A novel sensor combination (upGPR-GPS) to continuously and nondestructively derive snow cover properties

Monitoring seasonal snow cover properties is critical for properly managing natural hazards such as snow avalanches or snowmelt floods. However, measurements often cannot be conducted in difficult terrain or lack the high temporal resolution needed to account for rapid changes in the snowpack, e.g., liquid water content (LWC). To monitor essential snowpack properties, we installed an upward looking ground‐penetrating radar (upGPR) and a low‐cost GPS system below the snow cover and observed in parallel its evolution during two winter seasons. Applying external snow height (HS) information, both systems provided consistent LWC estimates in snow, based on independent approaches, namely measurements of travel time and attenuation of electromagnetic waves. By combining upGPR and GPS, we now obtain a self‐contained approach instead of having to rely on external information such as HS. This allows for the first time determining LWC, HS, and snow water equivalent (SWE) nondestructively and continuously potentially also in avalanche‐prone slopes. Key Points Nondestructive snow measurement below snow cover without external information Determining snowpack properties by combining radar and low‐cost GPS Continuous data on liquid water content, snow height, and snow water equivalent