scope:

This Technical Report defines the requirements for the use of snow mass registration devices for measurement of SWE under natural environmental conditions. It includes weighing and pressure measuring methods. Snow water equivalent (SWE) is the height of water that would be obtained by melting the snowpack on a corresponding surface area, and is normally expressed in millimetres (mm). Knowledge of the SWE is essential for estimation of total runoff and flood forecasting in river basins where snowfall occurs. Independent of the selected method, the SWE measurements should proportionally represent the total SWE in the studied area. The parameter is predominant in avalanche theory and avalanche danger forecasting as well as for risk assessment of heavy snow loads. Additionally, the development of SWE measurements using satellite sensors has increased the need for validation and calibration using in-situ measurements.