The variations in grain size and internal surface area in a seasonal snow cover have been studied near Schefferville, Quebec. Sieve analysis was applied to snow in very cold conditions and gave closely reproducible results.
The studies show that grain-size distributions vary greatly with depth but show a pattern that is closely repeatable between sites in similar environments and which is also closely repeatable from one year to the next. Different environments produce variations on the general pattern.
The measurements enable estimation of the internal surface area and its variations with depth in different snow covers. The effects of this variation in surface area on contaminants of the snow cover are discussed.