Technical note: Snow Water Equivalence Estimation (SWEE) Algorithm from Snow Depth Time Series Using a Snow Density Model
- 1Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071
- 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071
- 3Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071
- 1Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071
- 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071
- 3Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071
Abstract. Snow water equivalence (SWE) is typically computed from snow weight by the SNOTEL system in the US. However, a snow pillow, the main snow weight sensor used by SNOTEL, requires a large, open, flat area (at least 9 square meters) and substantial maintenance costs. This article presents the snow water equivalence estimation (SWEE) algorithm that estimates the SWE evolution merely from continuous snow depth and temperature measurements using common sensors. The key component is a depth-averaged snow density model that is available in the literature, but is underutilized. Here, we demonstrate that the snow density model can estimate mass exchanges (SWE changes due to snowfall, erosion, deposition, and snowmelt) as well as the SWE. The SWEE algorithm can potentially increase the number of snow monitoring locations because snow depth and temperature sensors are considerably more accessible and economical than snow weighing sensor.
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Noriaki Ohara et al.


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RC1: 'Review of Technical Note: SWEE', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Oct 2018
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AC1: 'Reply to the review comments RC1', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
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AC1: 'Reply to the review comments RC1', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
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RC2: 'Review of hess-2018-451', Tobias Jonas, 04 Dec 2018
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AC2: 'Reply to the review comments RC2', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
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AC3: 'Revised manuscript', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
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AC2: 'Reply to the review comments RC2', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
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EC1: 'Editor comment', Jan Seibert, 23 Dec 2018


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RC1: 'Review of Technical Note: SWEE', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Oct 2018
-
AC1: 'Reply to the review comments RC1', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
-
AC1: 'Reply to the review comments RC1', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
-
RC2: 'Review of hess-2018-451', Tobias Jonas, 04 Dec 2018
-
AC2: 'Reply to the review comments RC2', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
-
AC3: 'Revised manuscript', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
-
AC2: 'Reply to the review comments RC2', Noriaki Ohara, 20 Dec 2018
-
EC1: 'Editor comment', Jan Seibert, 23 Dec 2018
Noriaki Ohara et al.
Noriaki Ohara et al.
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