Acoustic impedance measurement of snow density

Today, it is possible to estimate the density of snow in many different ways (gravimetry, attenuation of gamma rays and velocity of electromagnetic waves). In this paper, we suggest using the acoustic properties of snow. First, we recall the main studies on the acoustic properties of snow. Then, we show, from laboratory measurements, the correlation between density and the acoustic parameters of snow. We found a very good correlation between density and the modulus of the normalized characteristic impe­ dance. We also show that use ofa three-parameter model simulating the propagation of an acoustic wave in porous media allows one to calculate the density of snow from its acoustic porosity.