Simulation of Airborne Snow Water Equivalent Measurement Errors Made over a Forest Environment

by Richard M. Vogel, Natl Weather Service, Airborne Gamma, Radiation Snow Survey Program, Minneapolis, MN, USA,
Thomas R. Carroll, Natl Weather Service, Airborne Gamma, Radiation Snow Survey Program, Minneapolis, MN, USA,
Steven S. Carroll, Natl Weather Service, Airborne Gamma, Radiation Snow Survey Program, Minneapolis, MN, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Watershed Management in the Eighties

Abstract:

The Office of Hydrology of the National Weather Service has developed and maintains an operational Airborne Gamma Radiation Snow Survey Program in the upper Midwest (Peck, et al. , 1980). The airborne snow water equivalent data are used by the National Weather Service River Forecast Centers when issuing spring flood outlooks for the region. The technique uses the attenuation of natural terrestrial gamma radiation by the snow cover to make airborne snow water equivalent measurements over agricultural environments with a Root Mean Square error of 0. 8 cm (Carroll, et al. , 1983). Two flight line networks have recently been established to assess the capability of the airborne snow water equivalent measurement technique in forested areas. This paper discusses three major sources of error associated with airborne snow water equivalent measurements made over a forest environment.

Subject Headings: Snow | Errors (statistics) | Forests | Gamma function | Water management | Radiation | Weather forecasting

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