Snowpack

Digging a snowpit on Taku Glacier, in Alaska to measure snowpack depth and density

Snowpack forms from layers of snow that accumulate in geographic regions and high altitudes where the climate includes cold weather for extended periods during the year. Snowpacks are an important water resource that feed streams and rivers as they melt. Therefore, snowpacks are both the drinking water source for many communities and a potential source of flooding (in case of sudden melting). Snowpacks also contribute mass to glaciers in their accumulation zone.

Assessing the formation and stability of snowpacks is important in the study and prediction of avalanches.[1][2] Scientists study the physical properties of snow under different conditions and their evolution, and more specifically snow metamorphism,[3][4] snow hydrology (that is, the contribution of snow melt to catchment hydrology), the evolution of snow cover with climate change and its effect on the ice-albedo feedback and hydrology. Snow is also studied in a more global context of impact on animal habitats and plant succession.[5] An important effort is put into snow classification, both as an hydrometeor[6] and on the ground.[7]

Scientific applications

Graph of changing Wyoming Snowpack

Snowpack modeling is done for snow stability, flood forecasting, water resource management, and climate studies.[8] Snowpack modeling is either done by simple, statistical methods such as degree day or complex, physically based energy balance models such as the SNOWPACK model, the CROCUS model or SNOWMODEL.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Steven M. Cox, Kris Fulsaas Mountaineering: the freedom of the hills Mountaineers Books Mountaineers (Society) Edition 7, illustrated The Mountaineers Books, 2003 ISBN 978-0-89886-827-2, pages 346, 347
  2. ↑ Tobias Kurzeder, Holger Feist, Powderguide: Managing Avalanche Risk, Mountain Sports Press, 978-0972482738, 190 pages
  3. ↑ Pinzer, B. R., Schneebeli, M., and Kaempfer, T. U.(2012) Vapor flux and recrystallization during dry snow metamorphism under a steady temperature gradient as observed by time-lapse micro-tomography, TheCryosphere, 6, 1141-1155, doi:10.5194/tc-6-1141-2012
  4. ↑ http://www.slf.ch/ueber/organisation/schnee_permafrost/projekte/schneemetamorphose/index_EN
  5. ↑ Henry S. Santeford Advanced concepts and techniques in the study of snow and ice resources: an interdisciplinary symposium; [papers] A United States contribution to the International Hydrological decade National Academy of Sciences, 1974 ISBN 0-309-02235-5, ISBN 978-0-309-02235-4, page 273
  6. ↑ https://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/class/class.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.cryosphericsciences.org/snowClassification.html
  8. ↑ John E. Oliver Encyclopedia of world climatology page 660

External links

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