Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6148
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6148
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
28 Jan 2026
| 28 Jan 2026
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
Brief communication: Network-wide parameterisation for estimating snow water equivalent through cosmic ray neutron sensors in the Italian Alps
Abstract. We present a novel approach based on leveraging a network-wide parameterisation to derive snow water equivalent (SWE) with cosmic ray neutron sensing (CRNS) probes. The network comprises 26 sites (1422–2901 m asl) in the Italian Alps. The parameterisation was defined by fitting neutron counts to 35 SWE measurements taken at 6 sites in the first half of the 2023–2024 snow season and validated with 111 SWE data from 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 at 13 sites. Our analysis shows that this approach retains good representativeness of the snowpack, which can be extended to unmonitored sites if they have monitored counterparts at similar elevation. This finding overcomes the need for year-round accessibility and increases the number of potential sites for continuous SWE retrieval.
How to cite. Gallarate, M., Colombo, N., Gazzola, E., Valt, M., Ronchi, C., Lanteri, L., Dinale, R., Nadalet, R., Ferraris, S., Gentile, A., Gisolo, D., Freppaz, M., and Acquaotta, F.: Brief communication: Network-wide parameterisation for estimating snow water equivalent through cosmic ray neutron sensors in the Italian Alps, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6148, 2026.
Competing interests: Author Enrico Gazzola is currently empoyed by the company that produces the CRNS probes used for this work. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.Download & links
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Earth Sciences Department - DST, University of Torino, Torino, 10125, Italy
Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics - DAIS, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Mestre, 30172, Italy
Centro Interdipartimentale sui Rischi Naturali in Ambiente Montano e Collinare – NatRisk, Grugliasco, 10095, Italy
Nicola Colombo
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences – DISAFA, University of Torino, Grugliasco, 10095, Italy
Enrico Gazzola
Finapp S.p.A., Montegrotto Terme, 35036, Italy
Mauro Valt
Agency for Environmental Prevention and Protection of Veneto - ARPAV, Belluno, Italy
Christian Ronchi
Department of Natural and Environmental Risks, Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Piemonte – ARPA Piemonte, Torino, 10135, Italy
Luca Lanteri
Department of Natural and Environmental Risks, Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Piemonte – ARPA Piemonte, Torino, 10135, Italy
Roberto Dinale
Office for Hydrology and Dams, Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
Rudi Nadalet
Office for Hydrology and Dams, Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
Stefano Ferraris
Interuniversity Department of Regional Studies and Planning – DIST, University of Torino and Polytechnic University of Torino, Torino, 10125, Italy
Alessio Gentile
Interuniversity Department of Regional Studies and Planning – DIST, University of Torino and Polytechnic University of Torino, Torino, 10125, Italy
Davide Gisolo
Interuniversity Department of Regional Studies and Planning – DIST, University of Torino and Polytechnic University of Torino, Torino, 10125, Italy
Michele Freppaz
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences – DISAFA, University of Torino, Grugliasco, 10095, Italy
Centro Interdipartimentale sui Rischi Naturali in Ambiente Montano e Collinare – NatRisk, Grugliasco, 10095, Italy
Fiorella Acquaotta
Earth Sciences Department - DST, University of Torino, Torino, 10125, Italy
Centro Interdipartimentale sui Rischi Naturali in Ambiente Montano e Collinare – NatRisk, Grugliasco, 10095, Italy
Short summary
We present a network of 26 sensors measuring snow water equivalent through cosmic rays across the Italian Alps. We study the application of a parameterisation shared by all the probes. The parameters were defined and validated with data taken during two seasons at 13 sites. We show that the parameterisation gives a good estimate of the water equivalent. This finding can contribute to expand data availability by installing similar probes in sites at high elevations and in inaccessible locations.
We present a network of 26 sensors measuring snow water equivalent through cosmic rays across...