Abrégé

The present invention relates to a system (S) and a process for determining the water equivalent content of a snowpack (Snow Water Equivalent—SWE).

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 23/02 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou en transmettant la radiation à travers le matériau
• G01N 33/18 - Eau

Abrégé

A device for measuring water content of the ground, vegetation and snow includes an ambient neutron detector to measure ambient neutron flow, having first and second sheets made at least partially with a scintillator. A light meter measures light conveyed by a light guide interposed between the first and second sheets. The ambient neutron detector transforms interaction with particle(s) into an electric charge. A programmable control unit connects to the ambient neutron detector, and includes an integrating circuit transforming the electric charge produced by interaction with the particle(s) into a signal. The control unit processes the signal to discriminate a signal generated by ambient neutron, incident cosmic rays and/or background noise, and measures ambient neutron flow, incident cosmic rays, and/or background noise. The measurement of the water content is obtained from measurement of normalized ambient neutron flow with respect to measurement of cosmic rays flow incident to the ground.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 33/24 - Matériaux de la terre
• G01T 3/06 - Mesure de flux de neutrons avec des détecteurs à scintillation

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a system (S) and a process for determining the water equivalent content of a snowpack (Snow Water Equivalent - SWE)

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 23/00 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou
• G01N 23/06 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou en transmettant la radiation à travers le matériau et mesurant l'absorption
• G01N 23/09 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou en transmettant la radiation à travers le matériau et mesurant l'absorption le rayonnement consistant en neutrons
• G01N 33/18 - Eau

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a system (S) and a process for determining the water equivalent content of a snowpack (Snow Water Equivalent - SWE)

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 33/18 - Eau
• G01N 23/00 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou
• G01N 23/06 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou en transmettant la radiation à travers le matériau et mesurant l'absorption
• G01N 23/09 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou en transmettant la radiation à travers le matériau et mesurant l'absorption le rayonnement consistant en neutrons

Abrégé

A device (12) for measuring the water content of the ground, vegetation and snow comprises at least one ambient neutron detector (14) adapted to measure an ambient neutron flow, of the type comprising a first sheet (16) and a second sheet (18) made at least partially with a scintillator. A light guide (20) is interposed between the first sheet (16) and the second sheet (18). The ambient neutron detector (14) further comprising at least one light meter (22, 24) adapted to measure the light conveyed by the light guide (20). The ambient neutron detector (14) is adapted to transform the interaction with at least one particle into an electric charge. The device (12) further comprises a control unit (26), of the programmable type, and operatively connected to the at least one ambient neutron detector (14). The control unit (26) comprises an integrating circuit (28) in which the electric charge produced by the interaction with the at least one particle is transformed in a signal. The control unit (26) is adapted to process the signal so as to discriminate a signal generated by ambient neutron, incident cosmic rays and/or background noise, and obtaining a measurement of ambient neutron flow, incident cosmic rays, and/or background noise. The measurement of the water content of the ground, vegetation and/or snow is obtained from the measurement of the normalized ambient neutron flow with respect to the measurement of the cosmic rays flow incident to the ground.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 33/24 - Matériaux de la terre
• G01T 1/24 - Mesure de l'intensité de radiation avec des détecteurs à semi-conducteurs
• G01T 1/29 - Mesure effectuée sur des faisceaux de radiations, p. ex. sur la position ou la section du faisceauMesure de la distribution spatiale de radiations
• G01T 3/06 - Mesure de flux de neutrons avec des détecteurs à scintillation

Abrégé

A device (12) for measuring the water content of the ground, vegetation and snow comprises at least one ambient neutron detector (14) adapted to measure an ambient neutron flow, of the type comprising a first sheet (16) and a second sheet (18) made at least partially with a scintillator. A light guide (20) is interposed between the first sheet (16) and the second sheet (18). The ambient neutron detector (14) further comprising at least one light meter (22, 24) adapted to measure the light conveyed by the light guide (20). The ambient neutron detector (14) is adapted to transform the interaction with at least one particle into an electric charge. The device (12) further comprises a control unit (26), of the programmable type, and operatively connected to the at least one ambient neutron detector (14). The control unit (26) comprises an integrating circuit (28) in which the electric charge produced by the interaction with the at least one particle is transformed in a signal. The control unit (26) is adapted to process the signal so as to discriminate a signal generated by ambient neutron, incident cosmic rays and/or background noise, and obtaining a measurement of ambient neutron flow, incident cosmic rays, and/or background noise. The measurement of the water content of the ground, vegetation and/or snow is obtained from the measurement of the normalized ambient neutron flow with respect to the measurement of the cosmic rays flow incident to the ground.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 33/24 - Matériaux de la terre
• G01T 1/24 - Mesure de l'intensité de radiation avec des détecteurs à semi-conducteurs
• G01T 1/29 - Mesure effectuée sur des faisceaux de radiations, p. ex. sur la position ou la section du faisceauMesure de la distribution spatiale de radiations
• G01T 3/06 - Mesure de flux de neutrons avec des détecteurs à scintillation