GeoData Center Project: ALISONObservatory Data

Excel files are available to download for educational purposes. If you would like to use the data for scientific research purposes, please contact Kim Morris.

These files contain the following variables: ice thickness (m), snow depth (m), snow density (kg m^-3), snow surface temperature (°C), ice surface temperature (°C), conductive heat flow (W m^-2) and snow water equivalent (m)

A Field Data Sheet is completed when data are measured/observed at each ALISON site.

The data collected during each visit to an ALISON site are entered into a Daily Archive File which is an Excel spreadsheet that is programmed to calculate a number of variables from the ALISON measurements. (Request a copy of the Daily Archive File.)

The Annual Data Summary File (time series) is and Excel spreadsheet used to archive the weekly averages calculated from the Daily Archive File and create graphs of the data. (Request a copy of the Daily Archive File.)

ALISON Guidebooks

Marc Swanson (Seward) and Cheryl Abbot (Wasilla) have prepared two guide books for ALISON teachers and others interested in the ALISON program.

The Educator's Guide to ALISON Measurements provides a brief backgound of the ALISON project and describes in detail how to select an ALISON site, make ALISON measurements and other important aspects of running and ALISON site.

The ALISON Guide to Heat and Energy Activities in the Classroom provides descriptions of classroom activities related to heat and energy. These include: joules vs calories; heat capacity; thermal conductivity; the rate of heat transfer; latent heat and more.

Supporting Materials
Materials have been developed by Todd Hindman at the Anvil City Science Academy in Nome AK to compliment the classroom activities described in the ALISON Guide to Heat and Energy Activities for the Classroom by Marc Swanson and Cheryl Abbott.

They are series of review questions and tests that include:
  •ALISON Activity Questions:
    ◦If we add heat (6 questions)
    ◦Hot Rods, Understanding the Heat Capacity of Water (6 questions)
    ◦Thermal Resistance, Insulating Properties of Glass and Styrofoam (4 questions)
    ◦Temperature Gradient, Exploring the Speed of Heat Transfer (5 questions);
  •ALISON: Heat Capacity (5 questions);
  •ALISON: Heat Unit Review (7 questions);
  •ALISON: Test Review (24 questions);
  •ALISON: Test A (30 questions); and
  •ALISON: Test B (31 questions).

and a Power Point Presentation containing material about:
  •Understanding the Heat Capcity of Water;
  •Thermal Resistance;
  •Latent Heat; and
  •Temperature Gradients.