Inferring snowpack ripening and melt-out from distributed measurements of near-surface ground temperatures

Cryosphere

Volumn 6, Issue 5, 2012, Pages 1127-1139

  Schmid, M O ^a   Gubler, S ^a   Fiddes, J ^a   Gruber, S ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

MELTING; SNOW COVER; SNOWPACK; SPATIOTEMPORAL ANALYSIS; SURFACE TEMPERATURE;

SWITZERLAND;

EID: 84875692334     PISSN: 19940416     EISSN: 19940424     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.5194/tc-6-1127-2012     Document Type: Article

References (62)

1. Anderton, S., White, S., and Alvera, B.: Micro-scale spatial variability and the timing of snow melt runoff in a high mountain catchment, J. Hydrol., 268, 158-176, doi:10.1016/S0022-1694(02)00179-8, 2002. (Pubitemid 35307228)
2. Anderton, S. P., White, S. M., and Alvera, B.: Evaluation of spatial variability in snow water equivalent for a high mountain catchment, Hydrol. Process., 18, 435-453, doi:10.1002/hyp.1319, 2004. (Pubitemid 38300808)
3. Bartelt, P. and Lehning, M.: A physical SNOWPACK model for the Swiss avalanche warning Part I: numerical model, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 35, 123-145, doi:10.1016/S0165-232X(02)00074-5, 2002. (Pubitemid 35212879)
4. Beniston, M., Keller, F., and Goyette, S.: Snow pack in the Swiss Alps under changing climatic conditions: an empirical approach for climate impacts studies, Theor. Appl. Climatol., 74, 19-31, doi:10.1007/s00704-002-0709-1, 2003. (Pubitemid 36238620)
5. Best, M. J., Pryor, M., Clark, D. B., Rooney, G. G., Essery, R .L. H., Ménard, C. B., Edwards, J. M., Hendry, M. A., Porson, A., Gedney, N., Mercado, L. M., Sitch, S., Blyth, E., Boucher, O., Cox, P. M., Grimmond, C. S. B., and Harding, R. J.: The Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES), model description-Part 1: Energy and water fluxes, Geosci. Model Dev., 4, 677-699, doi:10.5194/gmd-4-677-2011, 2011.
6. Bitner, D., Carroll, T., Cline, D., and Romanov, P.: An assessment of the differences between three satellite snow cover mapping techniques, Hydrol. Process., 16, 3723-3733, doi:10.1002/hyp.1231, 2002. (Pubitemid 36073133)
7. Bloschl, G., Gutknecht, D., and Kirnbauer, R.: Distributed snowmelt simulations in an Alpine catchment 2. Parameter study and model predictions, Water Resour. Res., 27, 3181-3188, doi:10.1029/91WR02251, 1991a.
8. Bloschl, G., Kirnbauer, R., and Gutknecht, D.: Distributed snowmelt simulations in an Alpine catchment 1. Model evaluation on the basis of snow cover patterns, Water Resour. Res., 27, 3171-3179, doi:10.1029/91WR02250, 1991b.
9. Brenning, A., Gruber, S., and Hoelzle, M.: Sampling and statistical analyses of BTS measurements, Permafrost Periglac., 16, 383-393, doi:10.1002/ppp.541, 2005. (Pubitemid 43070894)
10. Brown, R. D.: Northern Hemisphere snow cover variability and change, 1915-97, J. Climate, 13, 2339-2355, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(2000)0132.0.CO;2, 2000.
11. Dall'Amico, M., Endrizzi, S., Gruber, S., and Rigon, R.: A robust and energy-conserving model of freezing variably-saturated soil, The Cryosphere, 5, 469-484, doi:10.5194/tc-5-469-2011, 2011.
12. Danby, R. K. and Hik, D. S.: Responses of white spruce (Picea glauca) to experimental warming at a subarctic alpine tree-line, Glob. Change Biol., 13, 437-451, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01302.x, 2007. (Pubitemid 46232002)
13. Dyer, J. L. and Mote, T. L.: Spatial variability and trends in observed snow depth over North America, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, doi:10.1029/ 2006GL027258, 2006. (Pubitemid 44945726)
