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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
151

Analyse du couvert nival à l'aide de données radar polarimétriques multifréquences et des mesures terrain de la campagne CLPX (cold-land processes field experiments)

Trudel, Mélanie January 2006 (has links)
In this research, the characterization of snow cover is made from data collected in September, February and March of 2002 and 2003, during Cold-land Processes Field Experiments project of the NASA. These data include snow and forests characteristic measurements, meteorological conditions, digital elevation model (DEM) and polarimetric multifrequency SAR data (C, L and P bands) acquired from AIRSAR-POLSAR airborne sensor. These data will be used to analyze multifrequency polarimetric techniques to characterize snow cover over forested areas (open area, sparse coniferous forest, and dense coniferous forest). Different techniques have been developed to detect wet snow over different forested areas. The methodology of wet snow detection developed by Rott and Nagler (1995) is first analyzed. The best result is obtained in HH polarization (13% for the sparse coniferous forest site and 25% for the dense coniferous forest site). C-band data in circular polarizations improves these results, but the errors remain high (22% for the sparse coniferous forest site and 13% for the dense coniferous forest site). The use of [sigma][omicronn] ratio in dB [sigma][omicronn][subscript LHH] /[sigma][omicronn][subscript CHH], [sigma][omicronn][subscript LHV]/[sigma][omicronn] [subscript CHH], [sigma][omicronn][subscript LHV] /[sigma][omicronn][subscript CHV] and [sigma][omicronn][subscript LVV] /[sigma][omicronn][subscript CHH] allows to detect wet snow ([less-than or equal to] 13% errors) for both the open area and the dense coniferous forest sites. However, with this technique, higher errors ([greater-than or equal to] 16%) are obtained for the sparse coniferous forest site. The analysis of polarimetric signatures in the three bands shows that their shapes vary according to snow conditions (wet or dry) and forest densities. The pedestal height of polarimetric signatures in P band allows to apply a thresholding approach to discriminate between snow conditions (wet or dry). The error matrix generated from polarimetric signature techniques applied to snow pit measurements shows error higher than 6%. For the characterization of snow condition, target decomposition theorems show promising results. For the three bands, the Freeman-Durden and Cloude-Pottier decompositions allow to understand scattering mechanisms of snow-covered-forested areas. Also, a thresholding approach applied to volume scattering power of the Freeman-Durden decomposition in C band as well as to entropy parameter together with angle [alpha] value of Cloude-Pottier decomposition shows abilities to detect wet snow over forested areas. The technique using the volume scattered power shows detection errors higher than 16%. No classification error is obtained in the error matrix generated from entropy values over the snow pits. The analysis of backscattering coefficients as a function of forest density (open area, sparse coniferous forest and dense coniferous forest) shows variations in the signal as a function of frequency, polarization, density and forest structures as well as with ground conditions (snow-free, dry snow, wet snow). Three radar vegetation indexes (IVR, IVRD[subscript HH] and IVRD[subscript VV]) are analyzed. The IVR index in C and L bands, as well as the IVRD[subscript VV] index in L band are sensitive to forest density. The volume scattered power of the Freeman-Durden decomposition also allows to characterize forest density in C, L and P bands.In order to partially reduce the effect of forested area on the backscattering of a snow cover, image difference between the C-band backscattering coefficient (HH polarization) and the C-band volume scattered power in wet snow condition is performed. The error matrix generated over the snow pit shows that a threshold of 1.5 dB applied to the image difference leads to errors less than 6%. The obtained results clearly show the utility of multifrequency, multipolarisation and polarimetric SAR data for wet snow detection over different forested areas.
152

DESIGN OF A SNOW AVALANCHE TELEMETRY SYSTEM

Lim, C., Hardie, S., Lyness, A., McMillan, S., Ung, L., Yu, V. 10 1900 (has links)
International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / This paper was prepared as part of the team design competition for a graduate level course given at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand. It presents a high level design of a snow avalanche telemetry system. The goal of the system is to provide data to better assess avalanche risk, and to assist in designing more effective protection measures in avalanche prone areas. The primary conditions monitored are air pressure, snow density, snow depth, snow temperature, wind velocity, wind direction, and ambient air temperature. All critical aspects of the telemetering system have been specified, including the sensors, transmitter/receiver, and telemetry frame design. Aspects of the system packaging and the link budget which are unique to the alpine environment are discussed.
153

