SNOW SURVEY, SNOTELSNOW SURVEY, SNOTEL(SNOwpack TELemetry)(SNOwpack TELemetry)
&&SCANSCAN
(Soil Climate Analysis Network)(Soil Climate Analysis Network)
Presented atPresented at
NWS Cold Regions WorkshopNWS Cold Regions Workshop
November 15 - 19, 2004November 15 - 19, 2004
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NRCS-NWCCNRCS-NWCC
Mission:Mission: The Natural Resources Conservation The Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), National Water and Service (NRCS), National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) mission is to Climate Center (NWCC) mission is to lead the development and transfer of lead the development and transfer of water and climate information water and climate information technology that supports natural technology that supports natural resources conservation.resources conservation.
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Snow Survey History Snow Survey History Dr. ChurchDr. Church
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Federal Snow SamplerFederal Snow Sampler
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SNOW COURSESSNOW COURSES
Large Manual Climate NetworkLarge Manual Climate Network Began in 1930sBegan in 1930s Over 1500 remote sitesOver 1500 remote sites Generally in high elevation areasGenerally in high elevation areas Located in the 12 Western States and Located in the 12 Western States and
AlaskaAlaska Monthly MeasurementsMonthly Measurements Collects Depth and SWECollects Depth and SWE
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SNOTELSNOTEL
Large Automated Climate NetworkLarge Automated Climate Network Began in 1978Began in 1978 Over 700 remote siteOver 700 remote site Generally in high elevation areasGenerally in high elevation areas Located in the 12 Western States and Located in the 12 Western States and
AlaskaAlaska Utilizes meteor burst communication Utilizes meteor burst communication
technology to telemeter datatechnology to telemeter data
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SNOTEL SNOTEL Meteor Burst Communication Meteor Burst Communication
TechnologyTechnology
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SNOTEL CoverageSNOTEL Coverage
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State of Water Supply - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Workshop, February 2002, Dallas, TX
SNOTEL Site Locations
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SNOTELSNOTEL
Typical SensorsTypical Sensors Snow Pillow used to measure snow Snow Pillow used to measure snow
water content (Fluid based system)water content (Fluid based system) All Season Precipitation GageAll Season Precipitation Gage Air TemperatureAir Temperature
Includes current, 24 hour: maximum, Includes current, 24 hour: maximum, minimum, and average minimum, and average
Snow DepthSnow Depth
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SNOTELSNOTEL
Other SensorOther Sensor Relative HumidityRelative Humidity Solar RadiationSolar Radiation Wind Speed and DirectionWind Speed and Direction Barometric PressureBarometric Pressure Water LevelWater Level Soil Moisture and TemperatureSoil Moisture and Temperature Fuel MoistureFuel Moisture Water QualityWater Quality
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SNOTELSNOTEL
SNOTEL PropertiesSNOTEL Properties– Utilizes Battery Packs and Solar Panels Utilizes Battery Packs and Solar Panels – Hourly Data Transmission PossibleHourly Data Transmission Possible– 99 % Daily System Response99 % Daily System Response– Real-Time Data ValidationReal-Time Data Validation– Quality Controlled Data SetQuality Controlled Data Set– Computer Accessible in near real-timeComputer Accessible in near real-time– Analysis Products AvailableAnalysis Products Available
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SNOTEL/Snow Course SITE SNOTEL/Snow Course SITE SELECTIONSELECTION
AccessibilityAccessibility SecuritySecurity Gentle SlopeGentle Slope AspectAspect Protected by windProtected by wind Solar WindowSolar Window Area of Representation Area of Representation
(Precipitation/Elevation Area Analysis)(Precipitation/Elevation Area Analysis)
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Typical SNOTEL SiteTypical SNOTEL Site
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SNOTELSNOTELSnow PillowSnow Pillow
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SCANSCAN(Soil Climate Analysis (Soil Climate Analysis
Network)Network) BackgroundBackground A pilot project was started in 1991A pilot project was started in 1991 Pilot project objectives were to:Pilot project objectives were to:
Develop technical expertise in monitoring Develop technical expertise in monitoring Soil-Climate interfaceSoil-Climate interface
Demonstrate the technical feasibility for a Demonstrate the technical feasibility for a nationwide data networknationwide data network
The current network has 90 sites in 36 The current network has 90 sites in 36 statesstates
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SCAN Site LocationsSCAN Site Locations
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SCANSCAN
Real-Time MonitoringReal-Time Monitoring Uses meteor burst communication to Uses meteor burst communication to
obtain remote site dataobtain remote site data Collects hourly dataCollects hourly data
