Snow Water Density (SWD)

$rho = f( "Water", "Temp" )$

$(Type)"Snow / Water Type"$

$(Temp)"Temperature if liquid water"$

The Math / Science

Water density is a function of temperature. Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) is the product of snow depth and snow density. It can be presented in units of either kg/m2 or m:

SWE ( $(kg)/(m^2)$ ) = snow depth ( $m$ ) x snow density $((kg)/(m^3))$
SWE ( $m$ ) = snow depth ( $m$ ) x snow density $((kg)/(m^3))$ / water density $((kg)/(m^3))$

You can calculate snow depth from SWE if you know the density of the snow. Of course, density of snow can range anywhere from 5% when ambient air temperature is 14 F, and can range up to 20% if the temperature is 32 F. The snow density will increase after the snowfall due to gravitational settling, packing, wind effects, melting and refreezing.

Type of snow, ice or water	densities (kg/m³)
New snow (immediately after falling in calm)	50-70
Damp new snow	100-200
Settled snow	200-300
Depth hoar	100-300
Wind packed snow	350-400
Firn (granular snow)	400-830
Very wet snow and firn	700-800
Glacier ice	830-917
Snow Melt	1002
Water	f(Temp)
Sea Water	1021.98

The equation will use a median value for the ranges in the density value column.

Snow Water Density (SWD)

The Math / Science

Water Related Calculators