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SNOW SURVEY, SNOTEL (SNOwpack TELemetry) & SCAN (Soil Climate Analysis Network)

SNOW SURVEY, SNOTEL (SNOwpack TELemetry) & SCAN (Soil Climate Analysis Network). Presented at NWS Cold Regions Workshop November 15 - 19, 2004. NRCS-NWCC. Mission:

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SNOW SURVEY, SNOTEL (SNOwpack TELemetry) & SCAN (Soil Climate Analysis Network)

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  1. SNOW SURVEY, SNOTEL(SNOwpack TELemetry)&SCAN(Soil Climate Analysis Network) Presented at NWS Cold Regions Workshop November 15 - 19, 2004

  2. NRCS-NWCC • Mission: • The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) mission is to lead the development and transfer of water and climate information technology that supports natural resources conservation.

  3. Snow Survey History Dr. Church

  4. Federal Snow Sampler

  5. SNOW COURSES • Large Manual Climate Network • Began in 1930s • Over 1500 remote sites • Generally in high elevation areas • Located in the 12 Western States and Alaska • Monthly Measurements • Collects Depth and SWE

  6. SNOTEL • Large Automated Climate Network • Began in 1978 • Over 700 remote site • Generally in high elevation areas • Located in the 12 Western States and Alaska • Utilizes meteor burst communication technology to telemeter data

  7. SNOTEL Meteor Burst Communication Technology

  8. SNOTEL Coverage

  9. SNOTEL • Typical Sensors • Snow Pillow used to measure snow water content (Fluid based system) • All Season Precipitation Gage • Air Temperature • Includes current, 24 hour: maximum, minimum, and average • Snow Depth

  10. SNOTEL • Other Sensor • Relative Humidity • Solar Radiation • Wind Speed and Direction • Barometric Pressure • Water Level • Soil Moisture and Temperature • Fuel Moisture • Water Quality

  11. SNOTEL • SNOTEL Properties • Utilizes Battery Packs and Solar Panels • Hourly Data Transmission Possible • 99 % Daily System Response • Real-Time Data Validation • Quality Controlled Data Set • Computer Accessible in near real-time • Analysis Products Available

  12. SNOTEL/Snow Course SITE SELECTION • Accessibility • Security • Gentle Slope • Aspect • Protected by wind • Solar Window • Area of Representation (Precipitation/Elevation Area Analysis)

  13. Typical SNOTEL Site

  14. SNOTELSnow Pillow

  15. SCAN(Soil Climate Analysis Network) • Background • A pilot project was started in 1991 • Pilot project objectives were to: • Develop technical expertise in monitoring Soil-Climate interface • Demonstrate the technical feasibility for a nationwide data network • The current network has 90 sites in 36 states

  16. SCAN Site Locations

  17. SCAN • Real-Time Monitoring • Uses meteor burst communication to obtain remote site data • Collects hourly data

  18. SCAN • Typical Data Parameters Monitored • Atmospheric Monitoring • Precipitation: incremental or accumulated • Air Temperature: current, maximum, minimum, and average hourly and 24 hour • Solar Radiation: hourlyand 24 hour average

  19. SCAN • Atmospheric Monitoring (Continued) • Wind speed and direction: hourly and daily average and maximum wind speed for the hour • Relative humidity: current, maximum, minimum, and average hourly • Barometric pressure: current

  20. SCAN • Below Ground Monitoring • Soil moisture: • 2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 inch depths • Current • Soil temperature: • 2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 inch depths • Current

  21. Typical SCAN Site

  22. SCAN Sensors • All season storage precipitation gage • 30 inch capacity • Weighing gage • 0.01 inch resolution

  23. SCAN Sensors • Tipping bucket precipitation gage • 0.01 inch resolution

  24. SCAN Sensors • Relative Humidity • Air Temperature

  25. SCAN Sensors • Solar Radiation

  26. SCAN Sensors • Wind Speed and Direction

  27. SCAN Sensors • Snow Pillow for measuring snow water content

  28. SCAN Sensors • Snow Depth • 0.5 inch resolution

  29. SCAN Sensors • Soil Moisture and Temperature • Typically measured at 5 depths (2, 4, 8, 20, 40 inches)

  30. Uses of SNOTEL & SCAN Data • Drought and flood monitoring and mitigation • Streamflow forecasting • Reservoir operations management • Irrigation water management • Fire risk assessment • Crop production • Disease and pest outbreak mitigation • Natural resource management • Recreation • Avalanche Forecasting

  31. SNOTEL and SCAN • Data Access • Data available on NWCC homepage • http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov • FTP access for various text based products • SHEF encoded data via NOAA Family of Services • Direct system access via User Access Agreements

  32. SNOTEL and SCAN • Conclusion • Near Real-time monitoring • Snow Survey data has a long period of record. • Greater than 10-year life expectancy • Cost efficient systems • Low maintenance requirements • Capability of monitoring other data parameters, such as: • water depth, water quality, water level, etc..

  33. Contacts • Garry L. Schaefer, Water & Climate Monitoring Branch Leader101 SE Main St., Suite 1600Portland, OR 97204Phone: 503-414-3068 Fax: 503-414-3101Email: gschaefer@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov • Tony Tolsdorf, Hydrologist101 SE Main St., Suite 1600Portland, OR 97204Phone: 503-414-3006 Fax: 503-414-3101Email: ttolsdorf@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov

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