A Recording Snow Lysimeter

Herrmann, Andreas

doi:10.3189/s0022143000198107

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Hermann [] considered a 25 m 2 lysimeter to be the smallest lysimeter that can be constructed to accurately measure runoff from snow. The system described by Hermann [] had a collection container that was automatically emptied by a magnetic valve.…”

Section: Instrumentation and Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hermann [1978] considered a 25 m 2 lysimeter to be the smallest lysimeter that can be constructed to accurately measure runoff from snow. The system described by Hermann [1978] had a collection container that was automatically emptied by a magnetic valve. Marsh and Woo [1985] installed lysimeters with 1 m 2 and 0.25 m 2 areas, finding an agreement of less than 10% error between these two devices.…”

Section: Snowmelt Lysimetersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measurement of the physical properties of the snowpack

Kinar

Pomeroy

2015

Reviews of Geophysics

190

202

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This paper reviews measurement techniques and corresponding devices used to determine the physical properties of the seasonal snowpack from distances close to the ground surface. The review is placed in the context of the need for scientific observations of snowpack variables that provide inputs for predictive hydrological models that help to advance scientific understanding of geophysical processes related to snow in the near-surface cryosphere. Many of these devices used to measure snow are invasive and require the snowpack to be disrupted, thereby precluding the possibility for multiple measurements to be made at the same sampling location. Moreover, many devices rely on the use of empirical calibration equations that may not be valid at all geographic locations. The spatial density of observations with most snow measurement devices is often inadequate. There is a need for improved automation of snowpack measurement instrumentation with an emphasis on field-based feedback of measurement validity in lieu of postprocessing of samples or data at a lab or office location. The scientific future of snow measurement instrumentation thereby requires a synthesis between science and engineering principles that takes into consideration geophysics and the physics of device operation.

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Section: Instrumentation and Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Snowmelt Lysimetersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurement of the physical properties of the snowpack

Kinar

Pomeroy

2015

Reviews of Geophysics

190

202

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“…This variability is caused by isotopic fractionation in the snowpack during phase changes (i.e. freezing/melting, sublimation/recrystallization/condensation; Judy et al, 1970;Lee et al, 2010a;Schmieder et al, 2016;Sokratov and Golubev, 2009;Stichler et al, 2001;Taylor et al, 2001Taylor et al, , 2002aUnnikrishna et al, 2002) and by ROS events when isotopically distinct rainwater percolates and mixes with the snowpack (Berman et al, 2009;Herrmann et al, 1981;Juras et al, 2016;Shanley et al, 1995a). Furthermore, isotopic exchange and redistribution in the snowpack can cause the snowpack outflow to be isotopically different from incoming rainfall (Judy et al, 1970;Lee et al, 2010a, b;Taylor et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring snowpack outflow volumes and their isotopic composition to better understand streamflow generation during rain-on-snow events

Rücker

Boss

Kirchner

et al. 2019

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Rain-on-snow (ROS) events in mountainous catchments can cause enhanced snowmelt, leading to an increased risk of destructive winter floods. However, due to differences in topography and forest cover, the generation of snowpack outflow volumes and their contribution to streamflow are spatially and temporally variable during ROS events. In order to adequately predict such flood events with hydrological models, an enhanced process understanding of the contribution of rainwater and snowmelt to stream water is needed.In this study, we monitored and sampled snowpack outflow with fully automated snowmelt lysimeter systems installed at three different elevations in a pre-Alpine catchment in central Switzerland. We measured snowpack outflow volumes during the winters of 2017 and 2018, as well as snowpack outflow isotopic compositions in winter 2017. Snowpack outflow volumes were highly variable in time and space, reflecting differences in snow accumulation and melt. In winter 2017, around 815 mm of snowpack outflow occurred at our reference site (grassland 1220 m a.s.l. -metres above sea level), whereas snowpack outflow was 16 % less at the nearby forest site (1185 m a.s.l.), and 62 % greater at another grassland site located 200 m higher (1420 m a.s.l.). A detailed analysis of 10 ROS events showed that the differences in snowpack outflow volumes could be explained mainly by rainfall volumes and initial snow depths.The isotope signals of snowpack outflow were more damped than those of incoming rainwater at all three sites, with the most damped signal at the highest elevation site because its snowpack was the thickest and the residence times of liquid water in its snowpack were the longest, thus enhancing isotopic mixing in the snowpack. The contribution of snowpack outflow to streamflow, estimated with an isotopebased two-component end-member mixing model, differed substantially among the three lysimeter sites (i.e. between 7 ± 4 and 91 ± 21 %). Because the vegetation in our study catchment is a mixture of grassland and forest, with elevations ranging from 1000 to 1500 m a.s.l., our site-specific hydrograph separation estimates can only provide a range of snowpack outflow contributions to discharge from different parts of the study area. Thus, the catchment-average contribution of snowpack outflow to stream discharge is likely to lie between the end-member mixing estimates derived from the three site-specific data sets. This information may be useful for improving hydrological models in snow-dominated catchments.

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“…For hydrograph separations, the isotopic content of meltwater is needed as input, and therefore, it is recommended to directly measure the temporal trend of the isotope content of meltwater during the melting period. Meltwater can be sampled using snow lysimeters (Herrmann, 1978) if the devices are large enough to be unaffected by variability caused by the formation of preferential flow pathways in the snowpack and by canopy throughfall in forested areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotopic variation of snow cover and streamflow in response to changes in canopy structure in a snow‐dominated mountain catchment

Koeniger

Hubbart

Link

et al. 2008

Hydrological Processes

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Isotopic composition of snow cover and streamflow was determined in a snowdominated, forested watershed to quantify the spatial variability and processes that alter stable isotope (oxygen-18, 18 O and deuterium, 2 H) composition under different forest canopy conditions (clear-cut, partial-cut (thinned), and unimpacted forest). Snow sampling was carried out on 4 days in late winter and early spring 2006. Meteorological data, precipitation, and streamflow were continuously monitored during the study. Isotope analyses of precipitation samples were conducted weekly through the 2005-2006 snow season. Values of d 18 O varied between −22·0 and −9·5‰ , and d 2 H varied between −170 and −76‰ . Isotope concentrations from snowpack samples varied between −17·5 and −13·8‰ for d 18 O, and between −129 and −102‰ for d 2 H. These ranges reflect differences in precipitation, accumulation, sublimation, and melting of the snow cover. Streamflow samples were collected during the snowmelt season from two locations every alternate day from the beginning of April until the end of May. Streamflow and snow from a partial-cut and an uncut forest were enriched in the heavy isotopes ( 18 O and 2 H) relative to streamflow and snow from a clear-cut forest.Based on the low water contents of the snowpack under dense canopies, we infer that the isotope enrichment resulted primarily from sublimation of snow intercepted by the canopy, with more enrichment in denser canopies. There was no significant correlation between snowpack isotope concentration and altitude. Results indicate that variations in canopy structure can alter snow isotope composition. This finding will provide a useful index of snowpack sublimation, and thus, improved parameterization of distributed hydrological models.

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A Recording Snow Lysimeter

Cited by 14 publications

References 4 publications

Measurement of the physical properties of the snowpack

Measurement of the physical properties of the snowpack

Monitoring snowpack outflow volumes and their isotopic composition to better understand streamflow generation during rain-on-snow events

Isotopic variation of snow cover and streamflow in response to changes in canopy structure in a snow‐dominated mountain catchment

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