ALPINE HYDROMET — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.4

Description

lpine Hydromet sets out to research and further develop a next generation snow water contentsensors. The development will allow Federal State and private agencies to phase out the use oflegacy snow water content sensors (fluid snow pillows) which have significant technologicallimitations and environmental concerns due to the measurement principals and use of anti-freeze.The project objective is to research design and test the cosmic ray detector which eliminates allmajor known issues with current snow water equivalent remote continuous monitoring. nsorssimultaneously at an existing snow water content monitoring site. Research has been conductedthat demonstrates proof of concept and theoretical feasibility. There remain unknown factors thatneed to be researched prior to incorporation into a design before agencies will begin to phase outcurrent sensors.Additional research will be conducted for the sensor to reduce the costs improve electornics andsignal processing and understand potential temporal variation. The project will be guided andreviewed by a committee of leading snow hydrologists who work with current networks forwater supply and flood forecasting. This will aid in providing peer reviewed design and dataanalysis prior to entering Phase II for product commercialization.The research of both sensors will lead to the development and commercialization of a new agesnow water content sensor allowing for the phase out of fluid based sensors. This will directlyalleviate environmental impacts improve data reliability and minimize reoccurring costs for theoperators.