Fundamental characteristics of the cosmic-ray snow gauge

Abstract

A new technique for the determination of the water-equivalent of snow using cosmic ray neutrons is described on the basis of a definite relation between snow-water depths and neutron fluxes measured under snow covers. Several environmental and geographical effects on cosmic ray neutrons, including galactic cosmic ray changes, are discussed quantitatively with respect to the experimental accuracy of water-equivalent snow-water depths determined by this technique. It is shown that most of these effects introduce no serious and fundamental errors on the water-equivalent determination, except for the possible influence of soil moisture content upon neutron fluxes on the ground level where the snow gauge sensor is installed.