Module 4

Snow Accumulation

I took these pictures of snow accumulation right up Logan canyon. Snow accumulation is the build up of snow during a time period within a spatial area. The snow accumulation within these pictures is both natural and unnatural. This accumulation happens either by snow fall, wind, or unnatural occurances (e.g. snow plows). These photos were taken in the same area right off the road.

Snow accumulation reduces the amounts of water in other parts of the hydrological cycle. It is a storage of water above the surface that reverses when temperatures rise. This accumulation creates a larger runoff when temperatures rise.

The process of snow accumulation in the area was due to snow plows and snow fall. Snow fall within the area is pushed off the roads and slowly builds up each and every snow fall. This past week has been warmer, but as you see in the photos there was more snow off the road than anywhere else. By more, I mean deeper snow.

Gully Flow

These photos show gully flow and were taken near the same area as the snow accumulation. A gully is an enlarged rill, containing concetrated faster moving water. Gullys increase by erosion caused by water movement

It is hard to see what is really going on in the pictures, but in person these gullys were deep. You could see different layers of sediment and rock. It was almost like you could predict which rocks were going to roll down the hillside during next rain fall. I didn't think they were rills because they seemed a little big. The photos do contain rills, but the gullys were larger. As you can see from the first picture there is a lot of erosion shown. There are large rocks that have tumbled down from these gullies eroding the hillside.

Snow (Precipitation)

These photos were taken right outside my apartment. Snow is the precipitation of ice crystals from the clouds. Snow is good because it builds up and creates a water storage. When things warm up snow melts and supply’s water within the area.

In these pictures you can barely see the snowflakes falling. You can see the sky is clouded and the snow accumulation on the cars. This winter we haven't gotten too much snow and I amhappy to actually capture some pictures. The time I captured the pictures was February 15th, 2021 at 1:53p.m. Hopefully there is more snow to come.

Condensation

I recorded this video and captured these photos in my apartment. Just boiled a pot of water and put the lid on it. Condensation is the process of water vapor returning to its liquid state. This may occur on grass in the morning or in the clouds. Condensation plays a big role in the water cycle. It is how clouds are able to preciptate rain or snow.

Evaporation

I also took took a video and photo of evaporation while I was doing condensation. In the video you can see evaporation happening. When I open the lid the water vapor rises and if I left this pot boiling it there would soon be no water. Evaporation happens all around us. Evaporation is good because it is like a filtration system. When evaporation occurs all of the debri is left behind.

Infiltration

I took this photo in Logan Canyon after the snow had started to melt and you can see water infiltrating into the soil. Infiltration is the movement of water into the soil. Even though the picture does not capture it very well the water is either traveling into the soil or evaporated.

Throughflow

This photo was taken when we went on our field trip and was looking at Little Bear Creek. As the water infiltrates the soil we see throughflow. Throughflow is the rate of movement of flow through the subsurface soil matrix. This flow traveled through the soil and back into Little Bear Creek.

Rill Flow

I was not able to find an example of rill flow in person, but I know there are rills and gullies by my house in Price, Utah. This is an aerial image found on Google Earth. Rill flow is very small and deep. Rill flow generally occurs on hillslopes. In the image, you can see these deep narrow rills. This area is very dry, so when it rains these rill and gullies get deeper.