[Scan-DC] Idaho: "Snotel" reports temperature, snowfall, and snow accumulation.

[Andrew Clegg]

Several mid-Atlantic states including Va and Md have a somewhat  
similar network that measures rain and water levels. It's called  
IFLOWS. Take a look at  http://www.afws.net/.

They operate in the ~160~170 range. Many of the gauges I hear out in  
western Va operate on 169.5. They transmit short (less than one  
second) data bursts once every few minutes, depending on water level  
(more frequently when it's raining). I hear bursts every 3-5 minutes  
typically.

I do recall seeing some info on the Web on how to decode the bursts  
but I haven't gone that far. But I did once drive to the coordinates  
of one of their sites which turned turned out to be a small lake  
behind a small dam. I never did find the actual transmitter nor did I  
hear any bursts while I was there so it may have been an old license  
that wasn't used any more. Looked like a good fishing spot though.


On Dec 17, 2009, at 14:02, "b_thom at juno.com" <b_thom at juno.com> wrote:

> Interesting how they get the information. I wouldn't have thought of  
> that. No doubt someone listens to these on a scanner.
> - - - - -
>
> http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005129206
>
> Record lows set at ‘Snotel’ sites
>
> The Natural Resources Conservation Service has reported new record  
> low temperatures at many of Idaho's "Snotel" sites.
>
> The snowpack telemetry sites record and transmit information daily  
> on temperature, snowfall and snow accumulation in remote mountain  
> locations.
> ....
>
> A typical Snotel site consists of a shelter house for the radio  
> telemetry equipment, a precipitation gauge, a temperature sensor, a  
> snow pillow and a total-snow-depth sensor. An antenna on the shelter  
> transmits information and a solar panel keeps batteries charged.
>
> The snow pillow is a rubberized bladder filled with non-freezing  
> solution. It lies on the ground covering a 10-foot diameter area. As  
> snow accumulates on the pillow, the pressure it exerts on the pillow  
> is measured as weight. Devices inside the shelter automatically  
> convert the weight of the snow into an amount of water, or the "snow  
> water equivalent."
>
> Water managers use the data for planning reservoir storage and  
> releases, irrigation, hydropower capabilities, fish flows and river- 
> running opportunities. Real-time snowfall data from the Internet is  
> used by avalanche forecast centers, highway departments, backcountry  
> skiers and snowmobilers.
>
> For Snotel data and products, visit the Web site at www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/ 
>  or Idaho's Snow Survey Web page at www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/.
>
>
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