First experiments to determine snow density from diffuse near-infrared transmittance

Snow density is one of the key properties to characterize a snow cover. We present diffuse near-infrared transmittance measurements with an integrating sphere setup in the laboratory. We analyze 8 snow samples taken from melt forms, decomposed, rounded, faceted and machine made snow. Reference measu...

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Hauptverfasser: Gergely, Mathias (VerfasserIn) , Schneebeli, Martin (VerfasserIn) , Roth, Kurt (VerfasserIn)
Dokumenttyp: Article (Journal)
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 23 June 2010
In: Cold regions science and technology
Year: 2010, Jahrgang: 64, Heft: 2, Pages: 81-86
DOI:10.1016/j.coldregions.2010.06.005
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Verfasserangaben:Mathias Gergely, Martin Schneebeli, Kurt Roth
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Zusammenfassung:Snow density is one of the key properties to characterize a snow cover. We present diffuse near-infrared transmittance measurements with an integrating sphere setup in the laboratory. We analyze 8 snow samples taken from melt forms, decomposed, rounded, faceted and machine made snow. Reference measurements of specific surface area (optically equivalent grain size) and density are done by micro-computed tomography and used as input for transmittance calculations. A diffuse flux extinction model cannot be applied to simulate transmittance as our setup cannot be approximated by an infinite snow block thickness. Calculations with a more intricate radiative transfer model (DISORT) agree with our measurements within the estimated grain size and density variability for all probed natural snow types. Only our machine made snow shows a morphology which cannot be modeled by DISORT. Thus, our results show for the first time a direct experimental correlation between transmittance and snow specific surface area and density without the need for an empirical fitting parameter. We feel this to be an important step towards a possible high-resolution, quantitative optical measurement method to determine snow density in combination with an independent specific surface area measurement.
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Beschreibung:Online Resource
DOI:10.1016/j.coldregions.2010.06.005