Citation:

PANGAEA.992701 (dataset in review)

Name: Measurements of blowing snow particle size distribution using an open-path optical snow particle counter in Ny-Ålesund during winter 2025
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords: Arctic; blowing snow; in situ data; Ny-Ålesund; snow

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Abstract:

During the Intensive Observation Period for Water in all its phases (IOP4H2O) an open-path optical Snow Particle Counter (SPC, Sato et al. 1993, Ranjithkumar et al. 2025) measured particle size distributions of snow particles close to the snow surface in Ny-Ålesund from 31st January until 3rd March 2025. Due to a freely rotating wind-vane, the SPC detects snow particles that are transported horizontally by the wind, but can also include falling snow crystals. The detected particles, with diameters ranging from 36 to 500 µm, are sorted into 65 size bins. The snow mass flux (given in kg m⁻² s⁻¹) is calculated by assuming spherical particles with an ice density of 917 kg m⁻³ that pass through an observation area of 50 mm². The SPC was co-located with the Video In Situ Snowfall Sensor (VISSS, Maahn et al. 2024) and mounted around 10 cm above the snow surface, to achieve measurements of the saltation layer. The height of the SPC was regularly adjusted to the changing snow depth. During the first three weeks unrealistically low values were measured for individual size bins because of an error of the SPC (marked by the quality flag) that was solved on 19th February. During this period the size distribution and snow mass flux are inaccurate, but still serve as qualitative measures of blowing snow intensity. This data was collected to investigate sublimation of blowing snow in Ny-Ålesund. It might also be relevant for research on snow accumulation and distribution and to evaluate gauges of solid precipitation.

Keyword(s):

Arctic; blowing snow; in situ data; Ny-Ålesund; snow

Related to:

Maahn, Maximilian; Moisseev, Dmitri; Steinke, Isabelle; Maherndl, Nina; Shupe, Matthew D (2024): Introducing the Video In Situ Snowfall Sensor (VISSS). Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 17(2), 899-919, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-899-2024

Ranjithkumar, Ananth; Duncan, Eliza; Yang, Xin; Partridge, D G; Lachlan-Cope, Thomas; Gong, Xianda; Nishimura, Kouichi; Frey, Markus M (2025): Direct observation of Arctic Sea salt aerosol production from blowing snow and modeling over a changing sea ice environment. Elementa - Science of the Anthropocene, 13(1), 00006, https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2024.00006

Sato, Takeshi; Kimura, Tadashi; Ishimaru, Taminoe; Maruyama, Toshisuke (1993): Field test of a new snow-particle counter (SPC) system. Annals of Glaciology, 18, 149-154, https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500011411

Project(s):

Arctic Amplification (AC3)

Funding:

Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven (AWI), grant/award no. AWIPEV_0043: Intensive Observing Period for H2O

German Research Foundation (DFG), grant/award no. 268020496 : TRR 172: ArctiC Amplification: Climate Relevant Atmospheric and SurfaCe Processes, and Feedback Mechanisms

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), grant/award no. NE/X009319/1 : SURface FluxEs In AnTarctica (SURFEIT)

Coverage:

Latitude: 78.922660 * Longitude: 11.923380

Date/Time Start: 2025-01-31T19:11:07 * Date/Time End: 2025-03-03T13:04:59

Minimum Elevation: 14.0 m * Maximum Elevation: 14.0 m

Event(s):

SPC-NYA2025 * Latitude: 78.922660 * Longitude: 11.923380 * Date/Time Start: 2025-01-31T19:11:07 * Date/Time End: 2025-03-03T13:04:59 * Elevation: 14.0 m * Campaign: * Basis: AWIPEV * Method/Device: Snow particle counter

Parameter(s):

