International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Physical and Isotopic Characteristics of Snowpack in NW Slovenia

• • Title: Physical and Isotopic Characteristics of Snowpack in NW Slovenia

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013

    Authors:

    • Jaka Ortar  [ Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia ]
    • Manca Volk Bahun  [ Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia ]
    • Miha PavÅ¡ek  [ Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia ]
    • Iztok Sinjur  [ Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia ]
    • Gregor Vertačnik  [ Slovenian Environment Agency, Ljubljana, Slovenia ]
    • Mihael Brenčič  [ Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia ]
    • DuÅ¡an Polajnar  [ Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia (GRZS), Dovje, Slovenia ]
    • Sergey A. Sokratov  [ Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia ]
    • Polona Vreča  [ Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia ]

    Date: 2013-10-07

    Abstract: Snowpack is a reflection of different environmental factors, joining all three spheres: atmo-, hydro- and geosphere. Orographic diversity of Slovenia influences the climate and also snowpack characteristics in alpine part of Slovenia that differ of those in the other parts of the Alps. To improve our knowledge about characteristics of snowpack and to combine avalanche and snow hydrology research in Slovenia we started with more detail investigations in winter 2010/11. Physical characteristics of snowpack in combination with stable oxygen isotope analysis were determined at different locations (i. e. frost hollows, clearing, forest and slopes) for the first time in NW Slovenia. In the paper preliminary results of the on-going investigations on some snow characteristics (i. e. snow depth, snow temperature, SWE and isotopic composition of oxygen) obtained during three winter seasons from 2010 until 2013 are presented. All three winter seasons were close to the normal regarding the mean air temperatures with larger temperature anomalies in cold and windy February 2012. Due to dry conditions in the beginning of 2012 was snow cover very thin and dry, snowpack metamorphism slow and wind created snowdrifts and slabs. Snow was melted fast during very mild March 2012. On the contrary, snow cover was deep and wet snowpack metamorphism influenced the snowpack characteristics in winter 2012/13. Altogether 32 snow pits were investigated. Observed changes in profiles show high variability during particular winter, in space and also in particular snow profile.

    Object ID: ISSW13_paper_P4-11.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s): Unknown

    Keywords: snowpack characteristics, oxygen isotopes, alpine watershed, nw slovenia

    Page Number(s): 065-068

    Subjects: snowpack conditions metamorphism snow cover

  • Get Full Article

Back to Home page