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Linking Measurements From a Differential Emissivity Imaging Disdrometer (DEID) To Storm-Snow Instabilities
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2022-06-01
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[PDF-1.79 MB]
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Edition:Final Report
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Abstract:This report describes a collaborative study conducted by the University of Utah Environmental Fluid Dynamics (EFD) Lab in collaboration with Particle Flux Analytics, Inc., Alta Ski Patrol and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). The objectives of the project were to: (1) field test the Differential Emissivity Imaging Disdrometer (DEID) in Little Cottonwood Canyon and (2) link the results from the DEID to snow-stability metrics. Ultimately, this project aims to provide more information to help DOT forecasters make better decisions in a timely manner. The DEID is a thermal and optical instrument designed to measure the mass, size, density, and type, as well as visibility. The DEID can make these measurements at an unprecedented sampling rate (approximately once every second). DEID observations of snow accumulation, snow water equivalent (SWE) accumulation and snow density from seventeen storms taken at the mid-Collins Snow-Study Plot at Alta Ski Area during winter 2020-2021 showed excellent agreement with manual measurements with R2 values of 0.994, 0.983 and 0.875, respectively. Three methods were investigated to link DEID measurements to new-snow storm instabilities. The most promising of these methods is a stability-index model (also known as the SNOw Slope Stability model, SNOSS) that takes advantage of the DEID's ability to measure SWE and snow density in real time. Four new-snow stability models were run and evaluated with data collected from the DEID. The models show good agreement with tilt-board tests, infrasound data and visual observations of avalanches. Results show that over the 11 storms analyzed, the minimum stability index predicts the number of observed avalanches (naturals plus unknown) in the central Wasatch with an R2 value of 0.40. Finally, the report discusses several challenges associated with the measurements and recommended future work.
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