Multi-Parameter Snow Sounding Probe. Phase I.

We describe a penetration field-portable capacitance probe capable of recording profiles of dielectric permittivity through the snow pack. The probe was developed under the auspices of the Army Research Office as a Phase I SBIR project. It consists of a wedged capacitance tip, which is mounted at the end of a pole allowing its penetration through depths of at least 2 m. The capacitance instrument is integrated in the tip. By appropriate placement of its ground, guard and sensor conductive surfaces, the probe sheds horizontal electric field lines permitting it to resolve horizontal snow layers of 2.5 mm.