Cosmic-Rays Neutron Sensing as a novel approach to measure Snow Water Equivalent, key to Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric power is significantly affected by the natural variability of available water. Snow, being the main storage of water over the mountains, represents a key variable in managing hydroelectric power plants. To improve the efficiency of renewable power production, it is therefore critical to achieve accurate estimations of the water content within the snowpack, i.e., the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE), in relevant areas. Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensing (CRNS) is an emerging technology that provides a direct evaluation of SWE over large areas in continuous operation, overcoming the challenges related to the complex layering and high temporal and spatial variability of the snowpack. We developed a new generation of compact, autonomous CRNS probes and report the results of our tests on two experimental sites.
