Introduction

Snow densities are observed when conducting a full snow profile (Reference McClung and SchaererMcClung and Schaerer, 2006). These are commonly accomplished using small density cutters to sample individual layers; however, electronic probes have recently been introduced to perform the same task, as well as that of sampling total snow water equivalent. Several density cutter types are available, two of which have been introduced during the past 20 years and are widely available. The sole prior analysis of density cutters, conducted as part of the San Juan Avalanche Project (Reference CarrollCarroll, 1977), compared the then newly introduced 200 and 100 cm³ stainless-steel box-type density cutters with the classic 500 cm³ aluminium tube. This study was undertaken to establish a value range for ‘accepted practice’ based on the various available density cutters used in snow profile observation.

There exists very limited guidance for estimation of error present in the standard method of measuring snow density in the field. Reference Bader and BaderBader (1954) estimated the maximum measurement error for a 500 cm³ tube-shaped density cutter at 0.25% and 1% for fine-grained and coarse-grained snow respectively. A 10% combined sampling and weighing error in repeated density measurements with a 100 cm³ density cutter was described by Reference Harper and BradfordHarper and Bradford (2003) during a small-area spatial density investigation on an Alaskan glacier. Reference Peterson, Brown and WashichekPeterson and Brown (1975) validated earlier estimation of an over-sampling bias of up to 12% for snow survey devices used in total snowpack snow water equivalent measurement (e.g. Mount Rose samplers).

When densities are utilized in published studies, accuracy is often not addressed other than in statements such as ‘measurements were made according to observation standards’ (e.g. Reference Schweizer and JamiesonSchweizer and Jamieson, 2001). However, specified techniques for density sampling described in current North American avalanche, weather and snow observation standards (CAA, 2002; Reference GreeneGreene and others, 2004) provide only limited technique direction:

Less guidance is available regarding observation quality, with the only reference being to snow density competency or confidence (SDC) that describes sample quality as: (1) good sample, (2) some loss of snow, (3) full sample not possible because too low for cohesion or too hard to sample (McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), http://huey.colorado.edu/LTER/datasets/glaciers/glsnwdns.html 2000).

Density Cutter Types

Several density kits are commercially available and currently being used. There are others that are no longer purchasable. There are different styles of cutters for taking volume samples as well as different weighing devices. The ‘standard’ 500 cm³ tube was originally described in English by Reference SeligmanSeligman (1936), and the sampling technique published in 1939 (Reference Bader and BaderBader, 1954). This cutter is commonly referred to as the Swiss or SIPRE (US Army Snow, Ice, and Permafrost Research Establishment) cutter and sometimes the CRREL (Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory) cutter. It is easily constructed from tube aluminium stock with one end sharpened chisel-like. The box-type cutter design originated at the Institute for Low Temperature Science, Japan, and was manufactured in the USA by Hydro-Tech as the Taylor–LaChapelle density kit (Fig. 1, left). The wedge-type or rip cutter design is attributed to R.I. Perla and is presently manufactured by Snowmetrics in the USA. The wedge-type cutter tested was made by Snow Research Associates (SRA) and is no longer available (Fig. 1, middle). The Wasatch Touring density kit with a small, 100 cm³ tube-type cutter (Fig. 1, right) was designed by S. Rosso and can be obtained through numerous sources worldwide. Specifications of the cutters are summarized in Table 1.

Fig. 1. Various types of density cutters tested for variance. Left to right: box (Hydro-Tech 100 cm³), wedge (Snow Research Associates 200 cm³) and tube (Wasatch Touring 100 cm³).

Table 1. Specifications and characteristics of density cutters tested in the randomized block analysis

Experimental Design

The experimental design was formulated to represent the general snowpack conditions under which densities are taken when conducting a snow profile associated with avalanche-potential observations. It varied from a standard profile layout in that a horizontal area of a selected layer was exposed so that we could take multiple samples at the same vertical position within the layer.

