Determination of the Water Content of Snow by Dielectric Measurements

• Main Authors: Camp, Paul R., LaBrecque, David R.
• Other Authors: MAINE UNIV AT ORONO DEPT OF PHYSICS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1992
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; *MEASUREMENT; *DIELECTRICS; *SNOW; FREQUENCY; CONDUCTIVITY; HEATING; DETERMINATION; DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES; IMPURITIES; WATER; DENSITY; *WATER CONTENT; AST42; PE62784A; WU032; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA256299; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA256299

The dielectric properties of wet and dry natural snow were studied in the frequency range of 50 Hz to 1 00 kHz to determine whether measurements made in this frequency range might prove useful in evaluating the water content of snow. Dielectric heating at 20 kHz proved a very useful means of modifying the water content from 0 to 30% by weight. Six different natural snows were used in these experiments. Meltwater was analyzed for conductivity, pH, and impurity content. In addition to developing information on the dielectric properties of wet and dry snow, we measured the changes produced in dry snow by altering its density over the range of 0.11 to 0.66 g/cm3. Details of the experimental technique and the data obtained are fully reported. Our results do not lead to optimism about the usefulness of measurements in this frequency range alone for the determination of water content.