Experimental Thermal Probe for Applications in Snow Research and Earth Sciences (EXTASE)

Basic data for this project

Description

The Institut für Planetologie develops a new type of thermal probe, based on a spin-off from a thermal probe developed for the Rosetta lander (MUPUS), that can be used in a wide field of applications in snow research and geosciences. The cylindrical probe penetrates the surface ca. 32 cm and provides a temperature profile and thermal conductivity profile of the penetrated layers. In situ time series of the thermal conductivity may be recorded. In snow, the thermal conductivity is a measure for the mechanical stability of snow packs and thus an indicator of weak layers that may form avelanches. In soil, the thermal conductivity is a measure for soil humidity.