14. Endrizzi, S. and Marsh, P.: Observations and modeling of turbulent fluxes during melt at the shrub-tundra transition zone 1: point scale variations, Hydrol. Res., 41, 471-490, 2010.
15. Essery, R. and Clark, D. B.: Developments in the MOSES 2 land-surface model for PILPS 2e, Global Planet. Change, 38, 161-164, doi:10.1016/S0921- 8181(03)00026-2, 2003. (Pubitemid 36815068)
16. Etzelmüller, B., Farbrot, H., Gümundsson, Á., Humlum, O., Tveito, O. E., and Bjornsson, H.: The regional distribution of mountain permafrost in Iceland, Permafrost Periglac., 18, 185-199, doi:10.1002/ppp.583, 2007. (Pubitemid 46957984)
17. Foster, J. L., Hall, D. K., Eylander, J. B., Riggs, G. A., Nghiem, S. V., Tedesco, M., Kim, E., Montesano, P. M., Kelly, R. E. J., Casey, K. A., and Choudhury, B.: A blended global snow product using visible, passive microwave and scat-terometer satellite data, Int. J. Remote Sens., 32, 1371-1395, doi:10.1080/01431160903548013, 2011.
18. Gadek, B. and Leszkiewicz, J.: Influence of snow cover on ground surface temperature in the zone of sporadic permafrost, Tatra Mountains, Poland and Slovakia, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 60, 205-211, 2010.
19. Goodrich, L. E.: The influence of snow cover on the ground thermal regime, Can. Geotech. J., 19, 421-432, 1982. (Pubitemid 13490800)
20. Groot Zwaaftink, C. D., Lowe, H., Mott, R., Bavay, M., and Lehn-ing, M.: Drifting snow sublimation: A high-resolution 3-D model with temperature and moisture feedbacks, J. Geophys. Res., 116, D16107, doi:10.1029/2011JD015754, 2011.
21. Gruber, S.: Permafrost thaw and destabilization of Alpine rock walls in the hot summer of 2003, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L13504, doi:10.1029/ 2004GL020051, 2004.
22. Grünewald, T., Schirmer, M., Mott, R., and Lehning, M.: Spatial and temporal variability of snow depth and ablation rates in a small mountain catchment, The Cryosphere, 4, 215-225, doi:10.5194/tc-4-215-2010, 2010.
23. Gubler, S., Fiddes, J., Keller, M., and Gruber, S.: Scale-dependent measurement and analysis of ground surface temperature variability in alpine terrain, The Cryosphere, 5, 431-443, doi:10.5194/tc-5-431-2011, 2011.
24. Gutzler, D. S. and Rosen, R. D.: Interannual variability of wintertime snow cover across the Northern Hemisphere, J. Climate, 5, 1441-1447, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1992)0052.0.CO;2, 1992.
25. Hipp, T., Etzelmüller, B., Farbrot, H., and Schuler, T. V.: Modelling the temperature evolution of permafrost and seasonal frost in southern Norway during the 20th and 21st century, The Cryosphere Discuss., 5, 811-854, doi:10.5194/tcd-5-811-2011, 2011.
26. Hoelzle, M., Wegmann, M., and Krummenacher, B.: Miniature temperature dataloggers for mapping and monitoring of permafrost in high mountain areas: first experience from the Swiss Alps, Permafrost Periglac., 10, 113-124, doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1530(199904/06)10:23.0.CO;2-A, 1999. (Pubitemid 30028302)
27. Hoelzle, M., Haeberli, W., and Stocker-Mittaz, C.: Miniature ground temperature data logger measurements 2000-2002 in the Murtèl-Corvatsch area, Eastern Swiss Alps, in: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Permafrost, 419-424, 2003.
28. Isaksen, K., Hauck, C., Gudevang, E., Odegard, R. S., and Sol-lid, J. L.: Mountain permafrost distribution in Dovrefjell and Jotunheimen, southern Norway, based on BTS and DC resistivity tomography data, Norsk Geogr. Tidsskrift, 56, 122-136, doi:10.1080/002919502760056459, 2002. (Pubitemid 34776266)
29. Ishikawa, M.: Thermal regimes at the snow-ground interface and their implications for permafrost investigation, Geomorphology, 52, 105-120, doi:10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00251-9, 2003. (Pubitemid 36704927)
