Authors: Tyler, Scott W.; Burak, Susan A.; McNamara, James P.; Lamontagne, Aurele; Selker, John S.; Dozier, Jeff

Source: Journal of Glaciology, Volume 54, Number 187, December 2008 , pp. 673-679(7)

Publisher: International Glaciological Society

Abstract:

Snowpack base temperatures vary during accumulation and diurnally. Their measurement provides insight into physical, biological and chemical processes occurring at the snow/soil interface. Recent advances in Raman-spectra instruments, which use the scattered light in a standard telecommunications fiber-optic cable to infer absolute temperature along the entire length of the fiber, offer a unique opportunity to obtain basal snow temperatures at resolutions of 1 m, 10 s and 0.1°C. Measurements along a 330 m fiber over 24 hours during late-spring snowmelt at Mammoth Mountain, California, USA, showed basal snow temperatures of 0±0.2°C using 10 s averages. Where the fiberoptic cable traversed bare ground, surface temperatures approached 40°C during midday. The durability of the fiber optic was excellent; no major damage or breaks occurred through the winter of burial. Data from the Dry Creek experimental watershed in Idaho across a small stream valley showed little variability of temperature on the northeast-facing, snow-covered slope, but clearly showed melting patterns and the effects of solar heating on southwest-facing slopes. These proof-of-concept experiments show that the technology enables more detailed spatial and temporal coverage than traditional point measurements of temperature.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/002214308786570827

Publication date: 2008-12-01

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