Application of airborne gamma radiation snow survey measurements and snow cover modeling in river and flood forecasting

TitleApplication of airborne gamma radiation snow survey measurements and snow cover modeling in river and flood forecasting
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1981
AuthorsCarroll, T. R., and Larson L. W.
Conference Name49th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 49th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1981
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationSt. George, Utah
KeywordsAirborne snow survey, Flood forecasting, Gamma radiation, River forecasting, Snow melt modeling
Abstract

The National Weather Service (NWS) has hydrologic forecasting reponsibilities for the United States. Two major technical procedures have recently been developed and implemented by the NWS to facilitate river and flood forecasting in large areas of the upper Midwest subject to extensive winter snow accumulation. First, a temperature based snow model is used to represent the physical processes associated with the accumulation and ablation of a snowpack and to simulate snow cover characteristics over much of the upper Midwest. Second, the implementation of an operational Airborne Gamma Radiation Snow Survey Program provides observed snow water equivalent data for large areas of the upper Midwest. A discussion of the snow accumulation and ablation model and its application to the NWS River Forecasting Procedure is given. In addition, the theory, application, capability, and limitation of the airborne gamma radiation attenuation technique are discussed.

URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1981Carroll.pdf