Évaluation de la modélisation de la taille de grain de neige du modèle multi-couches thermodynamique SNOWPACK: implication dans l'évaluation des risques d'avalanches

Madore, Jean-Benoît January 2016 (has links)
Résumé: L’Institut pour l'étude de la neige et des avalanches en Suisse (SLF) a développé SNOWPACK, un modèle thermodynamique multi-couches de neige permettant de simuler les propriétés géophysiques du manteau neigeux (densité, température, taille de grain, teneur en eau, etc.) à partir desquelles un indice de stabilité est calculé. Il a été démontré qu’un ajustement de la microstructure serait nécessaire pour une implantation au Canada. L'objectif principal de la présente étude est de permettre au modèle SNOWPACK de modéliser de manière plus réaliste la taille de grain de neige et ainsi obtenir une prédiction plus précise de la stabilité du manteau neigeux à l’aide de l’indice basé sur la taille de grain, le Structural Stability Index (SSI). Pour ce faire, l’erreur modélisée (biais) par le modèle a été analysée à l’aide de données précises sur le terrain de la taille de grain à l’aide de l’instrument IRIS (InfraRed Integrated Sphere). Les données ont été recueillies durant l’hiver 2014 à deux sites différents au Canada : parc National des Glaciers, en Colombie-Britannique ainsi qu’au parc National de Jasper. Le site de Fidelity était généralement soumis à un métamorphisme à l'équilibre tandis que celui de Jasper à un métamorphisme cinétique plus prononcé. Sur chacun des sites, la stratigraphie des profils de densités ainsi des profils de taille de grain (IRIS) ont été complétés. Les profils de Fidelity ont été complétés avec des mesures de micropénétromètre (SMP). L’analyse des profils de densité a démontré une bonne concordance avec les densités modélisées (R[indice supérieur 2]=0.76) et donc la résistance simulée pour le SSI a été jugée adéquate. Les couches d’instabilités prédites par SNOWPACK ont été identifiées à l’aide de la variation de la résistance dans les mesures de SMP. L’analyse de la taille de grain optique a révélé une surestimation systématique du modèle ce qui est en accord avec la littérature. L’erreur de taille de grain optique dans un environnement à l’équilibre était assez constante tandis que l’erreur en milieux cinétique était plus variable. Finalement, une approche orientée sur le type de climat représenterait le meilleur moyen pour effectuer une correction de la taille de grain pour une évaluation de la stabilité au Canada. / Abstract : The snow thermodynamic multi-layer model SNOWPACK was developed in order to address the risk of avalanches by simulating the vertical geophysical and thermophysical properties of snow. Risk and stability assessments are based on the simulation of the vertical variability of snow microstructure (grain size, sphericity, dendricity and bond size), as well as snow cohesion parameters. Previous research has shown a systematic error in the grain size simulations (equivalent optical grain size) over several areas in northern Canada. In order to quantify the simulated errors in snow grain size and associated uncertainties in stability, snow specific surface area (SSA), was measured using a laser-based system measuring snow albedo through an integrating sphere (InfraRed Integrating Sphere, IRIS) at 1310 nm. Optical grain size was retrieved from the IRIS SSA measurements in order to validate the optical equivalent grain radius from simulated SNOWPACK outputs. Measurements occurred during a field campaign conducted during the 2013-2014 winter season in the Canadian Rockies. The two study plots selected are located at Glacier National Park, BC and Jasper National Park, AB. Profiles of density and stratigraphic analysis were completed as well as grain size (IRIS) profiles, combine with snow micropenetrometer (SMP) measurements. Density analysis showed good agreement for the simulated values (R[superscript 2]=0.76) and thus the simulated resistance for the SSI was assumed of reasonable precision. Snow instabilities predicted by SNOWPACK were observed by SMP resistance variation. The optical grain size analysis showed systematic overestimation of the modeled values, in agreement with the current literature. Error in SSA evolution in a rounding environment was mostly constant whereas error in conditions driven by temperature gradient was variable. Finally, it is suggested that a climate-oriented parametrization of the microstructure could represent an improvement for stability assessment in Canada given the variability and size of avalanche terrain.
154

