Recording depth of accumulated snow and new snow
Accumulated Snow: A single measure of the depth of snow may not be accurate because snow may move when it falls. Some areas will be blown clear while others will be piled into drifts of snow. To account for such differences, it is necessary to average a number of depth measurements. Snow Measurement Poles are made of 2 cm x 2 cm x 1 meter (or longer) sticks or PVC pipes with an attached measuring tape showing centimetres of depth. You will need to vary the length of the snow poles used depending upon maximum snow falls in your area. Five Snow Measurement Poles are placed at five meter intervals along a transect in an open, level area that will not be disturbed during the winter. Snow Measurement Poles are pinned on a flat clear ground surface before any snow falls. Snow depth measurements are made at each Pole at regular times (i.e. once a week) and after each new snow fall. Record snow depth to the nearest cm. Take these measurements without disturbing the snow around the Snow Measurement Pole. Set a track used to observe snow depths at least three meters from the snow poles. New Snow Depth: One additional Snow Measurement Pole should located in an area free from drifting snow. This pole is used to measure depth of new snowfalls. After each snowfall, a piece of heavy white paper with a hole in the middle is slid over the snow pole covering the new snow. With the next snowfall, the depth of new snow is then recorded as the depth of snow on top of the paper. Each successive snowfall requires a new piece of paper. Record snow depth to the nearest cm. Try not to disturb the snow near this Snow Measurement Pole. |