40 years snow cover measurements in France
Title | 40 years snow cover measurements in France |
Publication Type | Conference Proceedings |
Year of Conference | 1992 |
Authors | Duband, D., and Lallement C. |
Conference Name | 60th Annual Western Snow Conference |
Series Title | Proceedings of the 60th Annual Western Snow Conference |
Date Published | April 1992 |
Publisher | Western Snow Conference |
Conference Location | Jackson Hole, Wyoming |
Keywords | France, Multipurpose water management, Snow cover measurements |
Abstract | For nearly 40 years, EDF (French National Electricity Board) has been using a snow survey network in order to forecast snowmelt inflow for the purpose of water management (hydropower optimization, agriculture, water-sports...) during the end of winter, spring and summer. This network, set up at altitudes between 800 m and 2700 m consists of 240 manual gauging sites (having dropped from 650 in the late 60’s), in Alps - Pyrenees - Central range mountains.Meanwhile, in order to get real-time data, EDF has developed an original automatic level gauge service: the 'TELENIVOMETER'. This equipment can measure, once a day or more, the density of different layers of snow (10 cm slices) the snowdepth and the air temperature and thus deduces the water equivalent. The data can be collected by satellite (ARGOS) or by telephone for lower-altitude sites. |
URL | sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1992Duband.pdf |