TY - Generic T1 - Ultrasonic Snow Depth Sensor Refurbishment and Testing at the NRCS National Water and Climate Center Electronics Maintenance Facility, Portland, OR T2 - 86th Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 2018 A1 - Chris R. Brown AB -

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) Electronics Maintenance Facility (EMF) in Portland, OR provides assistance and guidance to the NRCS Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting program regarding the use of electronic instrumentation to collect hydrologic and climatic data at SNOTEL (Snow Telemetry) and SCAN (Soil Climate Analysis Network) sites. Snow depth is an important component measured at SNOTEL sites. The most common sensor used to measure snow depth within the SNOTEL program is the ultrasonic snow depth sensor. Ultrasonic snow depth sensors are to be refurbished and tested at EMF or replaced every six years. When a snow depth sensor is returned to EMF, all the major electronic components, along with any degenerate sensor body components, are replaced by technicians, and the refurbished sensor is run through a ten-point test to ensure that it meets manufacturer and programmatic specifications. Sensors that meet specifications are redeployed at SNOTEL sites and field-checked annually. (KEYWORDS: SNOTEL, snow depth, direct snow measurement, instrumentation)

JF - 86th Annual Western Snow Conference CY - Albuquerque, New Mexico UR - /files/PDFs/2018Brown.pdf ER -