An Inexpensive Tensiometer for Snow-Melt Research

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Wankiewicz, Anthony, Vries, Jan De
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1978
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020980; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000020980

Abstract The construction and use of a rugged and easily installed tensiometer for use in snow hydrology is discussed. The tensiometer incorporates a short (380 mm) water manometer, adequate for the small range of capillary pressure in melting snow. The response of a row of tensiometers to the application of a dyed water pulse to the snow surface is compared to the resulting dye stain pattern. The lateral variation of flow in a snow-pack requires the use of many tensiometers to define the capillary pressure regime.