1. An Inexpensive Deployable Acoustic Snow Observing Sensor (IDASOS) Sean Helfrich (sean.helfrich@noaa.gov) NESDIS Snow and Ice Product Area Lead National Ice Center

2. Introduction What is it: What is it: A low cost instrument designed to over come the requirement of multiple snow observations over an area. What purpose does it serve: What purpose does it serve: Snow depth is spatially heterogeneous and proper assessment requires a high spatial sampling rate over a broad area to account for the variability, requiring resources and time from observers. Typical automated snow depth measurements can be cost prohibitive. Cost of instruments often forces observers to limit the number of instruments taking samples. IDASOS hopes to overcome this limitation in automation.

3. Acoustic Range Finder Datalogger / Microprocessor Temperature Diode Battery Pack 18 inch stem from base IDASOS Prototype Parts About $200 for this prototype

4. IDASOS Site Locations 2010

5. Joe Wright SnoTel vs IDASOS

6. CSU site vs IDASOS

7. What is next? Test for wireless transmission (Bluetooth?) Test for wireless transmission (Bluetooth?) Increase Power - 2011 battery pack lasted 5 months in at 10k feet Increase Power - 2011 battery pack lasted 5 months in at 10k feet Real-time data processing code Real-time data processing code Increase samples to 20,000 for datalogger. Increase samples to 20,000 for datalogger. Configure in an array to access snow variability for remote sensing calibration Configure in an array to access snow variability for remote sensing calibration Other utilities? Other utilities?

8. ANY QUESTIONS?