Abstract
Abstract. This contribution presents an automated terrestrial laser scanning (ATLS) setup, which was used during the winter 2016/17 to monitor the snow depth distribution on a NW-facing slope at a high-alpine study site. We collected data at high temporal [(sub-)daily] and spatial resolution (decimetre-range) over 0.8 km² with a Riegl LPM-321, set in a weather-proof glass fibre enclosure. Two potential ATLS-applications are investigated here: monitoring medium-sized snow avalanche events, and tracking snow depth change caused by snow drift. The results show the ATLS data’s high explanatory power and versatility for different snow research questions.
Highlights
Snow on the ground is a highly changeable, unique material
This contribution presents an automated terrestrial laser scanning (ATLS) setup, which was used during the winter 2016/17 to monitor the snow depth distribution on a NW-facing slope at a high-alpine study site
Two potential ATLS-applications are investigated here: monitoring medium-sized snow avalanche events, and tracking snow depth change caused by snow drift
Summary
Snow on the ground is a highly changeable, unique material. Its microstructure is very susceptible to variations of meteorological parameters (e.g. wind, radiation, temperature). The spatiotemporal distribution of snow depth (HS) is very heterogeneous, especially in (high-) alpine terrain (Fierz et al, 2009). To safely capture this variability, a wide range of remote and close-range sensing methods have been applied to area-wide HS-monitoring (Dietz et al, 2011). This study presents results from an ATLS-campaign to monitor HS distribution in high-alpine terrain. ATLS-measurements, conducted by the authors at other locations in Austria (e.g. Adams et al, 2015 & 2014)
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