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SCANSCAN
Typical Data Parameters MonitoredTypical Data Parameters Monitored Atmospheric MonitoringAtmospheric Monitoring
Precipitation: incremental or Precipitation: incremental or accumulated accumulated
Air Temperature: current, maximum, Air Temperature: current, maximum, minimum, and average hourly and 24 minimum, and average hourly and 24 hourhour
Solar Radiation: hourlySolar Radiation: hourly and 24 hour and 24 hour averageaverage
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SCANSCAN
Atmospheric Monitoring (Continued)Atmospheric Monitoring (Continued) Wind speed and direction: hourly and Wind speed and direction: hourly and
daily average and maximum wind speed daily average and maximum wind speed for the hourfor the hour
Relative humidity: current, maximum, Relative humidity: current, maximum, minimum, and average hourlyminimum, and average hourly
Barometric pressure: current Barometric pressure: current
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SCANSCAN
Below Ground MonitoringBelow Ground Monitoring Soil moisture:Soil moisture:
2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 inch depths2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 inch depths CurrentCurrent
Soil temperature:Soil temperature: 2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 inch depths2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 inch depths CurrentCurrent
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Typical SCAN SiteTypical SCAN Site
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SCAN SensorsSCAN Sensors
All season storage All season storage precipitation gage precipitation gage
30 inch capacity30 inch capacity Weighing gageWeighing gage 0.01 inch 0.01 inch
resolutionresolution
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SCAN SensorsSCAN Sensors
Tipping bucket Tipping bucket precipitation gage precipitation gage
0.01 inch 0.01 inch resolutionresolution
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SCAN SensorsSCAN Sensors
Relative HumidityRelative Humidity Air TemperatureAir Temperature
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SCAN SensorsSCAN Sensors
Solar RadiationSolar Radiation
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SCAN SensorsSCAN Sensors
Wind Speed and Wind Speed and DirectionDirection
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SCAN SensorsSCAN Sensors
Snow Pillow for Snow Pillow for measuring snow measuring snow water contentwater content
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SCAN SensorsSCAN Sensors
Snow DepthSnow Depth 0.5 inch resolution0.5 inch resolution
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SCAN SensorsSCAN Sensors
Soil Moisture and Soil Moisture and TemperatureTemperature
Typically measured Typically measured at 5 depths (2, 4, at 5 depths (2, 4, 8, 20, 40 inches)8, 20, 40 inches)
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Uses of SNOTEL & SCAN Uses of SNOTEL & SCAN DataData Drought and flood monitoring and mitigationDrought and flood monitoring and mitigation
Streamflow forecastingStreamflow forecasting Reservoir operations managementReservoir operations management Irrigation water managementIrrigation water management Fire risk assessmentFire risk assessment Crop productionCrop production Disease and pest outbreak mitigationDisease and pest outbreak mitigation Natural resource managementNatural resource management RecreationRecreation Avalanche ForecastingAvalanche Forecasting
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SNOTEL and SCANSNOTEL and SCAN Data AccessData Access
Data available on NWCC homepageData available on NWCC homepage http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.govhttp://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov
FTP access for various text based FTP access for various text based productsproducts
SHEF encoded data via NOAA Family of SHEF encoded data via NOAA Family of ServicesServices
Direct system access via User Access Direct system access via User Access AgreementsAgreements
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SNOTEL and SCANSNOTEL and SCAN ConclusionConclusion
Near Real-time monitoringNear Real-time monitoring Snow Survey data has a long period of Snow Survey data has a long period of
record.record. Greater than 10-year life expectancy Greater than 10-year life expectancy Cost efficient systemsCost efficient systems Low maintenance requirements Low maintenance requirements Capability of monitoring other data Capability of monitoring other data
parameters, such as:parameters, such as: water depth, water quality, water level, etc..water depth, water quality, water level, etc..
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ContactsContacts
Garry L. Schaefer, Water & Climate Monitoring Garry L. Schaefer, Water & Climate Monitoring Branch LeaderBranch Leader101 SE Main St., Suite 1600101 SE Main St., Suite 1600Portland, OR 97204Portland, OR 97204Phone: 503-414-3068 Fax: 503-414-3101Phone: 503-414-3068 Fax: 503-414-3101Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
Tony Tolsdorf, HydrologistTony Tolsdorf, Hydrologist101 SE Main St., Suite 1600101 SE Main St., Suite 1600Portland, OR 97204Portland, OR 97204Phone: 503-414-3006 Fax: 503-414-3101Phone: 503-414-3006 Fax: 503-414-3101Email: [email protected]: [email protected]