Correction of Measured Precipitation in the Alps Using the Water Equivalent of New Snow

The Hellmann heated siphon pluviograph with wind shield shows 56 % less winter precipitation than measured on a snow board at an altitude of 2,540 m a.s.l. For the Swiss heated tipping bucket gauge and the storage gauge precipitation was 31 % less. A relationship between the deficit and wind speed was only found for the storage gauge. The effect of the parameter of snowfall structure, defined as the portion of snowfall on days with temperature lower than -8°C, is small. The results can be used to make a preliminary adjustment of precipitation sums at Alpine gauge sites where wind speeds and temperature can be assessed.