Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects
Information about the volume and the spatial and temporal distribution of liquid water in snow is important for forecasting wet snow avalanches and for predicting melt-water run-off. The distribution of liquid water in snow is commonly estimated from point measurements using a "hand" squee...
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Copernicus Publications
2011
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-405-2011 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/405/2011/tc-5-405-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/95abbdb59af24a85aa9c7f0ef0d2bc9b |
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fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:95abbdb59af24a85aa9c7f0ef0d2bc9b 2023-05-15T18:32:21+02:00 Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects C. Pielmeier F. Techel 2011-05-01 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-405-2011 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/405/2011/tc-5-405-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/95abbdb59af24a85aa9c7f0ef0d2bc9b en eng Copernicus Publications doi:10.5194/tc-5-405-2011 1994-0416 1994-0424 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/405/2011/tc-5-405-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/95abbdb59af24a85aa9c7f0ef0d2bc9b undefined The Cryosphere, Vol 5, Iss 2, Pp 405-418 (2011) geo envir Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2011 fttriple https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-405-2011 2023-01-22T19:34:36Z Information about the volume and the spatial and temporal distribution of liquid water in snow is important for forecasting wet snow avalanches and for predicting melt-water run-off. The distribution of liquid water in snow is commonly estimated from point measurements using a "hand" squeeze test, or a dielectric device such as a "Snow Fork" or a "Denoth meter". Here we compare estimates of water content in the Swiss Alps made using the hand test to those made with a Snow Fork and a Denoth meter. Measurements were conducted in the Swiss Alps, mostly above tree line; more than 12 000 measurements were made at 85 locations over 30 days. Results show that the hand test generally over estimates the volumetric liquid water content. Estimates using the Snow Fork are generally 1 % higher than those derived from the Denoth meter. The measurements were also used to investigate temporal and small-scale spatial patterns of wetness. Results show that typically a single point measurement does not characterize the wetness of the surrounding snow. Large diurnal changes in wetness are common in the near-surface snow, and associated changes at depth were also observed. A single vertical profile of measurements is not sufficient to determine whether these changes were a result of a spatially homogeneous wetting front or caused by infiltration through pipes. Based on our observations, we suggest that three measurements at horizontal distances greater than 50 cm are needed to adequately characterize the distribution of liquid water through a snowpack. Further, we suggest a simplified classification scheme that includes five wetness patterns that incorporate both the vertical and horizontal distribution of liquid water in a snowpack. Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Unknown The Cryosphere 5 2 405 418 |
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geo envir |
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geo envir C. Pielmeier F. Techel Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects |
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geo envir |
description |
Information about the volume and the spatial and temporal distribution of liquid water in snow is important for forecasting wet snow avalanches and for predicting melt-water run-off. The distribution of liquid water in snow is commonly estimated from point measurements using a "hand" squeeze test, or a dielectric device such as a "Snow Fork" or a "Denoth meter". Here we compare estimates of water content in the Swiss Alps made using the hand test to those made with a Snow Fork and a Denoth meter. Measurements were conducted in the Swiss Alps, mostly above tree line; more than 12 000 measurements were made at 85 locations over 30 days. Results show that the hand test generally over estimates the volumetric liquid water content. Estimates using the Snow Fork are generally 1 % higher than those derived from the Denoth meter. The measurements were also used to investigate temporal and small-scale spatial patterns of wetness. Results show that typically a single point measurement does not characterize the wetness of the surrounding snow. Large diurnal changes in wetness are common in the near-surface snow, and associated changes at depth were also observed. A single vertical profile of measurements is not sufficient to determine whether these changes were a result of a spatially homogeneous wetting front or caused by infiltration through pipes. Based on our observations, we suggest that three measurements at horizontal distances greater than 50 cm are needed to adequately characterize the distribution of liquid water through a snowpack. Further, we suggest a simplified classification scheme that includes five wetness patterns that incorporate both the vertical and horizontal distribution of liquid water in a snowpack. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
C. Pielmeier F. Techel |
author_facet |
C. Pielmeier F. Techel |
author_sort |
C. Pielmeier |
title |
Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects |
title_short |
Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects |
title_full |
Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects |
title_fullStr |
Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects |
title_full_unstemmed |
Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects |
title_sort |
point observations of liquid water content in wet snow – investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-405-2011 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/405/2011/tc-5-405-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/95abbdb59af24a85aa9c7f0ef0d2bc9b |
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The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 5, Iss 2, Pp 405-418 (2011) |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/tc-5-405-2011 1994-0416 1994-0424 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/405/2011/tc-5-405-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/95abbdb59af24a85aa9c7f0ef0d2bc9b |
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undefined |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-405-2011 |
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The Cryosphere |
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5 |
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2 |
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405 |
op_container_end_page |
418 |
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1766216453124521984 |