AN AUTOMATED TRACER DISPERSAL SYSTEM FOR SNOW ACCUMULATION AND SALTATION TRANSPORT INVESTIGATIONS

New automated instrumentation to assess detailed spatial and temporal dynamics of snow accumulation and saltation transport of snow in remot e, harsh environments is described. The instrumentation and techniques provide important quantitative, time dependent information which curr ent methods are incapable of providing such as precise dating of accum ulated snow layers, snow grain saltation transport distance in wind-sw ept environments, and characteristics of wind generated surface featur es. This instrument consists of an ultralow power timing system, a pne umatic system, and microsphere generators to periodically disperse a t racer of colored glass microspheres onto the snow surface. Snow sampli ng must be conducted before melting occurs, and subsequent identificat ion of microspheres has shown this method is capable of providing accu rate dating information with detailed spatial-resolution, as well as c haracterizing wind blown saltation transport of snow. (C) 1998 America n Institute of Physics.