SNOTEL: an operational data acquisition sysem using meteor burst technology

This paper describes the implementation and operation of the SNOTEL System, a snow data acquisition system operated by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. The SNOTEL System collects snow and other hydrometeorological data from snow courses in 10 Western states. Remote snow course data is telemetered to two central data collection points via the forward scatter meteor burst technique, the first such use of meteor burst communications. Data is available to users in each state, in near-real-time, via land-line access to a central data processing and storage facility. This paper discusses the key SNOTEL implementation decisions and their rationale, reviews key project milestones to date, describes the design and operation of the SNOTEL System, and presents preliminary data concerning sensor and telemetry system performance.