This book documents long-term studies of snow on high land in the Cairmgorms, including fresh snow lying in summer, the extent of snow on Ben Macdui plateau at the start of June, and dates of the first fresh lying snowfalls at the sites of the main snow-beds. It reviews data on the survival of snow patches through to the following winter, and recounts a decline of snow patches in recent decades. The author describes observations on rock lichens in relation to snow-lie, and lists vantage points on public roads with good views of places with snow patches on alpine land. He describes skiing in and near Aberdeen in the snowy winters of the early 1950s, and an exceptional snowfall in the Cairngorms at the start of September 1976. The author presents some descriptions and photographs of how birds and mammals use snow for shelter and sleeping. It has long been well known that red grouse, ptarmigan and mountain hares use snow hollows, but here the author illustrates how a fox used a snow hole, and how an otter made a snow slide. He presents photographs of snow pillars, snow holes made by human parties practising in winter, and avalanches. Next he draws attention to the observation that the extent and species of lichen and moss on cliffs, boulders and soil signify the extent of snow-lie. These plants are absent on sites where snow lies very late, or where frequent avalanches plunging down the cliff or water flowing down it prevent plants from growing. Where prolonged snow-lie occurs at the foot of cliffs or on cliff-tops, a band of pale, greenish-yellow rock lichens that thrive in snowy conditions is conspicuous, and in sunshine easily visible to the naked eye at over a mile distance. Lastly he presents some photographs that show snow mould growing on hill vegetation in Iceland and Scotland. Keywords Snow, climate, weather, physical geography, science, birds, mammals Author Adam Watson, BSc, PhD, DSc, DUniv, raised in lowland Aberdeenshire, is a retired research ecologist aged 81. He began lifelong interests on winter snow in 1937, snow patches in 1938, the Cairngorms in 1939. A mountaineer and ski-mountaineer since boyhood, he has experienced Scotland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, mainland Canada, Newfoundland, Baffin Island, Finland, Switzerland, Italy, Vancouver Island and Alaska. His main research was and is on population biology, behaviour and habitat of northern birds and mammals. In retirement he has contributed 16 scientific publications on snow patches since 1994. He is a Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Royal Meteorological Society, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Society of Biology, and an Emeritus Member of the Ecological Society of America. Since 1954 he has been a member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club and since 1968 author of the Club's District Guide to the Cairngorms.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Authoritative collection of data relating to Adam Watson's 70 years-plus observation record of snow in the Scottish mountains.
22 Dec 2011
By Edward Boyle
Format:Paperback
Adam Watson has been continuously observing and collecting data about snow in the north-east of Scotland (and particularly in the Cairngorm mountains) since the 1930s, and this important book represents the culmination of that activity. It will have a strong claim in the future to being the standard reference work in the discipline of research into and observation of long-lasting snowpatches and snow-cover in general in the Scottish mountains.
The first five chapters contain the 'meat' of the book. These chapters are in the format of academic papers and present and summarise all the data gained from a century of observation of snowpatches throughout the Scottish mountains (by many observers as well as Adam), along with statistical analyses and conclusions about any possible historical trends and correlations. Topics covered include observations of snow cover and snowfalls in summer and autumn, and the persistence or survival of snowpatches until late into the year.
The subsequent chapters are slightly less formal and contain Adam's many observations, photographs and conclusions concerning various snow-related features in the mountain areas of Scotland, including whether glaciers existed recently in the Cairngorm mountains, avalanches, animal behaviour in snow and the effect of snow cover on rock lichens.
The large format of the book allows for the inclusion in detail of many full-page photographs from Adam's extensive collection (the large majority in colour) supporting the data and observations in the accompanying text.
Along with 'Cool Britannia' (written by Adam in collaboration with Iain Cameron) which was published in 2010, these books represent a valuable archive of data about snowpatches in the Scottish mountains, as well as representing the most up-to-date contemporary research into this discipline. All of the available data from Adam's substantial 70-year long observing record is summarised and collated, as well as data from all other relevant sources. Full lists of citations are given to all relevant earlier published work, making this book now the most authoritative and reliable reference source material available anywhere for any future discussions and investigations concerning snowpatches in the Scottish mountains or indeed the Scottish mountain environment and climate in general.
