Use of Radiation Absorbing Materials for Clearing Snow in Mountainous Areas

Abstract

A comparative study of melting of snow by spreading different materials such as charcoal power, boiler ash, saw dust and common salt etc. On its surface under exposure to natural solar radiation has been made. The observations were carried out at Gulmarg at a height of about 9,000 ft. above sea level in the months of January, February and March 1965. It was observed that with the help of boiler ash, the melting rate of snow was increased to about 4 in the half inches per day which is about twice the rate without boiler ash. This material therefore seems to be very much suited to snow clearing operations in the mountain terrain.