Item: Use of thermal photography to measure snowpack properties
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Title: Use of thermal photography to measure snowpack properties
Proceedings: 2010 International Snow Science Workshop
Authors: Cora Shea1∗ and Bruce Jamieson1 , 2 1 Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Canada 2 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada
Date: 2010
Abstract: Many snow processes are linked to snow temperature. A thermal photograph captures tens of thousands of surface temperature measurements in a single, powerfully visual image. Surface temperature directly drives surface hoar growth and near surface faceting, and it indirectly affects albedo and crust formation. We introduce this new application of thermography by presenting images (thermographs) and thermographic videos from winter 2010. Three different aspects are presented: (1) the link between surface temperature and surface hoar formation, (2) the spatial variation of temperatures on a pit wall, and (3) the effect of crystal type on conduction. Currently, due to cost and technical demands, thermography may remain primarily a research tool. However, thermography is a promising new technique that produces both quantitative and intuitively visual results.
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: heat conduction, surface hoar, thermal photography, thermal profile
Subjects: snowpack properties thermography
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