"Martin Rowley" wrote in message
news
"souwestdad" wrote ...
snip
The important thing is that the rainfall day data is correct.
At unattended automatic stations very little can be done until the
snow melts. The accumulated readings of snowmelt are then re-
allocated to the correct rainfall days by comparing with the nearest
climate stations or manned Met sites.
So, although it may not be the case until some weeks after the event,
the readings are eventually accurate.

.... er, no. Hardly accurate. Imagine an AWS gauge that has been left for
three weeks with *significant* (as in the case of Aviemore) snow building
up event-on-event, being added to by fresh falls, taken away by wind
scouring, removed by sublimation, blowing over the top without
accumulation etc., etc.

The only way to get an *approximate* idea of the water equivalent of snow
is to monitor the situation, at least once per 24hr, and preferably more
frequently, with slices taken of new snow to melt, giving the
current-event water-equivalent, which can then be added to the previous
assessment etc. It's a tedious, time-consuming process, and a jolly cold
one!

Reality kicks in these days of course - there are fewer manned observing
stations (at least professionally), which is why the 'hobby' network is so
important.


Bang on Martin. The keen 'amateur' network run by retired pros and hobbyists
could well become extremely important, but it needs organisation, [WR] and
[OB] on a newsgroup is a start but it needs more than that.

Will
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