Spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the snow cover from data of the penetrometer SnowMicroPen

• Published in: Ice and Snow
• Main Authors: A. Komarov Y., Y. Seliverstov G., P. Grebennikov B., S. Sokratov A., А. Комаров Ю., Ю. Селиверстов Г., П. Гребенников Б., С. Сократов А.
• Other Authors: The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant № 16-17-00104 «Snow avalanches and debris flows risk at the territory of Russia: estimation, forecast and mitigation measures», Работа выполнена при поддержке гранта РНФ № 16-17-00104 «Лавинный и селевой риск на территории России: оценка, прогноз и меры по его снижению».
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: IGRAS 2018
• Subjects: detection of weak layers;mechanical properties;micro penetrometer;snow cover;snow cover stability;snow hardness;snowpack variability; выявление ослабленных слоёв;метаморфизм снежной толщи;неоднородность снежного покрова;пенетрометр;прочность снега;снежный покров; Khibiny; Kirovsk; Annals of Glaciology
• Online Access: https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/510; https://doi.org/10.15356/2076-6734-2018-4-473-485

Te paper presents the results of studies aimed at investigation of the spatial and temporal variability of snow coverstructure on the basis of strength values and its variations obtained by means of the high-resolution penetrometer SnowMicroPen. Te possibilities of fast and independent from the observer identifcation of layers (including identifcation of weakened, potentially avalanche-dangerous layers) were estimated under the climatic conditions of Moscow and the Khibiny mountains. Horizontal areas with homogeneous underlying surface and vegetation were selected for the stratigraphic studies that made it possible to avoid a possible influence of slope relief and exposure from the obtained data on the spatial and temporal variability of the snow depth structure. Te analysis of the information obtained in winter seasons 2014/15 and 2016/17 allowed constructing detailed schemes of the snow cover evolution at the Moscow site as well as assessing the inter-annual and intra-seasonal variability of its structure. Afer the SnowMicroPen data were recorded in the course of the feld works carried out in winter 2015/16 on the Khibiny educational and scientifc base of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (city of Kirovsk), the 10-meter trench on the same profle was described in details, and direct data on the snow cover structure were obtained. Te strength values resulted from the above studies characterize the layers composed of crystals of various shapes and sizes, and they are considered as the frst step to methodology of operational defnition of the spatially-inhomogeneous stratigraphy and stability of snowpack without snowpit observations. Te data analysis showed high spatial and temporal variability of the structure and properties of snow cover even at a homogeneous area, usually described by a single snowpit. Представлены результаты исследований снежной толщи, полученные на двух полигонах в Москве и Хибинах. Исследована пространственная неоднородность снежной толщи и её изменения в течение зимнего сезона. ...