A random block experimental design was chosen to focus measured effect on the density cutter and to remove horizontal variability between sample areas (blocks). In a random blocking, the order in which the sample is taken (i.e. in which a cutter is used) is randomized for each block. The layer was then sampled with multiple blocks. The data are then analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The null hypothesis tested is: the mean density resulting from each cutter is the same.

A practice sampling day was conducted to assess technique and measurement equipment prior to the actual data collection. Data for analysis were collected in a flat area adjacent to the Parks Canada Mount Fidelity Station study plot (1905 m a.s.l.) in Glacier Park, British Columbia.

Data were collected over three field days: 15 and 17 February 2006 and 29 March 2006. On each day, a rectangular pit was excavated in a previously undisturbed location such that the working area was to the south of a deeper trench for the operator to stand in (the standing area) (Fig. 2 (i)). The working area consisted of a small horizontal bench cleared perpendicular to the standing area and exposing the top plane (approximately 70 cm wide by 130 cm across) of the layer to be sampled. Each block (dashed rectangles in Fig. 2) was approximately 70 cm wide (away from the trench), 10 cm across and 15 cm thick. The layer was removed to the left of the area to be sampled so that the long edge of the block to be sampled was exposed for the insertion of the sample cutters (Fig. 2 (ii)). This edge was re-prepared for each block. This was repeated for deeper layers by further excavating the standing trench and clearing a new working area below the previous one.

Fig. 2. Photo of the work area layout showing the standing trench (i) and the bench area divided into sample blocks. Rectangles outlined with dashed lines represent the location of four sample blocks, the two on the left having been completed. The first sample in the random sequence is being taken from the third sample block; (ii) indicates the prepared (vertical) edge of the block into which the cutters are pushed horizontally.

Each block included one sample per cutter, working from closest to the standing trench away (southwards). Sequencing of cutters within the block was randomized. Blocks progressed left to right along the same layer plane into a section undisturbed by the previous block. In cutting and removing a sample, substandard samples (e.g. visible volume loss or non-removable extraneous snow, SDC2) were discarded and the sampling was repeated until an adequate sample was obtained, before moving on to the next cutter in the sequence. The same experienced individual took all samples and measurements.

The tested density kits come with a variety of scales for measuring the sample mass: hanging and dial mechanical spring scales, digital scales and, in the case of the Wasatch Touring model, a custom-made balance device. To isolate measurement error and compare cutters (rather than the scales), an appropriate digital bench scale was used for all experimental measurements (A&D Weighing model SK-WP). The scale was stainless steel, portable, waterproof, measured up to 1000 g at a 0.5 g resolution with accuracy of ±1 g, in an operating environment of −10 to 40°C, and had a calibration accuracy of ±0.1 g.

All the cutters were pushed horizontally from the left of the long axis of the block layout into the layer being measured, as seen in Figure 2, to the right of (ii). This ensured we were sampling as close to the same stratigraphy as possible, with vertical variation the same across each sample. The box-type cutters are supplied with a close-fitting cap that slices the sample down both open ends of the cutter and snugly encloses the cutter. The wedge-type cutter has a sliding plate that slices the sample from the surrounding material as it is inserted along the open top edge of the cutter. Often this squeezed the cutter out of the sample area, leaving a less than complete volume in the cutter. The tube-type cutters require using a flat metal piece such as a crystal screen or spatula to cut away material from both open ends. There is regular opportunity for low-density snow to fall out of these when removing them for weighing.

Layers for sampling were selected, based on a visual observation of homogeneity, at least 10 cm (and preferably 15 cm or more) thick. Table 2 summarizes the characteristics of each layer. On 15 February, the base of sample layer 1 was 33 cm down from the surface and consisted of small rounds (size 0.25–0.5 mm), with limited evidence of past faceting on the larger sizes. The layer thickness was 12 cm. The wind was calm and the air temperature ranged from −9.3°C at the start to −11.3°C near the end of data collection. Eight blocks were sampled.

