Monitoring the Snowpack Volume in a Sinkhole on Mount Lebanon using Time Lapse Photogrammetry.

Area of Science:

• Hydrology
• Environmental Science
• Geomorphology

Background:

• Lebanon faces water scarcity despite abundant resources.
• Seasonal snowmelt on Mount Lebanon is a key water source.
• Karstic sinkholes act as critical natural snow reservoirs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel system for monitoring snowpack volume evolution in Mount Lebanon's sinkholes.
• To address challenges in monitoring snow in these unique hydrological features.

Main Methods:

• Utilized three time-lapse cameras and photogrammetric software.
• Reconstructed snow surface elevation within a pilot sinkhole.
• Validated results with standard topographic surveys.

Main Results:

• Achieved snow height retrieval accuracy between 20-60 cm (standard deviation).
• Observed a low bias of 50 cm after digital elevation model co-registration.
• Demonstrated daily snowpack volume derivation capability.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers a low-cost solution for monitoring sinkhole snowpack.
• Enables daily assessment of snowpack volume, crucial for water resource management.
• Provides a viable alternative to traditional monitoring techniques.