Submitted by jbjamies on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 18:00.
Publication Type:
Conference Proceedings
Source:
International Snow Science Workshop, Squaw Valley, California, p.24-30 (2010)
Keywords:
heat conduction;
surface hoar;
thermal photography;
thermal profile;
infrared;
emissivity
Abstract:
Many snow processes are linked to snow temperature. A thermal photograph captures tens of thousands of surface temperature measurements in a single, powerfully visual image. Surface temperature directly drives surface hoar growth and near surface faceting, and it indirectly affects albedo and crust formation. We introduce this new application of thermography by presenting images (thermographs) and thermographic videos from winter 2010. Three different aspects are presented: (1) the link between surface temperature and surface hoar formation, (2) the spatial variation of temperatures on a pit wall, and (3) the effect of crystal type on conduction. Currently, due to cost and technical demands, thermography may remain primarily a research tool. However, thermography is a promising new technique that produces both quantitative and intuitively visual results.