#	Name	Short Name	Unit	Principal Investigator	Method/Device	Comment
1	DATE/TIME	Date/Time		Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J		Geocode
2	Precipitation, snow	Snow	kg/m²/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J
3	Particle number, total	N_conc(tot)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
4	Voltage output	Volt outp	mV	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]	Baseline sensor output
5	Particle number, particle diameter range 30 µm to 43 µm	N_conc(30-43)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
6	Particle number, particle diameter range 43 µm to 50 µm	N_conc(43-50)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
7	Particle number, particle diameter range 50 µm to 57 µm	N_conc(50-57)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
8	Particle number, particle diameter range 57 µm to 64 µm	N_conc(57-64)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
9	Particle number, particle diameter range 64 µm to 71 µm	N_conc(64-71)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
10	Particle number, particle diameter range 71 µm to 78 µm	N_conc(71-78)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
11	Particle number, particle diameter range 78 µm to 85 µm	N_conc(78-85)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
12	Particle number, particle diameter range 85 µm to 92 µm	N_conc(85-92)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
13	Particle number, particle diameter range 92 µm to 99 µm	N_conc(92-99)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
14	Particle number, particle diameter range 99 µm to 106 µm	N_conc(99-106)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
15	Particle number, particle diameter range 106 µm to 113 µm	N_conc(106-113)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
16	Particle number, particle diameter range 113 µm to 120 µm	N_conc(113-120)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
17	Particle number, particle diameter range 120 µm to 127 µm	N_conc(120-127)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
18	Particle number, particle diameter range 127 µm to 134 µm	N_conc(127-134)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
19	Particle number, particle diameter range 134 µm to 141 µm	N_conc(134-141)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
20	Particle number, particle diameter range 141 µm to 148 µm	N_conc(141-148)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
21	Particle number, particle diameter range 148 µm to 155 µm	N_conc(148-155)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
22	Particle number, particle diameter range 155 µm to 162 µm	N_conc(155-162)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
23	Particle number, particle diameter range 162 µm to 169 µm	N_conc(162-169)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
24	Particle number, particle diameter range 169 µm to 176 µm	N_conc(169-176)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
25	Particle number, particle diameter range 176 µm to 183 µm	N_conc(176-183)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
26	Particle number, particle diameter range 183 µm to 190 µm	N_conc(183-190)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
27	Particle number, particle diameter range 190 µm to 197 µm	N_conc(190-197)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
28	Particle number, particle diameter range 197 µm to 204 µm	N_conc(197-204)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
29	Particle number, particle diameter range 204 µm to 211 µm	N_conc(204-211)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
30	Particle number, particle diameter range 211 µm to 218 µm	N_conc(211-218)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
31	Particle number, particle diameter range 218 µm to 225 µm	N_conc(218-225)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
32	Particle number, particle diameter range 225 µm to 232 µm	N_conc(225-232)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
33	Particle number, particle diameter range 232 µm to 239 µm	N_conc(232-239)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
34	Particle number, particle diameter range 239 µm to 247 µm	N_conc(239-247)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
35	Particle number, particle diameter range 247 µm to 254 µm	N_conc(247-254)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
36	Particle number, particle diameter range 254 µm to 261 µm	N_conc(254-261)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
37	Particle number, particle diameter range 261 µm to 268 µm	N_conc(261-268)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
38	Particle number, particle diameter range 268 µm to 275 µm	N_conc(268-275)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
39	Particle number, particle diameter range 275 µm to 282 µm	N_conc(275-282)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
40	Particle number, particle diameter range 282 µm to 289 µm	N_conc(282-289)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
41	Particle number, particle diameter range 289 µm to 296 µm	N_conc(289-296)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
42	Particle number, particle diameter range 296 µm to 303 µm	N_conc(296-303)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
43	Particle number, particle diameter range 303 µm to 310 µm	N_conc(303-310)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
44	Particle number, particle diameter range 310 µm to 317 µm	N_conc(310-317)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
45	Particle number, particle diameter range 317 µm to 324 µm	N_conc(317-324)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
46	Particle number, particle diameter range 324 µm to 332 µm	N_conc(324-332)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
47	Particle number, particle diameter range 332 µm to 339 µm	N_conc(332-339)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
48	Particle number, particle diameter range 339 µm to 346 µm	N_conc(339-346)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
49	Particle number, particle diameter range 346 µm to 353 µm	N_conc(346-353)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
50	Particle number, particle diameter range 353 µm to 360 µm	N_conc(353-360)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
51	Particle number, particle diameter range 360 µm to 367 µm	N_conc(360-367)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
52	Particle number, particle diameter range 367 µm to 374 µm	N_conc(367-374)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
53	Particle number, particle diameter range 374 µm to 381 µm	N_conc(374-381)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
54	Particle number, particle diameter range 381 µm to 389 µm	N_conc(381-389)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
55	Particle number, particle diameter range 389 µm to 396 µm	N_conc(389-396)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
56	Particle number, particle diameter range 396 µm to 403 µm	N_conc(396-403)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
57	Particle number, particle diameter range 403 µm to 410 µm	N_conc(403-410)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
58	Particle number, particle diameter range 410 µm to 417 µm	N_conc(410-417)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
59	Particle number, particle diameter range 417 µm to 424 µm	N_conc(417-424)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
60	Particle number, particle diameter range 424 µm to 431 µm	N_conc(424-431)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
61	Particle number, particle diameter range 431 µm to 439 µm	N_conc(431-439)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
62	Particle number, particle diameter range 439 µm to 446 µm	N_conc(439-446)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
63	Particle number, particle diameter range 446 µm to 453 µm	N_conc(446-453)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
64	Particle number, particle diameter range 453 µm to 460 µm	N_conc(453-460)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
65	Particle number, particle diameter range 460 µm to 467 µm	N_conc(460-467)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
66	Particle number, particle diameter range 467 µm to 474 µm	N_conc(467-474)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
67	Particle number, particle diameter range 474 µm to 482 µm	N_conc(474-482)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
68	Particle number, particle diameter range 482 µm to 500 µm	N_conc(482-500)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
69	Particle number, particle diameter range >500 µm	N_conc(500-inf)	#/s	Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]
70	Quality flag	QF		Monrad-Krohn, Lukas J	Snow Particle Counter, Niigata, SPC-950 [SN 2307]

License:

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) (License comes into effect after moratorium ends)

Status:

Curation Level: Enhanced curation (CurationLevelC)

Size:

159023817 data points

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