30. Iverson, R. M., Reid, M. E., and LaHusen, R. G.: Debris-flow mobilization from landslides, Annu. Rev. Earth Pl. Sc., 25, 85-138, doi:10.1146/annurev. earth.25.1.85, 1997.
31. Jost, G., Weiler, M., Gluns, D. R., and Alila, Y.: The influence of forest and topography on snow accumulation and melt at the watershed-scale, J. Hydrol., 347, 101-115, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.09.006, 2007. (Pubitemid 350054884)
32. Keller, M., Hungerbühler, G., Knecht, O., Skeikh, S., Beutel, J., Gubler, S., Fiddes, J., and Gruber, S.: iAssist: Rapid Deployment and Maintenance of Tiny Sensing Systems, 2010.
33. Lampkin, D. J. and Yool, S. R.: Monitoring mountain snowpack evolution using near-surface optical and thermal properties, Hy-drol. Process., 18, 3527-3542, doi:10.1002/hyp.5797, 2004. (Pubitemid 40098982)
34. Lehning, M., Bartelt, P., Brown, B., Russi, T., Stockli, U., and Zim-merli, M.: Snowpack model calculations for avalanche warning based upon a new network of weather and snow stations, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 30, 145-157, doi:10.1016/S0165-232X(99)00022-1, 1999. (Pubitemid 30113156)
35. Lehning, M., Bartelt, P., Brown, B., and Fierz, C.: A physical SNOWPACK model for the Swiss avalanche warning Part III: meteorological forcing, thin layer formation and evaluation, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 35, 169-184, doi:10.1016/S0165-232X(02)00072-1, 2002a. (Pubitemid 35212881)
36. Lehning, M., Bartelt, P., Brown, B., Fierz, C., and Satyawali, P.: A physical SNOWPACK model for the Swiss avalanche warning Part II. Snow microstructure, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 35, 147-167, doi:10.1016/S0165-232X(02) 00073-3, 2002b. (Pubitemid 35212880)
37. Li, H.-Y. and Wang, J.: Simulation of snow distribution and melt under cloudy conditions in an Alpine watershed, Hy-drol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 2195-2203, doi:10.5194/hess-15-2195-2011, 2011.
38. López-Moreno, J. I., Fassnacht, S. R., Beguería, S., and Latron, J. B. P.: Variability of snow depth at the plot scale: implications for mean depth estimation and sampling strategies, The Cryosphere, 5, 617-629, doi:10.5194/tc-5-617-2011, 2011.
39. Luce, C. H., Tarboton, D. G., and Cooley, K. R.: The influence of the spatial distribution of snow on basin-averaged snowmelt, Hy-drolog. Process., 12, 1671-1683, 1998. (Pubitemid 29007368)
40. Luetschg, M. and Haeberli, W.: Permafrost evolution in the Swiss Alps in a changing climate and the role of the snow cover, Norsk Geogr. Tidsskrift, 59, 78-83, doi:10.1080/00291950510020583, 2005. (Pubitemid 40829895)
41. Lundquist, J. D. and Lott, F.: Using inexpensive temperature sensors to monitor the duration and heterogeneity of snow-covered areas, Water Resour. Res., 44, W00D16, doi:10.1029/2008WR007035, 2008.
42. Marsh, C. B., Pomeroy, J. W., and Spiteri, R. J.: Implications of mountain shading on calculating energy for snowmelt using unstructured triangular meshes, Hydrol. Process., 26, 1767-1778, doi:10.1002/hyp.9329, 2012.
43. Outcalt, S. I., Nelson, F. E., and Hinkel, K. M.: The zero-curtain effect: Heat and mass transfer across an isothermal region in freezing soil, Water Resour. Res., 26, 1509, doi:10.1029/WR026i007p01509, 1990.
44. Parajka, J. and Bloschl, G.: The value of MODIS snow cover data in validating and calibrating conceptual hydrologic models, J. Hy-drol., 358, 240-258, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.06.006, 2008.
45. Pielmeier, C.: Wetter, Schneedecke und Lawinengefahr Hydrolo-gisches Jahr 2010/11, WSL-Insitut für Schnee-und Lawinen-forschung SLF, 2011.
