snow Pit Description |
---|---|---|
![]() |
ISA Snow Pits | 16 pits at the same location within each ISA during each of the four IOPs |
![]() |
IOP1 (22 February 2002) "Gamma" Snow Pits | Pits sampled to coincide with airborne gamma measurements. Part of the ISA Snow Pit Measurements collection. |
![]() |
IOP2 (28 March 2002) "Gamma" Snow Pits | Pits sampled to coincide with airborne gamma measurements. Part of the ISA Snow Pit Measurements collection. |
![]() |
IOP3 (22 February 2003) "Gamma" Snow Pits | Pits sampled to coincide with airborne gamma measurements. Part of the ISA Snow Pit Measurements collection. |
![]() |
IOP4 (28 March 2003) "Gamma" Snow Pits | Pits sampled to coincide with airborne gamma measurements. Part of the ISA Snow Pit Measurements collection. |
![]() |
Main Meteorological Snow Pits | Snow pits sampled monthly from December 2002 through June 2003 near the main meteorological stations. |
![]() |
Snow Pits in the LSOS | Snow pits sampled during the IOPs as part of the Local Scale Observation Site (LSOS) Snow Measurements, and measured periodically from November 2002 through March 2003 in association with the Ground-Based Microwave Radiometer data collection. |
CLPX Small Regional Study Area Map

Detail maps of North Park, Rabbit Ears, and Fraser study areas appear below.