Stochastic analysis of micro-cone penetration tests in snow

Abstract. Cone penetration tests have long been used to characterize snowpack stratigraphy. With the development of sophisticated digital penetrometers such as SnowMicroPen, vertical profiles snow hardness can now be measured at a spatial resolution few micrometers. By using small penetrometer tips this high resolution, further details process are resolved, leading many more stochastic signals. An accurate interpretation these signals regarding characteristics requires advanced data analysis. Here, failure ice connections and pushing aside separated grains during cone lead combination (a) diffusive noise, in Brownian motion, (b) jumpy proposed by previous dedicated inversion methods. The determination Kramers–Moyal coefficients enables differentiating between behaviors determining functional resistance dependencies contributions. We show how different types characterized highly resolved measurements analysis In particular, we that denser structures exhibited collective behavior supposedly related grains. On less dense with larger pore space, profile appeared stronger jump which interpret breaking single cohesive bond. methodology provides new insights into characterization stratigraphy micro-cone tests.