The use of radioisotopes for the measurement of the water equivalent of a snow pack

Abstract

A radio‐telemetering snow gage has been designed which uses the principle of absorption by water (liquid or solid phase) of the gamma emissions from an artificial radioactive isotope. The radioactive, radio‐telemetering snow gage has been used successfully to measure up to 55 water equivalent inches of snow by counting the pulses from a suitably located Geiger‐Muller tube. These pulses have been successfully transmitted and relayed by radio. Further progress is dependent upon the development of a reliable radio communication system for use with the radioactive snow gage in remote high mountain areas.