Description
Divide nonnegative waterMass by positive coreArea and waterDensity for waterEquivalentDepth.
Snow water equivalent expresses stored water as a depth using snow thickness and density. Layer accounting and liquid-water assumptions matter because separately included components can otherwise be counted twice.
Divide nonnegative waterMass by positive coreArea and waterDensity for waterEquivalentDepth.
When to use this tool
Use Snow Core Water Mass Factor when you need one supplied snow-storage or water-equivalent component.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter waterMass, coreArea, waterDensity. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read waterEquivalentDepth. Use the output convention below.
Divide nonnegative waterMass by positive coreArea and waterDensity for waterEquivalentDepth.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| waterMass | Water Mass | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| coreArea | Core Area | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| waterDensity | Water Density | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| waterEquivalentDepth | Water Equivalent Depth | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"waterMass": 2,
"coreArea": 0.01,
"waterDensity": 1000
},
"output": {
"waterEquivalentDepth": 0.2
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Use coherent mass, area, and density units so output is length; sample representativeness, melt loss, and core collection are not assessed.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Review the sampling method, density basis, layer structure, and complete snow-process model before estimating available water.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Snow Water Equivalent One Layer Term
Multiply nonnegative snowDepth by snowDensity/positive waterDensity for solidWaterEquivalent and add nonnegative liquidWaterDepth.
- Snow Water Depth Contribution
Multiply nonnegative snowDepth by suppliedSnowDensity/positive suppliedWaterDensity for waterDepth, then by coveredFraction in [0, 1].