Snow Depth Measurement Using Ultrasonic Sensor

Abstract

Snow measurements are required both to study climate and to predict drought, flooding and water availability. Like in the other parts of the Himalayas, Bhutan’s rivers are fed by glacier and snowmelt. Scientific studies carried out in the Bhutan were mostly focused on glaciers, glacial lakes, glacial lake outburst floods and their dynamics because of the fact that the country faces huge threat from these disasters. The Glaciers and their dynamics received much attention, while snow cover and its contribution to runoff has been largely neglected. The effective use of the snow data can result in more efficient decision making that affects many sectors of the economy in a country. Snowfall and snow depth and their water equivalent are some of the most difficult but most important weather elements to measure in an accurate and consistent manner. In this project the tech[1]niques to measure snow depth based on the ultrasonic sensor with PIC Microcontroller is being developed. Ultrasonic is the application of ultrasound and a common use of ultrasound is one of the cheapest method for range finding. These devices operate with frequencies from 20 KHz up to several gigahertz. Ultrasonic sensors work on a principle similar to Rader and Sonar which evaluates attributes of a target by interpreting the echoes from ratio or sound waves respectively. Essentially, the use of ultrasonic sensors is the most reliable and in[1]expensive method for distance measurement.