Investigating the Kokhanovsky snow reflectance model in closerange spectral imaging

The internal structure of the snow and its reflectance function play a major contribution in its appearance. We investigate the snow reflectance model introduced by Kokhanovsky and Zege in a close-range imaging scale. By monitoring the evolution of melting snow through time using hyperspectral cameras in a laboratory, we estimate snow grain sizes from 0.24 to 8.49 mm depending on the grain shape assumption chosen. Using our experimental results, we observe differences in the reconstructed reflectance spectra with the model regarding the spectra's shape or magnitude. Those variations may be due to our data or to the grain shape assumption of the model. We introduce an effective parameter describing both the snow grain size and the snow grain shape, to give us the opportunity to select the adapted assumption. The computational technique is ready, but more ground truths are required to validate the model.

Water movement in melting snow

The mathematical model of water movement in melting snow is studied in neglect of deformation of the porous medium. As the mathematical model of the problem, the mass conservation equations for water, air and stationary porous skeleton of snow are used along with an analogue of Darcy’s law for water and air. Water and air are considered to be individual phases with its own filtration rate determined in solving the problem. This assumption allows constructing the closed model. The numerical test calculations are carried out. The mathematical model under study is verified using experimental data.

Construction of an Electrically Heated Asphalt Road Based on Ribbon Technology

Although asphalt pavements are the most common pavement type worldwide, there is no accepted heating solution for this infrastructure class for melting snow and preventing ice formation at the ride-surface. This study was concerned with utilizing electric ribbon technology as a suitable heating solution. A method was proposed to introduce ribbon heaters into the typical paving process in a practical manner, causing minimal disruption to the normal paving operations, that is potentially expandable to large areas. The advocated idea was to deploy ribbons after an asphalt concrete (AC) lift has been paved and compacted, and before paving and compacting the next AC lift(s). In this context, a special grooving machine was envisioned to make shallow channels in the AC for cradling each ribbon. Thus, the system survivability is guaranteed, with all ribbons protected against the maneuvering of trucks, paving equipment, and heavy rollers. Subsequently, the method was demonstrated through the full-scale construction of a heated road that included installing ribbons in-between AC lifts. For this purpose, the protective ribbon channels were grooved with a customized milling machine. The entire construction process was described in detail, and some initial findings from activating the system were also included. An overall system survivability of 97% was achieved, and the installation concept appears practical and up-scalable.

REGARDING THE USE OF MODERN TECHNICAL MEANS OF PROTECTION AGAINST FLOOD OF TERRITORIES AND FACILITIES FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES

The danger to society caused by the consequences of natural disasters tends to increase despite the general technical progress and the application of measures to prevent them and combat them. Every year the number of victims, in particular, from floods increases by an average of 6%. Flooding in certain areas can occur due to floods and inundations. Floods are natural processes that occur in the biosphere and affect the planet for millennia. Flood is a significant flooding of the area due to rising water levels in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, caused by downpours, spring snowmelt, wind surges, destruction of dams, dams and more. Floods cause great material damage and casualties. The water level in reservoirs depends on many different factors. All over the world, experts conduct long-term observations, tracking all seasonal changes, and collect data for forecasting. Floods and their causes are well studied. The main causes of these disasters are: - prolonged rains; - melting snow; - raising the bottom; - strong winds and storms; - groundwater; Thus, the issue of using modern technical means of protection against flooding of territories and objects of various purposes is relevant. A number of publications consider current trends in effective flood risk management planning in the European Union and describe the catastrophic consequences of floods and ways to combat them, and so on. At the same time, these studies do not contain data on testing and implementation in Ukraine of modern technical means to combat floods in the EU. To address these issues, the Institute of Public Administration and Research on Civil Defense commissioned by the State Service of Ukraine for Emergencies has developed a method of testing water-absorbing devices designed for: - flood protection; - changes in the direction of water flow during floods, torrential rains, melting snow, etc. - removal of water from flooded areas (basements, garages, etc.); - elimination of environmental accidents (spills of oil, diesel fuel and other chemicals). Developed by the Institute of Public Administration and Research on Civil Protection, the method of testing water-absorbing means will allow in the future to test and assess the suitability of such technical means for use by fire and rescue units when performing tasks to remove water from flooded areas and create barriers to water. time of protection against floods, changes in the direction of water flow during floods, torrential rains, melting snow, etc.

Estimating water change at Earth's surface using GRACE gravity and GPS positioning: Inferring groundwater change in the United States

<p>We estimate change in total water and its components each month from January 2006 to the Present using geodetic observations from space and complementary hydrologic measurements.  Estimates of changes in total water inferred from GPS elastic displacements are used to strengthen the spatial resolution of GRACE observations of mass change, resulting in sharper images of water change.  We furthermore distinguish between different components of water change.  Change in surface water in man's artificial reservoirs and natural lakes are known from gauging measurements of water levels.  The distribution and magnitude of snow accumulation is inferred from sticks and scales on the ground.  We remove the effect of surface water and snow to infer change in water in the ground, consisting of soil moisture and groundwater.  This determination is bringing powerful insights into understanding the water cycle.  We are finding more water to be lost during drought and gained during heavy precipitation than in the hydrology models, suggesting that the hydrology models must be revised to have a greater capacity to store water in the ground.  Not all rain and melting snow that falls on the mountains of California, Oregon, and Washington is found to runoff into rivers taking water to the ocean.  Rain and melting snow is instead found to infiltrate the ground in the wet fall and winter and and to be parched from the ground in the dry spring and summer.</p><p> </p>