MEASUREMENTS OF THE ENERGY FLUXES INVOLVED IN THE ENERGY BUDGET OF A SNOW COVER.

Abstract

Measurements of the various energy components involved in an energy balance of a snow cover were made at the Elora Research Station, University of Guelph during the winter of 1976. A pressure sphere anemometer and a sonic anemometer-thermometer in conjunction with fast response, fine wire, resistance thermometers and Lyman-alpha humidiometers were used to measure the fluxes of sensible and latent heat by eddy correlation techniques. A net radiometer and soil heat flux plates measured the radiative and soil heat fluxes. The data allowed a complete energy budget to be calculated including the energy stored in the snowpack and/or utilized in the fusion process, determined as a residual. The results have application in such fields as agriculture, forestry, air pollution and urban studies.