Measurement of Terrestrial Snow

Abstract

Snow on the land surface is an important component of the hydrological cycle in cold regions and acts as a hydrologic reservoir with a residence time that introduces a delay before ablation when runoff from snowmelt enters rivers, streams, and aquifers. Mass and energy fluxes between the snowpack and the atmosphere affect climate, temperature, and biogeochemical cycles in cold regions. Snow is a thermal insulator and the presence or absence of snow influences soil temperatures and soil water content that affect the growth of plants and agricultural crops. Snowpack chemistry is indicative of atmospheric pollutants and ions present in snowmelt runoff affect water quality and biological processes. Changes in the snowpack due to mass and energy fluxes associated with heat transport modify snow particle size, snow structure, and density, influencing albedo, permeability, air and water transport through snow, the rate of snowmelt, and mechanical properties. In some regions, snowmelt is a source of water for hydroelectric power generation, agricultural production, and human consumption. Accumulation of snow in complex terrain and snowpack metamorphic processes contribute to avalanche activity that redistributes snow between different areas but also influences biogeography and creates human hazards in regions where the spatial distribution of snow is important for winter recreation and skiing activities. Wind is also responsible for redistribution of snow and affects the spatial distribution of snowcover. Measurement of snow quantifies the spatial distribution of snowpack properties and provides inputs for mathematical models used for prediction and forecasting of flooding, drought, runoff, climate change, and avalanche activity for assessment of water resources and regional hazards. Snowpack measurements also provide insight into hydrological processes related to snow in a temporal and geographic context, allowing for a better scientific understanding of these processes and providing a means for the development of more accurate mathematical models. This bibliography provides an overview of how terrestrial snow properties and processes are measured. Papers were selected for this bibliography based on pedagogical value and an emphasis on important research conducted during the last thirty years for an up-to-date overview, although earlier papers and monographs are also included that had an influence on snow hydrology in a historical context.