Item: IceCube, A Portable and Reliable Instrument for Snow Specific Surface Area Measurement in the Field
-
-
Title: IceCube, A Portable and Reliable Instrument for Snow Specific Surface Area Measurement in the Field
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013
Authors:
- Nicolas Zuanon [ A2 Photonic Sensors, c/o Grenoble INP-Minatec, CS 50257, 38016 Grenoble Cedex 1, France ]
Date: 2013-10-07
Abstract: The specific surface area (SSA), defined as the surface area per unit mass, is a key variable to describe the physical properties of snow. It is seen as an objective, reliable and physically meaningful size metric for snow grains and can be a very good replacement of more conventional snow grain size metrics, which are very often ambiguous and observer-dependent. Following developments and solid theoretical research at LGGE (Glaciology Laboratory, Grenoble), A2 Photonic Sensors, an expert manufacturer of optical sensors, recently released IceCube, the first commercial instrument for snow SSA measurement. The working principle of the instrument relies on the relation between the infrared hemispherical reflectance of snow and SSA. A snow sample is illuminated directly by a 1310 nm laser diode. The reflected light is collected onto a photodiode with an integrating sphere. The signal is converted to reflectance using optical standards and then to SSA using a calibration curve obtained with the well-established methane adsorption method. The instrument is easy to set up and use, while providing rapid, accurate and reliable measurements. It was validated in the field during several measurement campaigns (Svalbard, Antarctica, Alaska, Greenland and the North Pole) and works with all kinds of snow, from melt-freeze crusts to fresh snow.
Language of Article: English and French
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: specific surface area, reflectance, grain size, optical measurement
Page Number(s): 1020-1023
Subjects: snow properties optical properties snowfall measurements
-
Digital Abstract Not Available
-