Introduction

The use of electromagnetic sensing with an active microwave system to determine the physical properties of snow-pack has been the subject of both theoretical and experimental investigation for several years (Reference CummingCumming, 1952; Vickers and Rose, [1973] ; Reference Linlor, Smith, Santeford and SmithLinlor and Smith, 1974; Reference Linlor, Smith, Santeford and SmithLinlor and others, 1974; Reference Linlor and JiracekLinlor and Jiracek, 1975; Reference Ellerbruch, Ellerbruch, Little, Boyne and BachmanEllerbruch and others, 1977). The various methods employed involve the measurement of the absorption and reflection of electromagnetic waves incident on the snow to determine the complex dielectric properties of the snow-pack. The complex dielectric properties such as dielectric constant, attenuation, and propagation through the snow-pack medium are then interpreted in terms of the physical properties such as density, stratigraphy, water equivalence, and liquid-water content.

While the main advantage of electromagnetic sensing is that the method does not disturb the snow-pack being investigated, the complex interrelationship among the various physical parameters and their effect on the dielectric properties of the medium has made the interpretation of the results somewhat ambiguous (Reference EvansEvans, 1965; Reference Ambach and DenothAmbach and Denoth, 1972; Reference Ellerbruch, Ellerbruch, Little, Boyne and BachmanEllerbruch and others, 1977).

The present paper reports on the use of an active microwave system to determine the water equivalence and stratigraphic layering of snow-pack. Indications of substantial near-surface activity and the possibility of identifying a characteristically weak layer, called the depth-hoar layer, in the snow-pack are also reported.

Electromagnetic systems

A portable (toboggan mounted) radar system, typically called an FM—CW system, was developed to measure and record profiles of snow-packs down to ground level and to monitor changes in snow stratigraphy as a function of time of day. Details of the system operation are reported elsewhere (Reference Ellerbruch and BelsherEllerbruch and Belsher, 1978). The system was continuously swept in frequency over the bandwidth 8-12 GHz. Snow depths up to 4 m have been measured with it.

An Automatic Network Analyzer (ANA) system was also used to measure the complex electromagnetic scattering properties of snow at discrete frequencies over the range 500 MHz-18 GHz. The scattering properties are a function of the snow stratigraphy. These data were collected in the frequency domain and computer processed on site with a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm into the time domain. The final output is a synthetic Time Domain Reflection (TDR) profile of the snow.

Two antennas were used in all experiments, one for transmitting the incident signal into the snow and the other to receive the reflected signal. The antennas were either mounted side-by-side above the snow surface, or buried below ground level. All of the results reported were obtained with the antennas at near-normal incidence with respect to the snow surface.

Physical analysis

The physical characterization of the snow-pack involved the analysis of a snow-pit to obtain density and temperature profiles and stratigraphy. A resistance profile using a ram penetrometer was also measured to determine the hardness of the snow-pack. These data were converted to a snow profile using symbols that are internationally understood and accepted ([International Hydrological Decade], 1970). In all cases the snow-pack was left in its natural state until the electromagnetic measurements were completed. The physical analysis was then determined.

Experimental results

The data given in Figures1–3 are typical of those collected during the 1976-77 snow season. Three field trips were made to an area near Pass Lake on Loveland Pass, Colorado. The total snow depth at the Pass Lake area built up from 110 cm for the initial experiments in January to 170 cm for the final experiments in March.

Fig. 1

Profile data for a test site near Pass Lake.

A complete sample of data for one of the Pass Lake Experiments is given in Figure 1. An electromagnetic profile for the test point was measured and recorded with the FM-CW microwave system. The data shown on the left are the actual output from that systemFigure 2Figure 3recorded on site at that time. Next, a resistance profile was measured at the same test point. Then, a pit was dug to obtain the visual characterization of stratigraphy, the temperature profile, and the density profile. All of the data are plotted with respect to a common depth scale measured from the ground in Figure 1.

Fig.2

Surface dielectric-constant and temperature data near Pass Lake.

Fig. 3

Composite of surface return signals near Pass Lake.

An experiment was designed to monitor a point on the snow surface with the FM-CW system throughout the day to measure the changes at the surface and within the snow-pack as the ambient conditions changed. The surface results obtained from this experiment are given in Figure 2. The snow temperature was obtained with a thermometer that was placed approximately 2 cm beneath the top of the snow-pack.

As shown in Figure 2, the surface dielectric constant decreased during the time 10.00 h until 13.00 h. There was no surface melt at that time. It is not yet understood what caused the surface dielectric constant to decrease during that time span; however, it was noted during this experiment that the density of the surface layer of snow also varied as the day progressed. Between the hours 13.00 and 16.00 there was some surface melt causing the surface dielectric constant to increase as expected. After 16.00 h there was no surface melt; however, after falling to the expected low value at sundown (16.00 h), the surface dielectric constant began to increase and essentially returned to the same value as recorded in the early morning.

Considerable activity was underway within the upper 10-20 cm of snow as the day progressed. Figure 3 is a composite of the near-surface reflection recorded between the hours 11.30-14.00. At 11.30 h two surfaces were clearly measured as evidenced by the large responseFigure 4(air-snow interface, ε = 1.97) and a smaller response which corresponds to an interface 10 cm within the snow-pack. The smaller response is caused by a hard layer of snow that was found 10 cm below the surface at that point. As time progressed up to 13.00 h, it can be seen that the surface and the subsurface structure within the upper layer changed considerably, even though there was no surface melting. At 13.15 h and 13.30 h, as shown in Figure 2, some surface melt occurred, as evidenced by the increased air temperature, and the increased surface dielectric constant. At 13.45 h the temperature decreased and the surface froze, resulting in the multi-layered response shown for that time in Figure 3. Beyond that time, as Figure 2 shows, there was considerable surface melt until sundown.

