Snow sensors in California, a progress report

A report on the development of snow sensor installations and a description of the existing network in California is presented. General descriptions of site locations and responsible operating agencies are outlined. The history of the Department's Alpha Instrument Evaluation site in the American River Basin is reviewed. Descriptions of precipitation, wind, and temperature instrumentation for support of snow sensor evaluation studies at this site are presented. The experimental sensor installations reviewed in this report include: six 12-foot diameter pressure pillows; one 5-foot pillow; two groups of 3-foot pillows; a pressure tank; a newly developed 6-foot diameter diaphragm type gage; two pressure transducers; and associated data recording instruments. The evaluation of various types of snow sensors and recording and transmitting equipment is encouraged to insure a rapid advance to more compact and reliable operational snow sensors.