snow pillow
{{Short description|Measuring device for snowpack}}
A snow pillow is a device for measuring snowpack, especially for automated reporting stations such as SNOTEL.
The snow pillow measures the water equivalent of the snow pack based on hydrostatic pressure created by overlying snow.{{cite web
| url = http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Snow_pillow
| title = Snow Pillow
| website = Glossary of Meteorology
| publisher = American Meteorological Society
| accessdate = 2018-02-21
}} Any discrepancy due to bridging is minimized by the large dimension of the pillow, typically {{convert|9|sqm|sqyd}}.
Another application for snow pillows is to estimate the snow weight on a roof to warn of potential for roof collapse.
Snow pillows were developed in the early 1960s.{{cite journal
| title = Mt. Hood Pressure Pillow Snow Gage
| author = R.T. Beaumont, Soil Conservation Service, Portland, Oregon
| journal = Journal of Applied Meteorology
| publisher = American Meteorology Society
| date = October 1965
| volume = 4
| issue = 5
| page = 626
| doi = 10.1175/1520-0450(1965)004<0626:MHPPSG>2.0.CO;2
| bibcode = 1965JApMe...4..626B
| issn = 1520-0450
| doi-access = free
}}
Set-up
Large dimensions (e.g. 3 m × 3 m) of the pillow prevent any bridging that might occur from having an effect on the measurement readings. For snow pressure measurement on roofs using a smaller snow pillow (e.g. 1 m × 1 m) is the better choice, because of the weight of the filling of the snow pillow.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Meteorological equipment}}
Category:Meteorological instrumentation and equipment
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