Synoptic Variability of Extreme Snowfall in the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon, Canada / Synoptiska variationer vid extrema snöfall i S:t Eliasbergen, Yukon, Kanada

Andin, Caroline January 2015 (has links)
Glaciers of southwestern Yukon (Canada) and southeastern Alaska (USA) are presently experiencing high rates of annual mass loss. These high melt rates have mainly been investigated with respect to regional temperature trends, but comparatively little is known about how climate variations regulate snow accumulation on these glaciers. This study examines the synoptic weather patterns and air flow trajectories associated with extreme snowfall events in the central St. Elias Mountains (Yukon). The analyses are based on data retrieved from an automated weather station (AWS) between 2003 and 2012, which provide the longest continuous records of surface meteorological data ever obtained from this remote region. The AWS data reveal that 47 extreme snowfall events (> 27 cm per 12 hours) occurred during this period, of which 79 % took place during the cold season months. Air flow trajectories associated with these events indicate that a vast majority had their origin in the North Pacific south of 50°N. Less frequent were air masses with a source in the Aleutian Arc/Bering Sea region and the Gulf of Alaska, and in a few rare cases precipitating air was traced to continental source regions in Western Canada and Alaska. Composite maps of sea-level pressure and upper-level winds associated with extreme snowfall events revealed a frequent synoptic pattern with a low-pressure area centered over the Kenai Peninsula (Alaska), which drives strong southerly winds over the Gulf of Alaska towards the St. Elias Mountains. This pattern is consistent with AWS data wind recordings during snow storms. The most typical synoptic configurations of the North Pacific low-pressure area during extreme snowfall events are either elongated, split, or single-centered, and these situations represent possible seasonal analogues for the different states of the Aleutian Low in the subarctic North Pacific. However, neither the geographical position or intensity of negative sea-level pressure anomalies, nor surface pressure gradients associated with extreme snowfall events are good predictors of the actual snowfall SWE amounts recorded in the central St. Elias Mountains. Estimated snowfall and total precipitation gradients with altitude were confirmed to be much steeper (by up to ~30 %) on the continental side (Yukon), than on the coastal side (Alaska) of the St. Elias Mountains, reflecting the strong orographic division between the continental and coastal marine climatic regimes. Finally, patterns of 500-mb geopotential height anomalies associated with extreme snowfall events at Divide were compared with those associated with unusually high accumulation years in an ice core from the nearby Eclipse Icefield. Results confirm previous findings that associate high snow accumulation winters in this region with the presence of a strong dipole pressure structure between western North America and the Aleutian Low region, a structure which resembles the positive phase of the Pacific North American atmospheric circulation pattern. / De höga smälthastigheter som uppmätts på glaciärer i S:t Eliasbergen (Yukon, Kanada) har främst undersökts utifrån regionala temperatureffekter, men hur storskaliga (synoptiska) klimatvariationer reglerar snöackumulation på dessa glaciärer är mindre känt. Denna analys belyser synoptiska mönster och rekonstruerade banor av luftmassor i samband med extrema snöfall i den centrala delen av S:tEliasbergen. De iakttagelser som gjorts i denna studie bygger på data som hämtas från automatiserade väderstationer (AWS) mellan 2003 och 2012, vilka ger den längst sammanhängande dokumentationen av markmeteorologisk data som någonsin erhållits från denna plats.AWS data avslöjar att 47 extrema snöfall (>27 cm per 12 timmar) inträffade på glaciären under denna period, varav 79 % ägde rum under den kalla årstiden. I samband med dessa snöfall visar det sig att en stor majoritet av luftmassebanorna hade en utgångspunkt i norra Stilla havet söder om 50°N. Mindre vanligt var att luftmassor utgick från Aleuterna/Berings hav och Alaskabukten, och i några sällsynta fall spårades luftmassorna till kontinentala utgångspunkter i västra Kanada och Alaska. Luftmassebanorna från norra Stilla havet visade främst syd-nordcykloniska luftflöden, medan luftmassorna från Aleuterna/Berings hav och Alaskabukten indikerade väst-öst cykloniska luftflöden. Sammansatta kartor indikerade ett likartat synoptiskt mönster av ett lågtryckscentrum över Kenaihalvön (Alaska) för dessa tre marina källområden. Lågtrycket drev starka sydliga cykloniska vindar över Alaskabukten mot S:tEliasbergen och detta vindmönster överensstämde med AWS data. De typiska synoptiska situationerna i samband med extrema snöfall kännetecknades antingen av ett långsträckt, ett delat eller ett litet lågtryckscentrum. Dessa kunde kopplas till olika möjliga tillstånd av det Aleutiska lågtrycket i norra Stilla havet. Studien kunde inte bekräfta att lågtryckscentrums geografiska placering, anomalier av havsnivåtryck eller tryckgradienten starkt reglerade de extrema snöfallmängderna uppmätta från AWS data på studieplatsen. De beräknade nederbördsgradienterna bekräftades vara brantare på den kontinentala sidan (Yukon) än på kustsidan (Alaska) av S:tElias-bergen, vilket återspeglade skillnader mellan den kontinentala och den kustnära marina klimatzonen. Slutligen jämfördes avvikande geopotentiella höjdmönster i samband med extrema snöfall med tidigare studieresultat av extrem snöackumulation i isborrkärnor från den intilliggande glaciären Eclipse. Resultaten indikerar att dessa mönster delvis korrelerade till tidigare resultat och bekräftar förekomsten av en liknande dipol-tryckstruktur mellan västra Nordamerika och Aleuterna.
155

