Effect of snow stereology on millimeter wave extinction

A network analyzer based system was used to measure the extinction coefficient of various snow types at 26.5 to 40 GHz under controlled laboratory conditions. The snow samples were prepared using sieved snow so that the physical properties of the snow could be extensively characterized. By using sieved snow, it was possible to vary and to measure the size distribution of the disaggregated ice particles making up the snow sample. In addition, snow stereology measurements were made to obtain the microstructural properties of the snow samples. These results were then used to identify the key snow pack parameters that are required to determine the extinction behavior of a snow pack at the radar frequencies