Measurements of the Dielectric Properties of Wet Snow Using a Microwave Technique.

An accurate method of measuring liquid water in snow covers is required to determine the properties of wet snow. The dielectric properties of wet snow must be utilized to adequately measure its liquid water content. In this study the effect of liquid water on the complex dielectric constant of natur...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sweeny,Bruce D., Colbeck,Samuel C.
Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER N H
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1974
Subjects:
Hydrology
Limnology and Potamology
Snow
Ice and Permafrost
*DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
*SNOW
WATER FLOW
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
DIELECTRICS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MELTING
*Moisture content
Snowmelt
Ice
permafrost
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA001550
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA001550
Description
Summary:An accurate method of measuring liquid water in snow covers is required to determine the properties of wet snow. The dielectric properties of wet snow must be utilized to adequately measure its liquid water content. In this study the effect of liquid water on the complex dielectric constant of natural snow is determined in the microwave frequency range. Deloor's method for calculating the dielectric constant for mixtures and the results of waveguide experiments on samples of wet snow and glass beads are used to construct a calibration curve relating the measured dielectric loss factor directly to the water content of wet snow. The results are independent of porosity, past history and chemical impurities. A relation between the effective dielectric constant and the porosity and water content is proposed and tested experimentally. The general nature of this relation is described and suggestions are made for the development of a more precise relation. It is concluded that the dielectric constant is a function of porosity and water content only.

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