The Development of a Low Profile Alpine Touring Binding

Low, Tyrone January 2010 (has links)
The design of alpine touring ski bindings has remained relatively static for the past fifteen years. During this period, the lack of innovative breakthroughs has become obvious through the number of customers who are currently unsatisfied by the products available on the market. This observation has presented a significant commercial opportunity to satisfy these users, plus many more non-consumers, with an innovative binding design. The objective of this project was to design a low profile alpine touring binding with the aim of satisfying the needs of these users. The resulting design followed a full year of research and development in the field of alpine touring bindings. Not only were concepts formed from completely untethered and open minded thinking, but they were also formed from reviewing various designs that already existed. These designs ranged from previous alpine touring bindings that either failed or succeeded in the market for various reasons, to completely unrelated mechanisms and designs forms. Through this process, several well formed and feasible design concepts were obtained which potentially met the design specification requirements of both high performing alpine touring bindings and downhill bindings. Detailed design and analysis followed, along with the manufacture of a fully functional prototype. This was then tested and evaluated to determine the project as a success. This project can be grouped only with a small amount of research ever conducted on the topic of alpine touring bindings. The findings, discussion and results of this work can therefore be used as a benchmark for future study into this field. Through the meticulous research conducted on skiing and ski bindings and the thorough design work carried out towards producing a prototype, this thesis presents the complete process of designing a new and innovative ski binding.
156

Passive microwave remote sensing of snow cover from satellite data

Standley, Andy January 1999 (has links)
No description available.
157

Snow modelling for understanding human ecodynamics in periods of climate change

Comeau, Laura Elizabeth Lamplugh January 2013 (has links)
This thesis tests and applies a new, physically based snow distribution and melt model at spatial scales of tens of metres and temporal scales of days across sub-arctic landscapes, in order to assess the significance of snow variability in sub-arctic human ecodynamics at resolutions relevant to human activities. A wider goal is to contribute to planning in the face of future climate change. Model tests are undertaken based on original field data collected in Sweden and Norway, and secondary data from Idaho, France and Greenland. Model applications focus on the ‘completed experiment’ of the medieval Norse in Greenland, a comparatively isolated population that relied on a combination of pastoralism and hunting for survival. A combination of local calibration based on contemporary meteorological data, customised climate reconstructions based on GCM data, new archaeological survey and new DEM are used in order to apply the model. This thesis shows, for the first time, the likely range of snow depth and duration experienced across the medieval Norse Greenland landscape as a result of climate and vegetation change. Results show that increases in snow cover could have been significant drivers of transformative change in Norse Greenland, and are therefore likely to be key in understanding the potential impact of future climate changes on similar sub-arctic and relatively marginal communities. Selected model analyses simulate the total spring (April-June) snow cover at the homefields to range from 32% cover lasting 6 days in the most favourable climate to 100% cover lasting 45 days in the most unfavourable climate at key elite inner fjord farms. At the more isolated outer fjord farms, total spring snow cover ranges from 33% cover lasting 10 days in the most favourable climate to 100% cover lasting 60 days in the most unfavourable climate. Increased climate variance and recovery times, as experienced by the Norse, are potential early warning signals of threshold-crossing change. Model results show that these signals could have been masked for the Norse decision making elite because they were located in the most favourable and least snow covered locations. Masking could have been further increased through the intensified seal hunting implemented by the Norse as an adaption strategy, and these actions could have developed into a rigidity trap. When the conjunctures of the 15th century developed in terms of increased sea ice, snow cover, storminess, culture contact, changing trade and sea level rise, it was too late to develop different responses. Whilst current populations have improved technology and knowledge relative to the Norse Greenlanders, there is a risk that adaptations will lack long-term utility, spatially restricted indications of change may be ignored, and rigidity traps develop. This thesis provides an additional tool for understanding a key element of both the past and possible futures of subarctic human ecodynamics.
158

