Drifting and blowing snow measurements: comparison between Snow Particle counter and a simple photoelectronic fork sensor (Wenglor)

• Main Authors: Bellot, H., Naaim Bouvet, F., Piard, L., Palerme, C., Genthon, C.
• Other Authors: Erosion torrentielle neige et avalanches (UR ETGR (ETNA)), Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), Laboratoire de glaciologie et géophysique de l'environnement (LGGE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2013
• Subjects: TRANSPORT DE NEIGE PAR LE VENT; GRAIN DE NEIGE; CAPTEUR OPTIQUE; BLOWING SNOW MEASUREMENT; SENSOR; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Lac Blanc; Mont Blanc; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00949693; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00949693/document; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00949693/file/gr2013-pub00040270.pdf

International audience Heterogeneity of snow cover in high mountain area may increase avalanche hazard. In Antarctica, drifting snow plays an important role in the surface mass balance and therefore on the sea level rise. It is therefore necessary to evaluate blowing snow in the field in terms of snow fluxes and occurrence, and, if possible, using to automatic measurements. We present here two sensors based on the same measurements techniques, using the optical beam obstruction method: the Snow Particle Counter (SPC) and the Wenglor YH08PCT8 sensor. The SPC has been widely tested and used in the past and is considered the reference in the present study. The Wenglor YH08PCT8 sensor is a relatively simple, inexpensive commercial counter used in industry which recognizes extremely small parts, holes, slots and notches. It has been tested for 4-5 years as a sensor for a eolian sand and snow transport. The present study focused on the performance of the Wenglor sensor in the context of blowing snow measurement. During two consecutive winters from 2011 to 2013, we set up Wenglor sensors and SPCs at Lac Blanc Pass (French Alps 2800 m) and tested Wenglor sensors in cold room. The results presented here will focus on Wenglor sensor's performance and limitations for uses in high mountain area and cold regions.