Understanding snow-transport processes shaping the mountain snow-cover
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In this paper, the authors investigated snow deposition and wind-induced snow-transport processes on different scales and analyzed some major drift events caused by north-west storms during two consecutive accumulation periods.Abstract:
. Mountain snow-cover is normally heterogeneously distributed due to wind and precipitation interacting with the snow cover on various scales. The aim of this study was to investigate snow deposition and wind-induced snow-transport processes on different scales and to analyze some major drift events caused by north-west storms during two consecutive accumulation periods. In particular, we distinguish between the individual processes that cause specific drifts using a physically based model approach. Very high resolution wind fields (5 m) were computed with the atmospheric model Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) and used as input for a model of snow-surface processes (Alpine3D) to calculate saltation, suspension and preferential deposition of precipitation. Several flow features during north-west storms were identified with input from a high-density network of permanent and mobile weather stations and indirect estimations of wind directions from snow-surface structures, such as snow dunes and sastrugis. We also used Terrestrial and Airborne Laser Scanning measurements to investigate snow-deposition patterns and to validate the model. The model results suggest that the in-slope deposition patterns, particularly two huge cross-slope cornice-like drifts, developed only when the prevailing wind direction was northwesterly and were formed mainly due to snow redistribution processes (saltation-driven). In contrast, more homogeneous deposition patterns on a ridge scale were formed during the same periods mainly due to preferential deposition of precipitation. The numerical analysis showed that snow-transport processes were sensitive to the changing topography due to the smoothing effect of the snow cover.read more
Citations
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References
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The Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) – A multi-scale nonhydrostatic atmospheric simulation and prediction model. Part I: Model dynamics and verification
TL;DR: The Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) as mentioned in this paper is a non-hydrostatic model developed at the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) at the University of Oklahoma.
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Snow avalanche formation
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus on dry snow slab avalanches and show that dealing with a highly porous media close to its melting point and processes covering several orders of scale, from the size of a bond between snow grains to the scale of a mountain slope, will continue to be very challenging.
A Meteorological Distribution System for High Resolution Terrestrial Modeling (MicroMet)
Glen E. Liston,Kelly Elder +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, an intermediate-complexity, quasi-physically based, meteorological model (MicroMet) is developed to produce high-resolution (e.g., 30-m to 1-km horizontal grid increment) atmospheric forcings required to run spatially distributed terrestrial models over a wide variety of landscapes.
Journal ArticleDOI
A meteorological distribution system for high-resolution terrestrial modeling (MicroMet)
Glen E. Liston,Kelly Elder +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, an intermediate-complexity, quasi-physically based, meteorological model (MicroMet) is developed to produce high-resolution (e.g., 30-m to 1-km horizontal grid increment) atmospheric forcings required to run spatially distributed terrestrial models over a wide variety of landscapes.
Journal ArticleDOI
An evaluation of snow accumulation and ablation processes for land surface modelling
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the development and testing of snow algorithms with specific reference to their use and application in land surface models and make recommendations with respect to: (a) density of new and aged snow in open and forest environments; (b) interception of snow by evergreen canopies; (c) redistribution and sublimation of snow water equivalent by blowing snow; (d) depletion in snow-covered area during snowmelt; (e) albedo decay during melting; (f) turbulent transfer during snow melt; and (g)