Precipitation distribution in the Lake Pukaki Catchment, New Zealand

Kerr, Timothy Ross January 2009 (has links)
Mountain precipitation, as a major component of global ecology and culture, requires diverse observation-based distribution studies to improve process characterisation and so enhance environmental management and understanding. Analysis of data from an array of precipitation gauges within the nationally important, and internationally extreme, mountainous Lake Pukaki catchment in New Zealand has been undertaken in an effort to provide such a study, while also improving local hydrological understanding. An objective observation based undercatch-corrected 1971-2000 average annual precipitation distribution has been prepared for the mountainous Lake Pukaki catchment, New Zealand. Precipitation records from 58 gauges at 51 sites, augmented with 10 new gauges, were used in preparation of the distribution. The assessed undercatch correction of 17 % across the catchment indicates that mountain hydrological investigations in New Zealand that use precipitation data and yet do not consider undercatch will be in considerable error. The average annual distribution confirms the existence of high precipitation magnitudes and horizontal gradients in the catchment in comparison with other mountain regions around the world. The high magnitude is unusual when its position in the lee of the principal orographic divide is considered indicating rare precipitation distribution processes occur in the region. Consideration of river flows, glacial change and evaporation led to a confirmation of the gauge derived average catchment precipitation. Precipitation to wind direction relationships identified the predominant westerly wind to be the primary precipitation generating direction with large magnitude events biased towards the northerly direction. All directions from the eastern side of the mountain divide had the lowest frequency and daily precipitation magnitude. Derivation of wind-classed precipitation distributions identified a distinctive south east to north west precipitation gradient for all wind directions, most severe for the north west direction and least severe for the easterly direction. Precipitation extent was greatest for the northerly direction and least for the south south westerly. The wind-classed distributions enable the estimation of daily precipitation likelihood and magnitude at any location in the catchment based on knowledge of the synoptic wind flow direction and precipitation at just one reference site. Improved river flow and lake inflow estimates resulted from the use of wind classed daily precipitation estimates validating the quality of the wind classed distributions. From 1939 to 2000 there has been no statistically significant trend in precipitation magnitudes, frequencies, or extremes in the catchment. At Aoraki/Mt Cook village, in the upper catchment, there have been significant increases in magnitude, frequency and extremes associated with the phase change of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) in 1978. This change can be explained by the increase in strength of westerly winds for the different IPO phases but not by a change in frequency of different wind directions. In the lower catchment the IPO relationship is of an opposite sense to that observed in the upper catchment, indicating that the areas operate under two different climate regimes with different precipitation controls. The significant relationship to the IPO phase indicates that it is more important than climate warming in terms of future precipitation distribution in the Lake Pukaki catchment, and by extension the Southern Alps. The distributions prepared provide a valuable tool for operational and academic hydrological applications in the region. In addition, they provide a valuable characterisation of the precipitation in a Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude lee to predominant westerlies glacierized mountain catchment. From this standpoint they highlight the contrast to Northern Hemisphere mountain precipitation distributions commonly used in model validation studies, thereby providing an extension of locations with which to refine orographic precipitation process understanding.
159

Variations in Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Aeolian Dust Deposition to Mountains in Utah and Nevada, USA

