The Pendular-Funicular Liquid Transition in Snow

Abstract

The way free water is distributed around contact points of ice grains is recorded by measuring the dielectric constant of the porous system which constitutes snow. Within the saturation range of 11% to 15% of the pore volume, a transitional range from the “pendular” to the “funicular” mode of distribution of free water occurs. By measuring the drainage-flow of free water through snow, additional information as to the upper limit of the pendular distribution is obtained. This upper limit is reached at a saturation of approximately 14% of the pore volume.