Imnavait Snowpack and LiDAR Survey from 2012 Arctic Campaign

Sixteen participants collected snowpack data near Toolik Lake, Alaska, between April 8 and 21, 2012. The campaign produced four data types: ground snow depths, snow cores for SWE, airborne LiDAR, and ground-based LiDAR. Data is managed by SCIOPS and was last updated on April 22, 2012.

Use Cases

• Model snow water equivalent (SWE) from ground snow core measurements weighed with 0.1 g accuracy.
• Validate airborne LiDAR elevation models against ground-based LiDAR and probe measurements.
• Analyze snow depth distribution using GPS-enabled probe data, where values of 120 cm indicate depths exceeding sensor limit.
• Study spatial snowpack variability by correlating ground snow depth points with LiDAR raster files.

Strengths

• Data collection involved 16 participants over a focused two-week campaign.
• Snow core weights were measured with digital balances accurate to 0.1 grams.
• Multiple complementary measurement techniques were used: ground probes, snow cores, and two types of LiDAR.

Limitations

• Snow depth probe measurements are capped at 120 cm, limiting accuracy for deeper snow.
• Dataset is from a single, short campaign in April 2012, offering only a seasonal snapshot.
• Ground depth values less than 0 cm due to calibration errors require manual correction to zero.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS, via NASA Earthdata (ACADIS).

Collection Method

Field campaign measurements using GPS-enabled depth probes, Federal samplers for snow cores, and airborne/ground LiDAR.

Time Range

April 8-21, 2012.

Freshness

Single collection event; last updated in April 2012.

Geography

Toolik Lake area, north of the Brooks Range, Alaskan North Slope.