Item: The 2008 international classification of seasonal snow on the ground
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Title: The 2008 international classification of seasonal snow on the ground
Proceedings: Proceedings Whistler 2008 International Snow Science Workshop September 21-27, 2008
Authors: Dr Charles Fierz, Richard Armstrong, Yves Durand, Pierre Etchevers, Ethan Greene, Dave McClung, Kouichi Nishimura, Pramod Satyawali, Sergey Sokratov.
Date: 9/22/2008
Abstract: The "International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground" published in 1990 is now well accepted by most snow scientists and practitioners around the world. Nevertheless, the snow community felt some points needed to be revised. Most problems were spotted within the classification of wet snow and crusts, but also in conjunction with polar snow, blowing snow, snow in forests or on how well a non-specialist end-user may be able to use the classification. In 2003, a working group on Snow Classification was established by the former International Commission on Snow and Ice (ICSI) that now has become the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) within the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). Based on feedbacks provided by both practitioners and scientists, the Working Group discussed and implemented necessary changes to the 1990 snow classification. The revised classification has then been reviewed by a representative committee of worldwide snow practitioners, snow researchers and agencies. The 2008 classification will be published by UNESCO in the series a "Technical Documents in Hydrology" and will be downloadable from the web. Here we will present the main revisions focusing on those of importance for snow and avalanche practitioners and scientists.
Presenters: Dr Charles Fierz.
Keywords: snow, snow classification, snow cover, snow metamorphism, snow properties, snow stratigraphy
Subjects: education
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