Acoustic sensors for snowdrift measurements: How should they be used for research purposes?

Cierco, François-Xavier; Naaim-Bouvet, Florence; Bellot, Hervé

doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.01.002

Cited by 47 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In-situ instruments are prone to extreme weather conditions, and measurement errors increase with wind speed (Cierco et al, 2007). Remote-sensed observations of drifting snow, shown to be promising on Antarctica (Palm et al, 2011), are limited on Greenland due to enhanced cloudiness and generally shallower drifting snow layers (S. P. Palm, personal communication, 2011).…”

Section: Model Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drifting snow climate of the Greenland ice sheet: a study with a regional climate model

et al. 2012

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Abstract. This paper presents the drifting snow climate of the Greenland ice sheet, using output from a high-resolution (∼ 11 km) regional climate model. Because reliable direct observations of drifting snow do not exist, we evaluate the modeled near-surface climate instead, using automatic weather station (AWS) observations from the K-transect and find that RACMO2 realistically simulates near-surface wind speed and relative humidity, two variables that are important for drifting snow. Integrated over the ice sheet, drifting snow sublimation (SU ds ) equals 24±3 Gt yr −1 , and is significantly larger than surface sublimation (SU s , 16 ± 2 Gt yr −1 ). SU ds strongly varies between seasons, and is only important in winter, when surface sublimation and runoff are small. A rapid transition exists between the winter season, when snowfall and SU ds are important, and the summer season, when snowmelt is significant, which increases surface snow density and thereby limits drifting snow processes. Drifting snow erosion (ER ds ) is only important on a regional scale. In recent decades, following decreasing wind speed and rising near-surface temperatures, SU ds exhibits a negative trend (0.1 ± 0.1 Gt yr −1 ), which is compensated by an increase in SU s of similar magnitude.

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Section: Model Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drifting snow climate of the Greenland ice sheet: a study with a regional climate model

et al. 2012

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“…The FlowCapt is described in detail in Chritin et al (1999) and Cierco et al (2007). It consists of a hollow tube fitted with electroacoustic transducers.…”

Section: Instruments and Test Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…An overestimation of one order of magnitude was also noted by Savelyev et al (2006) for a comparison with nets in the Arctic. Cierco et al (2007) proposed a new calibration of the instrument as the result of his own intercomparison with nets in a wind tunnel (with corn cobs and sand) and in the field (with snow) in the French Alps showing substantial flux overestimation. The second-generation instrument has never been evaluated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The FlowCapt is based on the momentum transfer of individual snow particles to the sensitive surface, such as the piezoelectric surfaces, which means that the acoustic pressure depends on the size, the density, and the speed of the particle. Cierco et al (2007) noted different responses depending on the type of particle.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The field is located at the Alpe d'Huez ski resort near Grenoble, France. The large pass aligned perpendicular to the north-south direction has been dedicated to aeolian snow transport for approximately 20 years and snowdrift sensors have been compared there many times (Michaux et al 2001;Cierco et al 2007;Naaim-Bouvet et al 2010;Bellot et al 2011) and model evaluations have been carried out (Vionnet et al 2013). The area consists of a relatively flat terrain (about 25 000 m 2 ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of the FlowCapt Acoustic Sensor for the Aeolian Transport of Snow

Trouvilliez

Naaim-Bouvet

Bellot

et al. 2015

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

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FlowCapt acoustic sensors, designed for measuring the aeolian transport of snow fluxes, are compared to the snow particle counter S7optical sensor, considered herein as the reference. They were compared in the French Alps at the Lac Blanc Pass, where a bench test for the aeolian transport of snow was set up. The two existing generations of FlowCapt are compared. Both seem to be good detectors for the aeolian transport of snow, especially for transport events with a flux above 1 g m 22 s 21. The second-generation FlowCapt is also compared in terms of quantification. The aeolian snow mass fluxes and snow quantity transported recorded by the secondgeneration FlowCapt are close to the integrative snow particle counter S7 fluxes for an event without precipitation, but they are underestimated when an event with precipitation is considered. When the winter season is considered, for integrative snow particle counter S7 fluxes above 20 g m 22 s 21, the second-generation FlowCapt fluxes are underestimated, regardless of precipitation. In conclusion, both generations of FlowCapt can be used as a drifting snow detector and the second generation can record an underestimation of the quantity of snow transported at one location: over the winter season, the quantity of snow transported recorded by the SPC is between 4 and 6 times greater than the quantity recorded by the second-generation FlowCapt.

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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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Acoustic sensors for snowdrift measurements: How should they be used for research purposes?

Cited by 47 publications

References 16 publications

Drifting snow climate of the Greenland ice sheet: a study with a regional climate model

Drifting snow climate of the Greenland ice sheet: a study with a regional climate model

Evaluation of the FlowCapt Acoustic Sensor for the Aeolian Transport of Snow

Measurement of the physical properties of the snowpack

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