Topic: SWE Method of Snow Measurements

[miraculon]

I began using the weighing method for CoCoRaHS snow SWE last year. It is a really big time saver for me. Previously, I was melting the snow in the outer cylinder in a special heater that I constructed, but after a few confirmation runs, I switched to weighing 100%.

I was curious about how other CoCoRaHSians are doing this task.

Greg H.

[LFWX]

Previously used the "add hot water" method and the "heat from outside" method.

Last year I purchase a digital scale, but we barely even had a winter here, maybe I will get to use it this year.

[CNYWeather]

I have a second tube. I switch them out each morning there is precip
and melt any snow or ice by putting the tube on my pellet stove. 

I did the tube in hot water but this isnt as messy.

[ValentineWeather]

I have couple coco gauges so have experimented a little and decided to no longer mix warm liquid directly into outer cylinder with snow. I always came up short using this method. I believe this is least accurate of the 3 methods and promotes most evaporation.

My method is weight the outer cylinder down using something heavy like a pot lid, into sink of hot water 4-5" deep. Takes longer 10-30 minutes but what I feel works best. I also plug the cylinder hole preventing as much evaporation as possible.

I've also found using a heated tipping bucket (even professional model) between 35-40% of snow gets evaporated by the heater before having a chance to tip the tipper. This is a consistent number with the dry snow I get so makes it easy to calibrate for snowfall. I add a 37% offset and it it comes very close to actual SWE.