Item: New Snow in the Snow-Cover Model Snowpack
-
-
Title: New Snow in the Snow-Cover Model Snowpack
Proceedings: 2002 International Snow Science Workshop, Penticton, British Columbia
Authors:
- Charles Fierz [ Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Fluelastrasse 11, CH-7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
- Jordy Hendrikx [ Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Fluelastrasse 11, CH-7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
- Michael Lehning [ Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Fluelastrasse 11, CH-7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
- Fabienne Perret [ Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Fluelastrasse 11, CH-7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
- Annouck Vrouwe [ Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Fluelastrasse 11, CH-7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
Date: 2002
Abstract: A correct representation of new snow and its properties is crucial in order to initialize the simulation of snow-cover evolution. On the one hand, adding a new snow layer to an ongoing numerical snow-cover simulation is straightforward and adjusting the density of new snow according to the meteorological conditions is common practice in snow-cover modeling, e.g. using a statistical model. On the other hand, however, assigning proper initial microstructural and textural parameters such as grain size, bond size, dendricity or sphericity to this new snow layer is more involved. For the sake of simplicity, these parameters are usually set to arbitrarily flxed values for new snow. As dendricity and sphericity relate to the shape of snow grains in the different layers of the snow cover, these two textural parameters strongly influence snowcover evolution, and in particul~r settling and metamorphism. Accordingly, initial values for both dendricity and sphericity should depend on meteorological conditions at the time of deposition too. To improve on this aspect, a method is first proposed to characterize objectively and unambiguously both new and fragmented snow collected in the field. Second, based on field measurements, functional relationships between both initial dendricity and initial sphericity and meteorological parameters such as wind and air temperature are developed. In particular, emphasis is given on strong wind conditions. Improvements reached by using those new initial conditions are shown by means of comparing SNOWPACK simulations performed with and without the newly developed relations.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: modeling, snow metamorphism, snow pack
Page Number(s): 328
Subjects: snowpack modeling snow cover monitoring snow metamorphism
-
Digital Abstract Not Available
-