Cox Protectorate: A Maine Cooperative Snow Survey Site

Link to the Statewide data and maps: https://www.maine.gov/rfac/rfac_snow.shtml

During January, February and March, COA students measure the snow thickness and mass to determine the snow density and water equivalent at a portion of the Cox Protectorate land on northern MDI. This is one of over 100 sites surveyed on select days during the winter months throughout the state of Maine. Together with the other sites, these data enable map construction illustrating equivalent water content in the snowpack, change in the snowpack between measurements, snow depth, snow density, historical comparisons, and mean basin water content for the entire state. These maps are crucial for flood prediction and planning purposes.


Read more about the survey here: https://www.maine.gov/rfac/rfac_snow_about.shtml

Find our site (#1576) data here: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mgs/hazards/snow_survey/snow_data.shtml

Above: A view of COA's Cox Protectorate Site along Norway Drive on Mt. Desert Island (MDI). The site is forested except for the access road (snowy path in foreground).

Right: Example of students’ survey measurement form. Ten data points are logged and submitted to the Maine Geological Survey each survey date.

Above: Snowpack depth and mass is measured and recorded at ten different locations at the site. Photo by David Niemann

Above: Ian Medeiros (’16) helping with the snow survey in March, 2017.

Left: In addition to the Cox Protectorate, we revisited some old collection sites in Franklin and Cherryfield (two black dots inside blue circle on map to right).

Left: An example of the February 2017 snow density map of Maine. The  black dot on MDI is the Cox Protectorate site (red circle)!