A field determination of free water content in wet snow

The results of investigations and tests of a method for determining the free water content of snow by measuring compacted density are reported. Best results were obtained by inserting snow loosely in one inch layers in a 250 cc. container and tamping each layer 4 times by dropping a 1 kg. weight 10 cm. A good relation was found between free water content and compacted density, especially for settled and coarse spring snow as well as water content above 5%; below 5% there was more variation in the relationship. The rate at which compacted density increases with water content above 5% was compared for different types of snow. Fine-grained snow tended to compress to a higher density than coarser snow. The advantage of the method is that it gives information on the physical structure of wet snow during the tests.