Simulation and Measurement of Snow Cover Thickness Using a Laser Rangefinder

Abstract

The results of study on determining the height of the snow cover on a site with a relatively flat terrain using a laser rangefinder are presented. Data on the thickness of the snow cover was determined from the dependence of the difference in distances from the reflection point to the rangefinder with and without snow cover in the winter–spring period. The modeling of the determination of the thickness of the snow cover was carried out under the assumption of small irregularities of the measured surface. It is shown that the simulation data may differ from the experimental results up to ~200 mm even on relatively flat areas with a slope of less than 1°, which in some cases is insufficient to predict the impact of snow on snow-covered objects. Comparisonwith other methods for measuring the depth of snow cover is carried out. Possible applications of the technique used in problems of monitoring and remote sensing are discussed.