WCD-29. Characterizing the Annual Surface Energy Balance in Gothic Valley during the SPLASH Field Campaign

Abstract
The Study of Precipitation, the Lower Atmosphere and Surface for Hydrometeorology (SPLASH) is an ongoing field campaign located in Gothic Valley near Crested Butte, Colorado. The primary objective of the project is to understand how the hydrological cycle of the East River watershed is influenced by sources and sinks of energy and mass in the lower atmosphere, snowpack, and soil. As part of this work, Atmospheric Surface Flux Systems (ASFS) were deployed at two sites in Gothic Valley (Avery Picnic and Kettle Ponds Annex) to continuously measure meteorological and soil properties over an annual cycle. Both ASFS measured the radiative and turbulent energy flux components comprising the surface energy balance. Distinct changes in the surface energy balance were observed as wintertime snowpack transitioned to the snow-free summer environment. Here we show the characteristics of the annual cycle and present future directions for SPLASH research.