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Item: In-Situ Measurements and Temporal Evolution of the Thermal Conductivity Profile of an Alpine Snowpack

    • Title: In-Situ Measurements and Temporal Evolution of the Thermal Conductivity Profile of an Alpine Snowpack

      Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop, Davos 2009, Proceedings

      Authors:

      • Samuel Morin  [ CNRS / Université Joseph Fourier – Grenoble 1, LGGE, 38400 St Martin d'Hères, France ]  [ Météo-France/CNRS, CNRM-GAME, CEN, 38400 St Martin d'Hères, France ]
      • Florent Domine  [ CNRS / Université Joseph Fourier – Grenoble 1, LGGE, 38400 St Martin d'Hères, France ]
      • Laurent Arnaud  [ CNRS / Université Joseph Fourier – Grenoble 1, LGGE, 38400 St Martin d'Hères, France ]
      • Ghislain Picard  [ CNRS / Université Joseph Fourier – Grenoble 1, LGGE, 38400 St Martin d'Hères, France ]
      • Hans-Werner Jacobi  [ CNRS / Université Joseph Fourier – Grenoble 1, LGGE, 38400 St Martin d'Hères, France ]
      • Jean-Marie Willemet  [ Météo-France/CNRS, CNRM-GAME, CEN, 38400 St Martin d'Hères, France ]

      Date: 2009

      Abstract: We report on a 3-months long time series of in-situ measurements of the thermal conductivity(kT) of snow at 6 fixed heights in an alpine snowpack in the Mont-Blanc mountain range, France, at an altitude of 2400 m. Automatic measurements were carried out every two days using the heated-needle probe technique. Results show consistent patterns of thermal conductivity increase throughout the measurements campaign. The temporal rate of change of kT varies up to 0.01 W m-1 K-1 d-1, with maximum values just after snowfall. A cursory comparison of the measured kT values with the prediction of the snowpack model CROCUS shows that at first order the model performs rather satisfactorily. However, a quantitative understanding of the variations of kT over time would require an in-depth assessment of physical processes occurring during snow metamorphism.

      Language of Article: English

      Presenters: Unknown

      Keywords: thermal conductivity, snow, heated-needle probe, crocus snowpack model

      Page Number(s): 77-81

      Subjects: in-situ measurements temporal evolution alpine

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