BOREAS HYD-03: Snowpack Physical Properties (1994-1996)

1994 and 1996 field measurements capture snow depth, density in 3-cm intervals, integrated snow water equivalent (SWE), and other physical properties from snow pits. Data were collected at several sites in the BOREAS Southern Study Area (SSA) and Northern Study Area (NSA) using tools like a meter stick, density cutter, and Canadian snow sampler. This study aimed to predict spatial distributions of snow properties critical for hydrology, remote sensing, and gas transmissivity models.

Use Cases

• Calibrating hydrological models based on in-situ snow water equivalent (SWE) measurements.
• Validating remote sensing signatures of snow cover using ground-truth density and depth profiles.
• Studying gas transmissivity through snow by analyzing snow pack physical property data.
• Analyzing spatial variability of snow properties across different forested study areas (SSA and NSA).

Strengths

• Data collection spans two years (1994 and 1996), providing a multi-temporal snapshot.
• Measurements include detailed 3-cm interval snow density, offering high vertical resolution.
• Dataset is part of the large, multidisciplinary BOREAS project, implying a standardized collection protocol.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are unknown, complicating direct analysis.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata (1996 vs. 2026) creates uncertainty about data currency.
• Precise row counts and file sizes are not documented across platforms.

Provenance

Source

BOREAS HYD-03 team, organized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Collection Method

Field measurements using standard tools: meter stick, 100 cc snow density cutter, dial stem thermometer, and Canadian snow sampler.

Time Range

1994 to 1996

Freshness

Last updated metadata conflicts: one source indicates 1996-03-05, another indicates 2026-03-13.

Geography

Several sites in the BOREAS Southern Study Area (SSA) and Northern Study Area (NSA).