Dastrup, Dylan Binder 01 October 2016 (has links)
Major and trace metal loading to mountains in the western US depends on dust sources, intensity of storms and their availability for transport during snowmelt and runoff. Previous work has been conducted on dust production, composition, and its affect on solar radiation and timing of snow melt. This study was conducted to 1) examine temporal and spatial variability in dust chemistry; 2) evaluate form and availability of major and trace elements in dust; and 3) identify potential dust sources affecting mountains in Utah and Nevada. Spring and summertime dust was collected across northern Utah over the course of three years (2013-2015). Additional dust samples were collected from eastern Nevada for comparison. All samples were analyzed for mineralogy. The spring dust samples were also leached with 1 M acetic acid, 0.8 M nitric acid, and aqua regia and analyzed for 87Sr/86Sr ratios and concentrations of 40+ trace and major elements. Nearly all dust samples were enriched in playa-associated elements (U, Mg, Li, Ca, Sr, As) and anthropogenic elements (Sb, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Se, Cd) relative to average upper continental crust. Leachate results showed that nearly 60% Ca, Sr, and Cd mass is potentially available for transport during snowmelt and that the rare earth elements could be mobilized under lower pH conditions in the soil zone. A major dust event on 17 March 2014 that was sampled across the study area showed spatially variable trace element concentrations and 87Sr/86Sr ratios, indicating that dust deposited to mountain snowpack originated from multiple upwind desert dust source areas. The NOAA HYSPLIT model was used to calculate back trajectories for this dust event and showed potential dust sources ranged from the Sevier, West and Great Salt Lake deserts in Utah and the Snake River Plain in Idaho. In contrast, multivariate statistical analysis showed that over the course of the study samples had unique geochemical signatures within each sample area. These findings suggest that spatial variability is more important than temporal variability in terms of the chemistry of dust deposition. With increasing populations and land use change in the western US, the short and long term effects of aeolian dust deposition to mountain environments need to continual monitored and constrained.
160

Lilliputian Arctic deviation

Elrod, Jonah Lloyd 01 August 2018 (has links)
Lilliputian Arctic Deviation is a work for small orchestra inspired by average snow and ice extent in the Northern Hemisphere over four decades. Something so large as forty years of snow and ice coverage can be interpreted as what Timothy Morton calls a hyperobject, an entity so vast in space and time that we as human beings cannot experience it within our limited senses and lifespans. For example, we can’t experience 150 years of global warming directly, but we can conceptualize it as an idea, or observe it as a graph. Like a graph, Lilliputian Arctic Deviation is an attempt to experience a hyperobject, while also allowing the composer free rein to creatively interpret and comment on the hyperobject. The Rutgers University Global Snow Lab records weekly and monthly snow extent averages for the Northern Hemisphere from 1967 until the present day. Lilliputian Arctic Deviation focuses on the summer yearly averages. Certain characteristics of the data, when graphed, show patterns that have both scientific and, after translation through algorithmic processes, musical significance. These characteristics are: 1. A significant decline in average snow extent from 1967 to the present; and 2. A transition from drastic yearly differences in the late 1960s through early 1990s to more consistent and predictable values in the late 1990s to 2015. Lilliputian Arctic Deviation proceeds in chronological order, starting with 1967 and ending with 2015. The density of the musical texture reflects the shape of the graph. Higher yearly averages involve more instruments sounding simultaneously, and lower yearly averages involve fewer instruments. Similar yearly average data values are reflected through shared musical materials; the range under which data points are located have similar characteristics. I group the data into eight regions: 3–3.9, 4–4.9,…10–10.9. Data points falling within a similar region share motivic, melodic, harmonic, and timbral materials. Other musical aspects of the piece reflect summer’s place within the larger hyperobject that includes all four seasons. The general characteristics of fall, winter, and spring are implied through listening to the summer, Lilliputian Arctic Deviation. Generally, Lilliputian Arctic Deviation features sharp articulated sounds of short duration, while sustained pitches are dynamically soft and fade in and out of the overall texture. Certain timbres are tight and subdued, such as a prevalence of muted brass, pizzicato and col legno battuto in the strings, and the use of wooden percussion. Set class (014) is used exclusively throughout the piece and is reflective of the small amount of snow and ice in the Northern Hemisphere respective to the amount found in the winter. Finally, since this process of the Earth has been and will continue to happen long before and after the years featured in this piece, this musical composition serves as an interpretation of a small fraction of the overall process, a hyperobject well beyond our ability to experience in our lifetimes.

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