Drifting snow threshold measurements near McMurdo station, Antarctica: A sensor comparison study
We present the results of an Antarctic spring field study of snow drift threshold measurements made using two custom drift sensors and a commercial parts-counting device. All three sensor types worked well at detecting drifting snow events, but the sensors recorded different magnitudes (particle cou...
Published in: | Cold Regions Science and Technology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Text |
Language: | unknown |
Published: |
Elsevier
2016
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.08.001 http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/221516 |
id |
ftinfoscience:oai:infoscience.tind.io:221516 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftinfoscience:oai:infoscience.tind.io:221516 2023-05-15T13:57:39+02:00 Drifting snow threshold measurements near McMurdo station, Antarctica: A sensor comparison study Leonard, Katherine C. Tremblay, L.-Bruno Thom, Jonathan E. Macayeal, Douglas R. 2016-09-30T10:26:19Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.08.001 http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/221516 unknown Elsevier doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.08.001 http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/221516 http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/221516 Text 2016 ftinfoscience https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.08.001 2023-02-13T22:35:42Z We present the results of an Antarctic spring field study of snow drift threshold measurements made using two custom drift sensors and a commercial parts-counting device. All three sensor types worked well at detecting drifting snow events, but the sensors recorded different magnitudes (particle count per unit time) of drift. Each sensor has a unique detection threshold for particle size, and responded differently to identical wind and snow conditions, although the particle counts from the different sensors are linearly related at low wind speeds. The drift threshold is defined here as the minimum friction velocity at which drifting snow was observed during more than 10% of measurements at that wind speed. The results of this multi-sensor study demonstrate that the drift threshold is lower (friction velocity of 0.2. m/s) for very small particles that are likely transported in suspension than for coarse-grained saltating particles (0.25. m/s). These friction velocities correspond to 10-meter wind speeds of 5.6 and 7.2. m/s respectively for the conditions during this experiment. The commercially available parts counter is recommended as a low-cost alternative to custom-built drift sensors for use in future field studies of drifting and blowing snow. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. Text Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica EPFL Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne) Antarctic McMurdo Station ENVELOPE(166.667,166.667,-77.850,-77.850) Cold Regions Science and Technology 70 71 80 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
EPFL Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne) |
op_collection_id |
ftinfoscience |
language |
unknown |
description |
We present the results of an Antarctic spring field study of snow drift threshold measurements made using two custom drift sensors and a commercial parts-counting device. All three sensor types worked well at detecting drifting snow events, but the sensors recorded different magnitudes (particle count per unit time) of drift. Each sensor has a unique detection threshold for particle size, and responded differently to identical wind and snow conditions, although the particle counts from the different sensors are linearly related at low wind speeds. The drift threshold is defined here as the minimum friction velocity at which drifting snow was observed during more than 10% of measurements at that wind speed. The results of this multi-sensor study demonstrate that the drift threshold is lower (friction velocity of 0.2. m/s) for very small particles that are likely transported in suspension than for coarse-grained saltating particles (0.25. m/s). These friction velocities correspond to 10-meter wind speeds of 5.6 and 7.2. m/s respectively for the conditions during this experiment. The commercially available parts counter is recommended as a low-cost alternative to custom-built drift sensors for use in future field studies of drifting and blowing snow. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. |
format |
Text |
author |
Leonard, Katherine C. Tremblay, L.-Bruno Thom, Jonathan E. Macayeal, Douglas R. |
spellingShingle |
Leonard, Katherine C. Tremblay, L.-Bruno Thom, Jonathan E. Macayeal, Douglas R. Drifting snow threshold measurements near McMurdo station, Antarctica: A sensor comparison study |
author_facet |
Leonard, Katherine C. Tremblay, L.-Bruno Thom, Jonathan E. Macayeal, Douglas R. |
author_sort |
Leonard, Katherine C. |
title |
Drifting snow threshold measurements near McMurdo station, Antarctica: A sensor comparison study |
title_short |
Drifting snow threshold measurements near McMurdo station, Antarctica: A sensor comparison study |
title_full |
Drifting snow threshold measurements near McMurdo station, Antarctica: A sensor comparison study |
title_fullStr |
Drifting snow threshold measurements near McMurdo station, Antarctica: A sensor comparison study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Drifting snow threshold measurements near McMurdo station, Antarctica: A sensor comparison study |
title_sort |
drifting snow threshold measurements near mcmurdo station, antarctica: a sensor comparison study |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.08.001 http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/221516 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(166.667,166.667,-77.850,-77.850) |
geographic |
Antarctic McMurdo Station |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic McMurdo Station |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
op_source |
http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/221516 |
op_relation |
doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.08.001 http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/221516 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.08.001 |
container_title |
Cold Regions Science and Technology |
container_volume |
70 |
container_start_page |
71 |
op_container_end_page |
80 |
_version_ |
1766265424380428288 |