Table 2. Summary of sample layer characteristics. Grain shape abbreviations follow 1990 International Association for Cryospheric Sciences classification (Reference ColbeckColbeck and others, 1990): RG: round grains; FC: faceted crystals; DF: decomposing and fragmented precipitation particles

On 17 February, two sets of 12 blocks were sampled in the same manner. The upper 12 blocks (layer 2) sampled were centered in a layer 5–15 cm down from the surface. This layer consisted of decomposing fragments (size 1–2 mm) with some faceting. The second set of 12 blocks (layer 3) was taken from a thick layer, and sample centers were 57 cm below the surface.

Two sets of six blocks were sampled on 29 March. The first set (layer 4) was taken directly above an old crust 17.5 cm down from the surface. This layer consisted of round grains, 0.5 mm in size and visibly rounding during grain identification (+3.1°C air temperature). The second set of eight (layer 5) was taken 67 cm from the surface and represented the most heterogeneous layer sampled. It consisted of moderately necked rounds, 0.5 mm in size with no observable change occurring (−3.2°C layer temperature).

Snow density competency or confidence (McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER, http://huey.colorado.edu/LTER/datasets/glaciers/glsnwds.html 2000) that describes sample quality was not recorded for these data, based on field technique that all samples were SDC1.

Weight-Measurement and Sampling Error

A component of the analysis was estimation of measurement and sampling error. The weight measurement error was assumed to be the variation of density measurements resulting from the scale accuracy over the sampled range of densities. A Monte Carlo simulation was run 100 times for 100 randomly assigned errors within the stated scale accuracy, resulting in the estimated measurement errors shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Summary of measurement error and cutter under-sampling error estimates

Additionally, a potential under-sampling error was assumed and calculated using a 0, 1 or 2 mm randomly assigned volume reduction at the open ends or top of the cutter. The under-sampling error was estimated using a similarly iterated Monte Carlo simulation. This was also done for the range of density measurements taken during the analysis and resulted in the estimated under-sampling errors shown in Table 3. It is assumed this nominal under-sampling occurs for SDC1 observation quality samples.

Interpretation of these estimates is not straightforward; the estimated sampling errors do not include the likelihood of under-sampling based on the relative ease of making an accurate measurement. Though the box cutters have the larger error (−2%), their design makes under-sampling very unlikely (i.e. 0%), which was supported by experience. The wedge cutter often under-sampled due to displacement of the cutter as the cutting plate neared the thin leading edge of the wedge. The tube cutters, although percentage errors are smaller, also regularly under-sampled due to the manner in which the snow is cut from the ends of a horizontally inserted tube. Combination of these observations and sampling-error estimates therefore results in the error-bar values associated with the scale used (see Table 4).

Table 4. Under-sampling and weight-measurement error values representing SDC1 for tested cutters when used with the experiment-specific scale

Analysis

Statistical analyses were performed using the JMP IN ® Version 5.1 software package (Reference SallSall and others, 2003). The layers described above were analyzed (N = 220) and F-test results compared for an alpha level of 0.05. In three of the five layers, results suggested that the cutters were significantly different. Initial results also indicated blocking was not necessary in three of the five layers. Recalculation of ANOVA results for those layers did not change the outcomes (Table 5).

Table 5. Result summary of random-block, one-way ANOVA (N = 220) for density cutters at α = 0.05. The asterisk (*) indicates layers where the null hypothesis was rejected

The right portion of Table 5 shows the ranges between cutter density means for each layer as well as the ranges between cutter density means and the mean layer densities. The coefficients of variation are expressed as percentages of the mean layer density. The greatest difference between cutter density means is 3–12%. The range of greatest cutter mean density to the mean layer densities is 2–7%.

All pairs were tested using the Tukey–Kramer honestly significant difference to assess the risk of committing a type I error in the analyses. The results are shown in Table 6, which summarizes the cutters that were suggested to be significantly different from others. In this table, cutters not connected by the same letter (A, B, C, etc.) within a layer were significantly different from the letter-connected sets. There was no threshold or pattern evident in the differences (e.g. 200 cm³ or tubular cutters always fell into the same groupings). However, in all cases where the cutters were significantly different, both the small box and small tube cutters were not different from the large tube.

