Proof-of-Concept for a Ground-Based Dual-Receiver Radar Architecture to Estimate Snowpack Parameters for Wet Snow

Snow is an important environmental variable and a primary water resource in many areas of the world. Monitoring seasonal snowpack properties is also crucial for properly managing snow-related hazards such as snow avalanches and snowmelt floods. Recently, an innovative radar architecture, based on th...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Espín-López, PF, Lodigiani, M, Barbolini, M, Dell'Acqua, F, Silvestri, L, Pasian, M
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
Repositorio:r-CTTC. Repositorio Institucional Producción Científica del Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
OAI Identifier:oai:cttc.fundanetsuite.com:p4138
Acceso en línea:https://cttc.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=4138
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Snow
Radar
Radar antennas
Frequency measurement
Permittivity
Monitoring
Radar cross-sections
Downward-looking radar
frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar
liquid water content (LWC)
snow density
snow monitoring
snowpack
snow water equivalent (SWE)
wave speed
wet snow
Descripción
Sumario:Snow is an important environmental variable and a primary water resource in many areas of the world. Monitoring seasonal snowpack properties is also crucial for properly managing snow-related hazards such as snow avalanches and snowmelt floods. Recently, an innovative radar architecture, based on the use of two receivers, has been proposed for snowpack monitoring for the case of dry snow, where the snowpack depth and bulk density can be calculated with one single radar measurement, without any kind of external aid. This article presents the extension of this innovative radar architecture for the case of wet snow. The approach to determine, not only the snowpack depth and bulk density but also the liquid water content, is outlined and discussed in detail, along with the experimental validation of the operating principle for two cases.