Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-501
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-501
27 Jun 2022
 | 27 Jun 2022

Impact of the sampling procedure on the specific surface area of snow measurements with the IceCube

Julia Martin and Martin Schneebeli

Abstract. The specific surface area (SSA) of snow is directly measured by X-ray computed tomography or indirectly using the reflectance of near-infrared light. The IceCube is a well-established spectroscopic instrument using a near-infrared wavelength of 1310 nm. We compared the SSA of six snow types measured with both instruments. The IceCube measured significantly higher values with a relative percentage difference between 20 to 52 % for snow types with an SSA between 5 to 25 m2 kg−1. There is no significant difference for snow with an SSA between 30 to 80 m2 kg−1. The difference is statistically significant between snow types but not uniquely related to the SSA. We suspected that artificially created particles were the source of the difference. These were sampled, measured and counted. Numerical simulations with radiation transfer solver TARTES confirm the observation.

Julia Martin and Martin Schneebeli

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-501', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Julia Martin, 08 Aug 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-501', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Julia Martin, 08 Aug 2022
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-501', Florent Dominé, 10 Aug 2022
    • AC3: 'Reply on CC1', Julia Martin, 23 Aug 2022
  • CC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-501', Julien Meloche, 22 Aug 2022
    • CC3: 'Reply on CC2', Julien Meloche, 22 Aug 2022
    • AC4: 'Reply on CC2', Julia Martin, 23 Aug 2022

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-501', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Julia Martin, 08 Aug 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-501', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Julia Martin, 08 Aug 2022
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-501', Florent Dominé, 10 Aug 2022
    • AC3: 'Reply on CC1', Julia Martin, 23 Aug 2022
  • CC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-501', Julien Meloche, 22 Aug 2022
    • CC3: 'Reply on CC2', Julien Meloche, 22 Aug 2022
    • AC4: 'Reply on CC2', Julia Martin, 23 Aug 2022

Julia Martin and Martin Schneebeli

Data sets

IceCube_microCT_Snow_grainsize Martin, Julia; Schneebeli, Martin https://doi.org/10.16904/envidat.333

Model code and software

IceCube_microCT_Snow_grainsize Martin, Julia; Schneebeli, Martin https://doi.org/10.16904/envidat.333

Julia Martin and Martin Schneebeli

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Short summary
The grain size of snow determines how light is reflected and other physical properties. The IceCube measures snow grain size at the specific near-infrared wavelength of 1320 nm. In our study the preparation of snow samples for the IceCube creates a thin layer of small particles. Comparisons of the grain size with computed tomography, particle counting and numerical simulation confirm the observation. We conclude that snow grain size measurements at this wavelength underestimate the grain size.