6.1.11 Temperature

The temperature of a snowpack layer should be measured with a thermometer in the shade and not be contaminated by heat from the fingers. You can estimate temperature gradients by taking measurements at several depths in the pack.

Notice the difference between day and night temperatures in the top of this snowpack. As you’ll recall, solar radiation warms the top 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in), whereas outgoing infrared radiation cools the very top few mm.

A typical snowpack temperature profile. The solid line is the nighttime profile, while the dotted line is the daytime profile.