Development and field testing of a remote radioisotopic snow gage

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974

OSTI ID:4159729

Shreve, D C; Brown, A J; Santeford, H S; Smith, J L

In stream runoff forecasting and flood prediction it is necessary to have timely information about the water stored in the high mountain snowpacks. In addition to the total water equivalent, it may be useful to have information about the nature and conditions of the snowpack. Dry snow, for example, will absorb significant amounts of water before runoff begins, whereas wet snow will allow additional water to drain. Present methods of remotely measuring the water equivalent of the snowpack rely on pressure measuring devices located at or below ground level. These devices give a measurement of the total water equivalent in the snow above the device but not its condition. The development of a radioisotopic profiling gage has shown that detailed information above the location of the water throughout the snowpack could be obtained by measuring the attenuation of gamma radiation passing through the snow. Research scientists are now studying the physics of snow using such gages. A simpler radioisotopic snow gage which provides information intermediate between the pressure device and the profiling gage has been developed and has undergone field tests conducted by the State of California Department of Water Resources at their developmental test station. The gage provides the water equivalent of the snowpack in each of ten vertical increments. Both a total water equivalent and a course vertical density distribution of the snowpack are obtained. Design data are included. (CH)

• Research Organization: JRB Inc., La Jolla, CA; comps.; SEE CODE- 4415000 National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. (USA)
• NSA Number: NSA-33-007314
• OSTI ID: 4159729
• Report Number(s): CONF-731201--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*FLOODS-- FORECASTING
*RADIOMETRIC GAGES-- DESIGN
*SNOW-- DEPTH
*WATER RESOURCES-- MANAGEMENT
510101* --Environmental Sciences
Terrestrial--Basic Studies- -Radiometric Techniques
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
EARTH CRUST
MEASURING METHODS
N44420* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Radiometric Techniques--Soil
N46200 --Instrumentation--Radiometric Instruments