GPR results for indicating layers of snow strata

Abstract

The authors of this article describe the results of GPR tests for indicating the layers of snow strata and determining their properties, allowing for forecasting of avalanche hazards. The GPR tests were carried out during the winter season 2021/2022. Trenches were dug in the snow, in the wall of which long metal rods (markers) were installed, which are the reflectors for the GPR and make it possible to distinguish the boundaries of layers on the radarogram. As a result of conducting GPR sounding of the snow cover, radarograms were obtained, on which the layered structure of snow can be read. Using the GeoScan32 software, dielectric permittivity values were obtained for 19 layers of snow strata with different properties. Correlations were obtained between dielectric permittivity and temperature, crystal diameter, snow layer density, and snow layer water storage. The resulting dielectric permittivity relationships reveal the strongest correlations between dielectric permittivity and density, with a higher correlation coefficient for dry snow than for wet snow. The values of dielectric permittivity obtained from GPR were also compared with calculated values derived from a number of empirical correlations with snow density.