Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face

Snow in rock faces plays a key role in the alpine environment for permafrost distribution, snow water storage or runoff in spring. However, a detailed assessment of snow depths in steep rock walls has never been attempted. To understand snow distribution in rock faces a high-resolution terrestrial l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Cryosphere
Main Authors: Wirz, V. (V.), Schirmer, M. (M.), Gruber, S. (Stephan), Lehning, M. (M.)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/19139
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-893-2011
Description
Summary:Snow in rock faces plays a key role in the alpine environment for permafrost distribution, snow water storage or runoff in spring. However, a detailed assessment of snow depths in steep rock walls has never been attempted. To understand snow distribution in rock faces a high-resolution terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), including a digital camera, was used to obtain interpolated snow depth (HS) data with a grid resolution of one metre. The mean HS, the snow covered area and their evolution in the rock face were compared to a neighbouring smoother catchment and a flat field station at similar elevation. Further we analyzed the patterns of HS distribution in the rock face