Item: Temporal and Spatial Changes of a Seasonal Snowpack Within a Small Sheltered Slope
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Title: Temporal and Spatial Changes of a Seasonal Snowpack Within a Small Sheltered Slope
Proceedings: Proceedings, 2012 International Snow Science Workshop, Anchorage, Alaska
Authors:
- Achim Heilig [ Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany ] [ Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, USA ]
- Hans-Peter Marshall [ Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, USA ]
- Samantha Evans [ Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, USA ]
Date: 2012
Abstract: We studied the seasonal evolution of a natural snowpack and changes thereof within a small sheltered slope, utilizing non-destructive monitoring systems continuously over more than three months. During the winter season 2012, a permanent installation of a 800 MHz upward-looking ground-penetrating radar (upGPR) provided sub-daily to hourly data about variations in total snow depth, liquid-water content and major stratigraphy at a point in the center of the slope. In addition, to observe the spatial representativeness of these point measurements, we performed radar observations along a 22m aerial tramway once a week using a 1GHz GPR system. The transect crossed the upGPR location and thereby allowed us to put the point measurement in the context of the entire slope. Furthermore, conventional snow pits including densities, liquid-water content measurements and depth probings were recorded next to the tramway right before or after the above-snow measurements. An automated weather station, which was located on a ridge line right above the study slope, provided standard meteorological and snow observations. Utilizing upGPR data together with the tramway measurements, we can determine and time strain rates, new-snow amounts and percolation of liquid water in relation to the prevailing weather conditions and observe both spatial and temporal variability in these properties. The scope of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of non-destructive observations in seasonal snowpacks, to provide further information of the formation of changes in stratigraphy and the variability thereof across a slope.
Object ID: issw-2012-1069-1080.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): unknown
Keywords: upground penetrating radar (gpr), tramway ground penetrating radar (gpr), temporal/ spatial variability
Page Number(s): 1069-180
Subjects: mountain snowpack gpr snowpack conditions
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