Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1760
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1760
26 Jun 2024
 | 26 Jun 2024

Brief Communication: Accurate and autonomous snow water equivalent measurements using a cosmic ray sensor on a Himalayan glacier

Navaraj Pokhrel, Patrick Wagnon, Fanny Brun, Arbindra Khadka, Tom Matthews, Audrey Goutard, Dibas Shrestha, Baker Perry, and Marion Réveillet

Abstract. We analyze snow water equivalent (SWE) measurements from a cosmic ray sensor (CRS) on the lower accumulation area of Mera Glacier (Central Himalaya, Nepal) between November 2019 and November 2021. The CRS aligned well with field observations and revealed accumulation in pre-monsoon and monsoon, followed by ablation in post-monsoon and winter. COSIPY simulations suggest significant surface melting, water percolation and refreezing within the snowpack, consistent with CRS observations, yet liable to be missed by surface mass balance surveys. We conclude that CRS can be used to complement more resource-intensive manual measurements to determine mass fluxes on remote, high-altitude Himalayan glaciers.

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Navaraj Pokhrel, Patrick Wagnon, Fanny Brun, Arbindra Khadka, Tom Matthews, Audrey Goutard, Dibas Shrestha, Baker Perry, and Marion Réveillet

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Review on Accurate and autonomous SWE measurements using a CRS on a Himalayan glacier', Anonymous Referee #1, 26 Jul 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Fanny Brun, 11 Oct 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1760', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Sep 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Fanny Brun, 11 Oct 2024
Navaraj Pokhrel, Patrick Wagnon, Fanny Brun, Arbindra Khadka, Tom Matthews, Audrey Goutard, Dibas Shrestha, Baker Perry, and Marion Réveillet
Navaraj Pokhrel, Patrick Wagnon, Fanny Brun, Arbindra Khadka, Tom Matthews, Audrey Goutard, Dibas Shrestha, Baker Perry, and Marion Réveillet

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Short summary
We studied snow processes in the accumulation area of Mera Glacier (Central Himalaya, Nepal) by deploying a cosmic ray counting sensor that allows to track the evolution of the snow water equivalent. We suspect significant surface melting, water percolation and refreezing within the snowpack, that might be missed by traditional mass balance surveys.