46. Pomeroy, J. W., Marsh, P., and Gray, D. M.: Application of a distributed blowing snow model to the Arctic, Hydrol. Process., 11, 1451-1464, doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199709)11:113.0.CO;2-Q, 1997.
47. Rutter, N., Essery, R., Pomeroy, J., Altimir, N., Andreadis, K., Baker, I., Barr, A., Bartlett, P., Boone, A., Deng, H., Douville, H., et al.: Evaluation of forest snow processes models (SnowMIP2), J. Geophys. Res., 114, D06111, doi:10.1029/2008JD011063, 2009.
48. Scherrer, S. C.: Swiss Alpine snow pack variability: major patterns and links to local climate and large-scale flow, Clim. Res., 32, 187-199, 2006. (Pubitemid 44842789)
49. Schmid, M.-O.: Variability of ground surface temperatures and related processes in high Alpine regions, MSc., Universty of Zurich, 2011.
50. Schmidt, S., Weber, B., and Winiger, M.: Analyses of seasonal snow disappearance in an alpine valley from micro-to meso-scale (Loetschental, Switzerland), Hydrol. Process., 23, 1041-1051, doi:10.1002/hyp.7205, 2009.
51. Schneider, S., Hoelzle, M., and Hauck, C.: Influence of surface and subsurface heterogeneity on observed borehole temperatures at a mountain permafrost site in the Upper Engadine, Swiss Alps, The Cryosphere, 6, 517-531, doi:10.5194/tc-6-517-2012, 2012.
52. Schoner, W., Auer, I., and Bohm, R.: Long term trend of snow depth at Sonnblick (Austrian Alps) and its relation to climate change, Hydrol. Process., 23, 1052-1063, doi:10.1002/hyp.7209, 2009.
53. Stucki, T.: Wetter, Schneedecke und Lawinengefahr, Hydrologis-ches Jahr 2009/10, WSL-Insitut für Schnee-und Lawinen-forschung SLF, 2010.
54. Taras, B., Sturm, M., and Liston, G. E.: Snow-Ground Interface Temperatures in the Kuparuk River Basin, Arctic Alaska: Measurements and Model, J. Hydrometeorol., 3, 377-394, doi:10.1175/1525-7541(2002)0032.0.CO;2, 2002.
55. Techel, F. and Pielmeier, C.: Point observations of liquid water content in wet snow-investigating methodical, spatial and temporal aspects, The Cryosphere, 5, 405-418, doi:10.5194/tc-5-405-2011, 2011.
56. Tribbeck, M. J., Gurney, R. J., Morris, E. M., and Pearson, D. W. C.: A new Snow-SVAT to simulate the accumulation and ablation of seasonal snow cover beneath a forest canopy, J. Glaciol., 50, 171-182, doi:10.3189/ 172756504781830187, 2004. (Pubitemid 40355394)
57. Tyler, S. W., Burak, S. A., McNamara, J. P., Lamontagne, A., Selker, J. S., and Dozier, J.: Spatially distributed temperatures at the base of two mountain snowpacks measured with fiber-optic sensors, J. Glaciol., 54, 673-679, doi:10.3189/002214308786570827, 2008.
58. Viviroli, D. and Weingartner, R.: The hydrological significance of mountains: from regional to global scale, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 8, 1017-1030, doi:10.5194/hess-8-1017-2004, 2004.
59. Westermann, S., Boike, J., Langer, M., Schuler, T. V., and Et-zelmüller, B.: Modeling the impact of wintertime rain events on the thermal regime of permafrost, The Cryosphere, 5, 945-959, doi:10.5194/tc-5-945- 2011, 2011.
60. Williams, M. W., Erickson, T. A., and Petrzelka, J. L.: Visualizing meltwater flow through snow at the centimetre-to-metre scale using a snow guillotine, Hydrol. Process., 24, 2098-2110, doi:10.1002/hyp.7630, 2010.
61. Wirz, V., Schirmer, M., Gruber, S., and Lehning, M.: Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face, The Cryosphere, 5, 893-905, doi:10.5194/tc-5-893-2011, 2011.
62. Zhang, T.: Influence of the seasonal snow cover on the ground thermal regime: An overview, Rev. Geophys., 43, RG4002, doi:10.1029/2004RG000157, 2005. (Pubitemid 43273803)