Fig. 4

FM-CW and time-domain data fat the snow-pack near Arlington, Wyoming.

Figure 4 is a comparison of the microwave responses obtained in Wyoming with the FM-CW system and with the ANA. The ANA data have been transformed into the time domain using a discrete Fast Fourier Transform. The snow surface, the ground, and some of the strata have been detected by both systems. The FM-CW data was obtained at microwave frequencies 8-12 GHz, while the ANA data was obtained at microwave frequencies 0.24-2.0 GHz. The total depth of the snow pack was 390 cm.

The major part of the investigations during the 1977-78 and 1978-79 snow seasons was done in cooperation with the USDA Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station at its field site on Berthoud Pass, Colorado, Additional investigations to verify snow-pack water equivalence were made at Loveland Pass, Colorado; Fraser, Colorado; and the Central Sierra Snow Laboratories, Soda Springs, California.

At the Berthoud Pass site, transmitting and receiving antennas were buried in a waterproof plastic enclosure beneath the ground prior to the 1977-78 snow season. The undisturbed snow-pack which built up on top of the antennas was then monitored for several months. AFigure 5Figure 6Figure 7composite of specific microwave responses of amplitude versus depth of snow-pack from 16 February 1978, to 25 May 1978, are shown in Figure 5 and 6. The arrows in Figure 5 and Figure 6 indicate reflection from the surface of the snow-pack. The date and physical depth of snow-pack are tabulated in the right-hand columns. The amplitude variations as a function of depth indicate stratigraphic layering, which has been verified by physical analysis of pit data taken approximately two meters from the buried antennas. Figure 7 is one such plot of the snow-pack stratigraphy and resistance profile measurements for 7 April 1978. These data should be compared with the bottom trace of Figure 6

Fig. 5

Plot of FM-CW amplitude response as a function of depth for the period 16 February 1978 to 31 March 1978.

Fig. 6

Plot of FM-CW amplitude response as a function of depth for the period 7 April 1978 to 25 May 1978.

Fig. 7

Physical analysis of snow-pack,BerthoudPass, 7 April 1978 isothermal( 0°C )snow-pack conditions.

The large amplitude responses in the upper layers of the pack for the top trace of Figure 5 and the two lower traces of Figure 6 represent ice layers formed by surface melt-freeze conditions. The pack progressed from temperature gradient to isothermal (0°C) with the isothermal condition starting around 5 April 1978. There is an apparent loss of stratigraphy in the three upper traces of Figure 6, caused presumably by the percolation of free water through the snow-pack.

Measurements of snow-pack water equivalence were made by comparing a known volume of snow with the volume of water produced by melting the snow. We observed a correlation between the snow-pack water equivalence and the frequency range Δf swept by the FM-CW system between the top and bottom of the snow-pack (Figs 5 and 6). To explain this result, we assume a two-component dielectric model of ice and air for the snow-pack (Reference KuroiwaKuroiwa, 1962). This assumption was verified by null measurements of free water, using a freezing calorimeter technique (Reference JonesJones, 1979). A three-component model (ice, air, water) would be necessary if free water were present in the snow-pack. We can relate the frequency range Δf, to the snow-pack water equivalence in the following way. The snow-pack depth is given by (Reference Ellerbruch and BelsherEllerbruch and Belsher, 1978).

(1)

where K = 2(f₂ —f₁)f_n⁄c is a radar system parameter and f₂—f₁ the maximum sweep range of the FM-CW system, f_n the number of sweeps per unit time, c the speed of light, d_s the physical depth of the snow-pack, and ε_s the dielectric constant of snow relative to air.

TABLE I.

TWO-COMPONENT DIELECTRIC MIXTURE MODEL FOR SNOW. d_aAND d_i ARE THE DEPTH OF AIR AND SOLID ICE, RESPECTIVELY. ε_a AND ε_i ARE THE DIELECTRIC CONSTANTS OF AIR AND SOLID ICE, RESPECTIVELY

The term is often referred to as theelectrical path length of the medium, in this case, snow. In the two-component model, where d_i and d_a, are the depth of solid ice and air, respectively. Also, where ε_i and ε_a are the relative dielectric constant of ice and air with respect to air, respectively, and ε_a = 1.

(2)

and

Because our snow-pack water-equivalence measurements are volumetric, the depth d_i of solid ice can be equated to depth d_w of water with an error of about 2%. Therefore,

(3)

where Δf and d_s are measured. For these measurements, f₂—f₁ = 4 GHz and f_n =100Hz so that K = 2.67- 10³. A graph of the measured versus the calculated snow-pack water equivalence is shown in Figure 8 The error between the measured and calculated water equivalence is ±5%. For an alpine snow-pack, we have observed that the average dielectric constant of snow ranges from 1.3—1.4.

Fig. 8

Graph of measured water equivalence versus calculated water equivalence from FM-CW response.

Conclusions

We have observed changes in the snow-pack stratigraphy over several snow seasons. We have measured the snow-pack water equivalence with an accuracy of ±5%, using an FM-CW microwave system (Fig. 8). This implies that the same system can be used to measure snow-pack loading (change in electrical depth) on an avalanche slope. There is evidence that the top of the depth-hoar layer exhibits a strong reflection (Fig. 1) which can be monitored during the snow season. There is also evidence that while the physical depth of the pack diminishes in the latter part of the season, the water equivalence remains relatively constant (densifica-tion). Finally there is evidence that the ripeness of the snow-pack could be assessed by observing the diminution of stratigraphic layers in the late-season snow-pack (Fig. 6). These observations will be the subject of further study to relate them to avalanche modeling.