Snow Storm Provides Crucial Information For Scientists
Snow Storm Provides Crucial Information For Scientists
While South Islanders are being warned
to stay at home and prepare for the biggest storm predicted
since 1992, NIWA scientists will be putting on their wet
weather gear and heading out to measure
snow-fall.
Throughout the storm NIWA is mobilising
teams in the South Island to gather much needed information
about snow-fall at low elevation.
Hydrologist Dr
Christian Zammit calls it snow mobilisation, where snow
experts go out gathering snow related information, such as
depth and vertical density at specific
locations.
“We have very little New Zealand
specific information about snow-fall at low elevation so
gathering information from this storm is important. In the
future this information could help prevent building
collapses, stock loss and indicate areas that power lines
are vulnerable to ice, snow and wind.”
Dr Zammit
is also assisting GNS Science by looking at the amount of
ground-water that is produced from snow melt. This water has
the potential to create landslides or to saturate the soil
making it vulnerable to flooding if heavy rain
strikes.
Since 2009, NIWA scientists have been
taking recordings of ground snow below 300 metres to gather
data that is relevant to New Zealand snow conditions at low
elevation. Historically information used locally has been
based on snow standards from Australia and America, but what
is needed is local information.
“We still need a
lot more information and that is why we are sending all our
teams out, who are well prepared for working in severe
weather conditions.
“We need to better quantify
how snow ice and wind interact with infrastructure, such as
buildings and power line networks.”
Dr Zammit
says the information he is gathering about snow depth and
density is important for the Building and Housing Group, at
the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, to
inform building standards and codes. The Group needs
accurate information about how ground snow is translated
into load on the roof.
“We have adapted a weather
model to predict snow amounts. In the future this tool could
be used to help alert utility operators of possible
infrastructure damage from snow and the need to have repair
crews on standby.”
For the next few days NIWA is
predicting the heaviest snow falls will be inland and in
north Canterbury, therefore the Christchurch-based team is
preparing to make measurements in these areas as conditions
permit.
The public can also help NIWA gather snowfall
information by measuring the snowfall in areas of low
elevations around their homes.
For instructions on
how to measure snowfall, and how to send the information in
to NIWA, go to the webpage How Deep is the Snow at your
Place? (bit.ly/19P2iZg)
We encourage people
to, in all circumstances, put safety first and follow
instructions issued by the Ministry of Civil
Defence and Emergency Management, before venturing
outdoors.
ENDS