Update on the total precipitation "hot plate" sensor in Alaska

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Description

Estimation of solid precipitation in cold regions is incredibly challenging because of the effects of conventional gauge designs on the air flow 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’s North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site in Barrow, as well as University of Alaska-managed sites at Atqasuk, Toolik, and Fox. 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 collocated National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Climate Reference Network (CRN) sites, snow particle counters, and changes from snow depth sensors. The CRN site has 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 ARM NSA site is also considered. Recent results from wind tunnel testing with the manufacturer, Yankee Environmental Systems, have led to changes to the sensor algorithm as described here. Precipitation measurements in Barrow will be important for scanning-radar data analyses and calibrations.