Performance Analysis of CS725 Snow Water Equivalent Sensor
Location
Logan Country Club
Start Date
3-28-2017 2:25 PM
End Date
3-28-2017 2:30 PM
Description
This poster continues the evaluation of the CS725 snow water equivalent (SWE) sensor as previously conducted by Wright et al. (2011). The CS725 was developed by Hydro Quebec in collaboration with Campbell Scientific Canada Corporation and determines SWE by passively measuring the attenuation of naturally emitted terrestrial gamma radiation from the soil by the snowpack. The CS725 provides a non-contact technique for determining SWE that is effective with any type of snow or ice cove and whose performance is not affected by adverse weather conditions. Field testing of the CS725 was conducted at Sunshine Village, Alberta (2008-2011), SNOTEL Tony Grove Ranger Station, Utah (2009-2010), and Anestølen, Norway (2011-2012). The CS725 values were compared to other sensors, which produce SWE either directly or indirectly: snow pillow, precipitation gauge, snow depth sensor, and manual SWE values from snow course measurements. Strong agreement is shown both qualitatively and quantitatively between all automated methods of SWE: CS725, snow pillow, and precipitation gauge. Statistically, all automated methods show strong correlations of 0.96-0.99 over the entire season and up to peak periods. Monthly snow course measurements were found to be the least reliable method of measuring SWE. Analysis of the CS725 suggests that it provides comparable, if not better, SWE accuracy to the snow pillow and precipitation gauge, while eliminating the disadvantages associated with these measurement techniques.
Performance Analysis of CS725 Snow Water Equivalent Sensor
Logan Country Club
This poster continues the evaluation of the CS725 snow water equivalent (SWE) sensor as previously conducted by Wright et al. (2011). The CS725 was developed by Hydro Quebec in collaboration with Campbell Scientific Canada Corporation and determines SWE by passively measuring the attenuation of naturally emitted terrestrial gamma radiation from the soil by the snowpack. The CS725 provides a non-contact technique for determining SWE that is effective with any type of snow or ice cove and whose performance is not affected by adverse weather conditions. Field testing of the CS725 was conducted at Sunshine Village, Alberta (2008-2011), SNOTEL Tony Grove Ranger Station, Utah (2009-2010), and Anestølen, Norway (2011-2012). The CS725 values were compared to other sensors, which produce SWE either directly or indirectly: snow pillow, precipitation gauge, snow depth sensor, and manual SWE values from snow course measurements. Strong agreement is shown both qualitatively and quantitatively between all automated methods of SWE: CS725, snow pillow, and precipitation gauge. Statistically, all automated methods show strong correlations of 0.96-0.99 over the entire season and up to peak periods. Monthly snow course measurements were found to be the least reliable method of measuring SWE. Analysis of the CS725 suggests that it provides comparable, if not better, SWE accuracy to the snow pillow and precipitation gauge, while eliminating the disadvantages associated with these measurement techniques.