Table 6. Summary of layers 1, 2 and 4 where null hypothesis (that cutter density measurements are equal) was rejected. In this table, cutters not connected by the same letter (A, B, C, etc.) within a layer were significantly different from the letter-connected sets (e.g. in layer 1, the Hydro-Tech 200 was significantly different from the other four cutters, and the Wasatch and Hydro-Tech 100 cutters were significantly different from the others)

ANOVA assumes the variances are equal within the treatments. Four statistical tests (O’Brien’s, Brown–Forsythe, Levene’s, and Bartlett’s) were applied to each layer analysis to evaluate this assumption. Only in layer 1 do two of these tests suggest unequal variances. Application of the Welch ANOVA (which weights observations by an amount inversely proportional to the variance) supported rejection of the null hypothesis for layer 1.

The results summarized in the rightmost two columns of Table 5 are expanded in Table 7 illustrating the variances for each cutter within the sampled layer. The coefficients of variation expressed as percentages of the mean layer density from Table 7 are combined with similarly expressed values for the variances between the cutter density means and the sample means (Table 5) to provide an expression of relative error shown in Figure 3.

Fig. 3. Graphic summary of relative errors for density cutters, not including weighing and under-sampling errors. A graphic symbol described in Table 1 provides visual representation of cutter type and relative size (e.g. small square for small box cutter, large square for large box cutter, and triangle for wedge cutter). This symbol representing the cutter mean for the layer is positioned relative to the layer density mean.

Table 7. Summary of variances and coefficients of variation expressed as a percentage of mean layer densities for cutter measurements within layers. The asterisk (*) indicates layers where the null hypothesis was rejected

Discussion

Reference CarrollCarroll (1977) used a two-way ANOVA to address random effects by operators. Fifty samples per cutter per layer for three homogeneous layers were analyzed (N = 150). Five operators recorded ten samples each cutter per layer. We assume that different weighing devices were used for the tube cutter versus the box cutters based on knowledge of the scale supplied with the box-type cutter kit and the weight characteristics of the tube cutter. In this study, we used a random block sample design to remove horizontal layer variability prior to a one-way ANOVA to determine the expected range of measured values using available density cutters. We recorded 30–60 samples per layer over five layers (N = 220) utilizing only one operator and one scale.

Whereas Reference CarrollCarroll (1977) found insufficient evidence in all three layers to suggest significant difference in cutter type, we found that in three out of five layers sampled, the density cutters were significantly different. In his analysis, Carroll did find significant evidence that operator effect existed in the upper and lower layers at the 0.01 alpha level, which he attributed to grain type and associated measurement difficulties that required greater experience.

We attribute our findings to the vertical variation in layers where grain type represents early and transitional stages of metamorphism such as precipitation particles, decomposing fragments, and early stages of rounds at a layer scale.

As stated, all cutters were pushed horizontally into the snow. Field experience during this study suggests that the following practices are used for layers with multiple grain forms or early in the metamorphic process (precipitation particles or decomposing or fragmented particles):

Conclusions

In application as performed for dry snow profiles, snow density measurements taken by various density cutters may be significantly different, though there are expected ranges of precision. A conclusion can be made solely on the value ranges presented by the investigation without taking into account various reasons for the differences (e.g. stage of densification or mixture of metamorphism states).

Results shown in Table 4 suggest that for layers greater than 10 cm and less than 30 cm thick, larger box-type and tube-type density cutters provide results with less error than smaller cutters or wedge-type cutters.

Without accounting for variation due to weighing devices, the ‘accepted’ range of density measurements includes variation within individual cutters of 0.8–6.2%, variation between cutters of 3–12%, variation between cutter means and layer means of 2–7%, and potential under-sampling errors of 0–2%. The variations within individual cutters attached to the variations between cutter means and layer means are shown in Figure 3 illustrating the relative error of each cutter against the sampled layers. Interpretation of Figure 3 suggests that given the mean of all samples is accepted to be the true value of the measured layer density, variation exclusively between cutter types provides ‘accepted practice’ measurements that are within 11% of the true density.