Update on the Performance and Evaluation of the Total Precipitation Sensors on the North Slope of Alaska

Description

Estimation of solid precipitation in cold regions is incredibly challenging because of the effects of conventional gauge designs on the airflow over the gauge. The authors provide an update on the performance of the Total Precipitation Sensor (TPS) installed at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility (ACRF), North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site in Barrow, as well as University of Alaska-managed sites at Atqasuk, Toolik, and Fox. Installation is planned at Oliktok during 2014. The TPS design is intended to avoid the undercatch biases of traditional gages, but may not detect smaller-sized snow particles. Output from the TPS is compared to that from the co-located NOAA’s Climate Reference Network (CRN) sites, snow particle counters, and changes from snow depth sensors at Barrow and nearby sites on Alaska’s North Slope. The CRN sites have a Geonor gauge with a modified double fence, as per the national network standard. Output from the Vaisala FD12P present weather sensor (PWS) at the ACRF NSA site is also considered. Precipitation measurements in Barrow will be important for scanning-radar data analyses and calibrations.