These two books are the foundation upon which any future observations of, and research into, snowpatches in Scotland will be built, and Adam is to be congratulated on publishing this work in publicly available books, rather than hidden away in subscription-only academic journals. Although some may be uncomfortable with the fact that the more formally rigorous and traditional academic peer-review process has been bypassed with this material, the scientific quality and value of the content appears to be very high. Opening this data to all eyes means that it is also now possible for anyone to question and judge its merit (a good thing in my opinion), and use as the basis for further academic research. This openness may well also be a more valuable way of stimulating wider and further observation and recording of snowpatches by amateurs in the future (an example of 'citizen science').
This book is intended for a specialist and academically-orientated audience, for which it is invaluable, but anyone with an interest in how snow affects the environment of the Scottish mountains will find this book interesting.
The first five chapters contain the 'meat' of the book. These chapters are in the format of academic papers and present and summarise all the data gained from a century of observation of snowpatches throughout the Scottish mountains (by many observers as well as Adam), along with statistical analyses and conclusions about any possible historical trends and correlations. Topics covered include observations of snow cover and snowfalls in summer and autumn, and the persistence or survival of snowpatches until late into the year.
The subsequent chapters are slightly less formal and contain Adam's many observations, photographs and conclusions concerning various snow-related features in the mountain areas of Scotland, including whether glaciers existed recently in the Cairngorm mountains, avalanches, animal behaviour in snow and the effect of snow cover on rock lichens.
The large format of the book allows for the inclusion in detail of many full-page photographs from Adam's extensive collection (the large majority in colour) supporting the data and observations in the accompanying text.
Along with 'Cool Britannia' (written by Adam in collaboration with Iain Cameron) which was published in 2010, these books represent a valuable archive of data about snowpatches in the Scottish mountains, as well as representing the most up-to-date contemporary research into this discipline. All of the available data from Adam's substantial 70-year long observing record is summarised and collated, as well as data from all other relevant sources. Full lists of citations are given to all relevant earlier published work, making this book now the most authoritative and reliable reference source material available anywhere for any future discussions and investigations concerning snowpatches in the Scottish mountains or indeed the Scottish mountain environment and climate in general.
These two books are the foundation upon which any future observations of, and research into, snowpatches in Scotland will be built, and Adam is to be congratulated on publishing this work in publicly available books, rather than hidden away in subscription-only academic journals. Although some may be uncomfortable with the fact that the more formally rigorous and traditional academic peer-review process has been bypassed with this material, the scientific quality and value of the content appears to be very high. Opening this data to all eyes means that it is also now possible for anyone to question and judge its merit (a good thing in my opinion), and use as the basis for further academic research. This openness may well also be a more valuable way of stimulating wider and further observation and recording of snowpatches by amateurs in the future (an example of 'citizen science').
This book is intended for a specialist and academically-orientated audience, for which it is invaluable, but anyone with an interest in how snow affects the environment of the Scottish mountains will find this book interesting.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By midnightblue
Format:Hardcover
This book is a must have for all snow patch observers. Based on Adam Watson and others observations from 1938 to
2011.
It took me a little while to get to grips with some of the charts at the beginning,but the author does a good job of explaining them. For me the most interesting section is on Summer Snow on the Cairngorms, and Trend to later autumn snowfall, pity last years August snow wasn't included as it certainly bucked the trend of the previous few years. The reader may come to their own conclusion on global warming, but don't hang those ski's up just yet.
You don't have to be an academic to enjoy this book,just someone who wants to learn more about our beautiful landscape.
Thank you Mr Watson for this lovely book, and I eagerly await the next one!
2011.
It took me a little while to get to grips with some of the charts at the beginning,but the author does a good job of explaining them. For me the most interesting section is on Summer Snow on the Cairngorms, and Trend to later autumn snowfall, pity last years August snow wasn't included as it certainly bucked the trend of the previous few years. The reader may come to their own conclusion on global warming, but don't hang those ski's up just yet.
You don't have to be an academic to enjoy this book,just someone who wants to learn more about our beautiful landscape.
Thank you Mr Watson for this lovely book, and I eagerly await the next one!
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