Climatic physical snowpack properties for large-scale modeling examined by observations and a physical model

• Saito Kazuyuki

  International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 930 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, USA

• Yamaguchi Satoru

  National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, Suyoshi-machi, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan

• Iwata Hiroki

  International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 930 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, USA

• Harazono Yoshinobu

  International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 930 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, USA

• Kosugi Kenji

  National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, Suyoshi-machi, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan

• Lehning Michael

  Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, Flüelastr. 11, CH-7260 Davos-Dorf, Switzerland

• Shulski Martha

  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE, USA.

Abstract

Here we have conducted an integral study using site observations and a model with detailed snow dynamics, to examine the capability of the model for deriving a simple relationship between the density and thermal conductivity of the snowpack within different climatic zones used in large-scale climate modeling. Snow and meteorological observations were conducted at multiple sites in different climatic regions (two in Interior Alaska, two in Japan). A series of thermal conductivity measurements in snow pit observations done in Alaska provided useful information for constructing the relationship. The one-dimensional snow dynamics model, SNOWPACK, simulated the evolution of the snowpack and compared observations between all sites. Overall, model simulations tended to underestimate the density and overestimate the thermal conductivity, and failed to foster the relationship evident in the observations from the current and previous research. The causes for the deficiency were analyzed and discussed, regarding a low density of the new snow layer and a slow compaction rate. Our working relationships were compared to the equations derived by previous investigators. Discrepancy from the regression for the melting season observations in Alaska was found in common.

Journal

• Polar science

  Polar science 6 (1), 79-95, 2012-04

  National Institute of Polar Research

Keywords

• Snowpack
• Physical property
• Arctic
• Large-scale climate models
• Observations
• Snow dynamics mode

Details

• CRID: 1573950402685811456
• NII Article ID: 110009418543
• NII Book ID: AA12240481
• ISSN: 18739652
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • CiNii Articles