Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) Field Measurements



 

Additional SWE Resources

This site contains links to data collected from field measurements of the spatial distribution of SWE in seasonally snow-covered regions. Use the resources listed in the following table to compare data archives and find relevant data.

Snow water equivalent can be presented in units of kg/m2 or meters of depth of liquid water that would result from melting the snow. SWE is the product of depth and density:

SWE = depth (m) x density (kg/m3) (units: kg/m2)
SWE = depth (m) x density (kg/m3) / density of water (kg/m3) (units: m)

To submit a data link or for questions about this site, please contact NSIDC User Services.

NSIDC is not responsible for the quality of data held elsewhere.



Data Description and Location Data Links
Emerald Lake photograph

Image courtesy of Thomas Painter, NSIDC

Emerald Lake/Tokopah Basin, California

These data were collected during the 1997 and 1998 ablation seasons (April - June). Snow depth was sampled on a 240 m grid over the 1900 hectare Tokopah Basin, Sequoia National Park, California. Snow density was sampled in snow pits distributed randomly around the basin. Some of the surveys contain direct measurements of snow water equivalence made with Federal (Mt. Rose) samplers.

Tokopah Basin
Green Valley photograph

Image courtesy of Niwot LTER

Green Lakes Valley, Colorado

These data were collected near maximum accumulation (mid-May) during each ablation season between 1997 and 2003. The study area is in the 2.25 km2 Green Lake Valley, adjacent to the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) study area in Colorado, USA. Snow depth was sampled on an approximate 50 m grid with locations estimated from a topographic map (1997) or obtained using GPS (1998-2003). Snow density was sampled in snow pits distributed around the basin.

Snow depths
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Snowpits data description (does not include 2003)
Boreal forest photograph

Image courtesy of Thomas Painter, NSIDC

BOREAS: Saskatchewan/Manitoba, Canada

The BOREAS HYD-03 team collected several data sets related to the hydrology of forested areas. This data set contains measurements of snow depth, snow density in three cm intervals, an integrated snow pack density and SWE, and snow pack physical properties from snow pit evaluation taken in 1994 and 1996. The data were collected from several sites in both the SSA and the NSA.

BOREAS HYD-03 Standard Snow Course Data

BOREAS HYD-04 Standard Snow Course Data
Cold Lands Processes field photograph

Image courtesy of CLPX, NSIDC

Cold Lands Processes Experiment (CLPX)

The experiment was conducted in the central Rocky Mountains of Colorado, in the western United States. Large physiographic gradients provided a rich array of different terrain, snow, soil, and ecological characteristics to examine. Intensive ground, airborne, and spaceborne observations were collected. Data collection focused on two seasons: mid-winter, when conditions are generally frozen and dry, and early spring, a transitional period when both frozen and thawed, dry and wet conditions are widespread.

NSIDC's CLPX Site
Mammoth Mountain photograph

Image courtesy of UCSB

Mammoth Mountain Cooperative Snow Study Site

These data were acquired from snowpits dug at the Mammoth Mountain Energy Balance Monitoring site. Depth and snow-water-equivalent data were recorded. Data were acquired from snowpits dug at the Mammoth Mountain Energy Balance Monitoring site. Depth and snow-water-equivalent data were recorded.

Mammoth Mountain Snowpit Data
Hubbard Brookl photograph

Image courtesy of Hubbard Brook LTER

Hubbard Brook, Vermont

Snow course data have been collected approximately weekly at a network of standard rain gages at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest from 1956 to the present when there was snow on the ground.

Hubbard Brook LTER
Sleepers Creek photograph

Image courtesy of USGS

Sleeper's Creek, Vermont

Waters sampled include precipitation, snow pack, snow melt water (from snow melt lysimeters), zero-tension soil water (three depths), ground water (many depths), and stream water (seven sites).

Water Resources of New Hampshire and Vermont
Reynolds Creek photograph

Image courtesy of USDA

Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed

Snow water equivalence was measured at eight locations in the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed every two weeks throughout the snow season (December 1 to June 1) for 35 years (1962-1996).

Reynolds Creek Data Archive