Item: DUSTY-LAYERS AND AVALANCHES: NOVEL TECHNIQUES TO DETERMINE THE PROPERTIES OF PARTICLES
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Title: DUSTY-LAYERS AND AVALANCHES: NOVEL TECHNIQUES TO DETERMINE THE PROPERTIES OF PARTICLES
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2023, Bend, Oregon
Authors:
- Claudio Artoni [ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ] [ Department of Environment, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, Venice, Italy ] [ Italian Avalanche Service, Milan, Italy ]
- Llorenç Cremonesi [ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ]
- Luca Teruzzi [ Department of Physics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy ]
- Claudia Ravasio [ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ]
- Deborah Fiorini [ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ]
- Barbara Delmonte [ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ]
- Valter Maggi [ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ]
- Marco A. C. Potenza [ Department of Physics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy ]
Date: 2023-10-08
Abstract: In some alpine locations, a strange landscape may be seen, reddish snow on the ground tints the surroundings, creating an almost Martian environment. This is due to the advection of a significant amount of mineral dust particles, which greatly increase the absorption of sunlight by the snowpack. It is known from the literature that dust interacts with snow grains and crystals by accelerating heating, resulting in melt-refreeze crusts. Although the relationship between dust layers and snowpack instability is complex, many studies have shown that these crusts, once embedded in the snowpack, promote the formation of faceted crystals and weak layers. These processes are related to the physical properties of the dust particles; a poor knowledge of their shape and size limits the accuracy of climate and snowpack simulation models. OPTICE is a new multidisciplinary science project that aims to determine and study the optical properties of dust in snowpack and ice cores, and the optical properties of snow grains and crystals. Our main field sites are a few high-altitude spots in Aosta Valley (Italy) and in Spitsbergen peninsula (Svalbard). Some activities are also carried out during the Italian expeditions on the Antarctic plateau (Concordia station).
Object ID: ISSW2023_P3.19.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Claudio Artoni
Keywords: dusty-layers, avalanches, weak layers, optical properties, mineral dust
Page Number(s): 1353 - 1357
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