Engineering Properties of Snow

Abstract

AbstractThe general properties of snow are described with a view to engineering applications of data. Following an introduction and a short note on theoriginsof snow, data are given for fall velocities of snow particles, and for mass flux and particle concentrations infalling snowandblowing snow. Notes on the structural properties ofdeposited snowcover grain size, grain bonds, bulk density, overburden pressure, and permeability. A section onimpuritiesdeals with stable and radioactive isotopes, chemical impurities, insoluble particles, living organisms, acidity, and gases.Mechanical propertiesare treated only selectively, and the reader is referred to another paper for comprehensive coverage. The selective treatment deals with stress waves and strain waves, compressibility, effects of volumetric strain on deviatoric strain, and specific energy for comminution. The section onthermal propertiescovers heat capacity, latent heat, conductivity, diffusivity, heat transfer by vapor diffusion, heat transfer and vapor transport with forced convection, and thermal strain. The section onelectrical propertiesopens with a brief discussion on dielectric properties of ice, and proceeds to a summary of the dielectric properties of snow, including dielectric dispersion, permittivity, dielectric loss, and d.c. conductivity. There are also notes on the thermoelectric effect and on electrical charges in falling and blowing snow. The section onopticalproperties deals with transmission and attenuation of visible radiation, with spectral reflectance, and with long-wave emissivity. The reviewconcludeswith some comments on engineering problems that involve snow, and the requirements for research and development.