Snow Water Density (SWD)

The Snow Water Density (SWD) calculator computes the kilograms per meters cubed (kg/m) for snow of different types or water at different temperatures per the US Geological Survey (USGS).
 
INSTRUCTIONS: Enter the following:

• (T)  Choose a type of snow from the pull-down list.
• (Temp)  Temperature for liquid water (default is 0º C)

DENSITY (ρ): The calculator returns the density in kilograms per cubic meters.  However, this can be automatically converted to other density units via the pull-down menu.

Related Calculators:

• Compute the weight of snow on an area.
• Compute the weight of snow on a rectangular area.
• Compute the weight of snow on a polygon shaped area.
• Compute the weight of snow on a roof.
• Compute the amount of water in snow laying on land.

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.

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

Water Related Calculators

• Underwater Pressure
• Pore Water Pressure
• Osmotic Pressure
• Density of water at STP
• Density of seawater
• Saltwater Intrusion
• Snow or Water Density
• Water Density by Temperature
• Compute the Depth of Water associated with a Pressure
• Bernoulli's Equation (Pressure)
• Bernoulli's Equation (Velocity)
• Bernoulli's Equation (Elevation)
• Volume of Water in a Well