SnowImager – eine neue Methode zur Messung physikalischer Schneeparameter ¶
Der SnowImager misst die Reflektivität des Schnees im Nahinfrarotbereich, d.h. für Licht in Wellenlängen von 840 und 950 Nanometer. Daraus lassen sich physikalische Schneeeigenschaften wie die SSA (Specific Surface Area), ein wichtiger Mikrostrukturparameter, sowie die Schneedichte ableiten. Neuste Forschung liefern vielversprechende Hinweise, dass auch der Wassergehalt des Schnees mit dem SnowImager bestimmt werden kann. Der SnowImager wurde zusammen mit Davos Instruments im Rahmen eines Innosuisse Projekts entwickelt.
Instrumentation
The SnowImager is an instrument that allows to take near infrared reflection images of a snow surface / profile. The main components of the SnowImager are a near infrared illumination system and two cameras to capture the reflected light. The housing of the SnowImager acts as a sun (light) shield.
Data Products
The reflectance images captured with the SnowImager allow to derive specific surface area (SSA) , density and liquid water content (under development) using specific post processing algorithms and calibrations. Typically several reflectance images are stitched together to form a larger image.
Results from the field
The SnowImager has been tested in different locations and environments. Data collection took place ins Switzerland, around Davos and at Jungfraujoch, as well as in Finland, Greenland and Antarctica. Snow surface area and density have been retreived from these datasets and compared to measurements of other type of instruments.
More: snowimager.ch
