This is a visualization of snowfall data collected by the Differential Emissivity Imaging Disdrometer (DEID).
Data was collected at the Alta-Collins observation plot in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah.
In addition to DEID data, the co-located weather station reported the following data to MesoWest; temperature, overall snow depth,
hourly snow interval, and hourly snow water equivalent accumulation rate.
The captured storm event occurred December 17-18 2020.
The DEID consists of a thermal camera focused on a hot plate. Viewed from a thermal camera, the surface of the roughened heated aluminum plate is dark due to
its low infrared emissivity. Hydrometeors have large emissivity values at high temperatures, appearing as bright regions on the hot plate.
From these outlines the hydrometeor’s size and area can be measured by counting pixels.
Data courtesy of Dr. Tim Garrett
Read more about the DEID here
(a) Schematic of the DEID.
(b) Photograph of the DEID after deployment in field
experiments.
Above is a raw video collected by DEID of snowflakes falling and melting atop the hot plate.