Storm Gallery
The Storm Gallery is a series of recorded visual representations of the water cycle at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest during special weather events. Click each video to watch and listen to the Hubbard Brook in different conditions.
Tropical Storm Irene 2011
Tropical Storm Irene, the remnant of Hurricane Irene, dropped more than 5 inches of rain on Hubbard Brook. Due to arriving after two other large rain events, Irene caused the soils to be saturated and ready for flooding. Water samples taken by Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest scientists show the equivalent to 454 freight train cars filled to the top with sediment carried by the flood downstream from Hubbard Brook.
October Snow 2011
Occasional early snow storms can be particularly damaging, particularly if they occur before the trees drop all of their leaves. A severe early snowstorm hit in late October 2011, where the weight of heavy wet snow dropped branches and toppled trees.
Winter Base Flow 2015
Winter is typically a time of relatively constant ‘base flow’ contributed largely from groundwater discharge. Incoming precipitation in the form of snow is stored in the snow pack, rather than generating streamflow.
Winter Rain on Snow 2011
New England winters often have rain-on-snow events. The warmer temperatures combined with the incoming rain causes stream flows to rise sharply and flood the area. The flooding can be made worse by ice jams.
Rain on Melting Snow 2019
Snow melt typically results in high stream flow in the spring. A large rain-on-melting snow resulted in very high flows in mid April 2019.
Autumn Rain 2015
Autumn precipitation is conveyed quickly through soils and into streams. Cooler temperatures and aging leaves reduce loss through evaporation and transpiration.