A new technique for the deterination of heat necessary to melt snow

Submitted by Armida on Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:47
TitleA new technique for the deterination of heat necessary to melt snow
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1941
AuthorsBernard, M. l, and Wilson W. T.
Conference Name9th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 9th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Date PublishedJanuary 1941
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union, Transactions, Part I-B:
Conference LocationSacramento, California
KeywordsCalorimetry, Snow quality, Snowpack physics
Abstract

A quantitative determination of the heat of melting of snow was devised by the U.S. Weather Bureau. A snow sample is added to a measured quantity of hot water of known temperature in a calorimeter. The difference between initial volumes of water indicates the amount of snow in the sample. The temperature difference shows the amount of heat necessary to melt the snow. A ratio of the heat of melting, in cal/gr to the 80 cal/gr of latent heat of fusion, is designated as quality of snow. Observations indicate a wide variation in snow quality. Coarse grainy snow has a minimum quality of 70-80%; new snow, of fine particle size, has qualities of less than 50%. Tables include data from experiments conducted in New York State. Photos illustrate a field sampling kit for snow quality measurements.