Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks
For physics-based snow cover models, simulating the formation of dense ice layers inside the snowpack has been a long-time challenge. Their formation is considered to be tightly coupled to the presence of preferential flow, which is assumed to happen through flow fingering. Recent laboratory experim...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:075b9c5f11f048aa927ce1381d7fff61 2023-05-15T18:32:31+02:00 Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks N. Wever S. Würzer C. Fierz M. Lehning 2016-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2731-2016 https://doaj.org/article/075b9c5f11f048aa927ce1381d7fff61 EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/2731/2016/tc-10-2731-2016.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-10-2731-2016 https://doaj.org/article/075b9c5f11f048aa927ce1381d7fff61 The Cryosphere, Vol 10, Iss 6, Pp 2731-2744 (2016) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2016 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2731-2016 2022-12-31T04:44:43Z For physics-based snow cover models, simulating the formation of dense ice layers inside the snowpack has been a long-time challenge. Their formation is considered to be tightly coupled to the presence of preferential flow, which is assumed to happen through flow fingering. Recent laboratory experiments and modelling techniques of liquid water flow in snow have advanced the understanding of conditions under which preferential flow paths or flow fingers form. We propose a modelling approach in the one-dimensional, multilayer snow cover model SNOWPACK for preferential flow that is based on a dual domain approach. The pore space is divided into a part that represents matrix flow and a part that represents preferential flow. Richards' equation is then solved for both domains and only water in matrix flow is subjected to phase changes. We found that preferential flow paths arriving at a layer transition in the snowpack may lead to ponding conditions, which we used to trigger a water flow from the preferential flow domain to the matrix domain. Subsequent refreezing then can form dense layers in the snowpack that regularly exceed 700 kg m −3 . A comparison of simulated density profiles with biweekly snow profiles made at the Weissfluhjoch measurement site at 2536 m altitude in the Eastern Swiss Alps for 16 snow seasons showed that several ice layers that were observed in the field could be reproduced. However, many profiles remain challenging to simulate. The prediction of the early snowpack runoff also improved under the consideration of preferential flow. Our study suggests that a dual domain approach is able to describe the net effect of preferential flow on ice layer formation and liquid water flow in snow in one-dimensional, detailed, physics-based snowpack models, without the need for a full multidimensional model. Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles The Cryosphere 10 6 2731 2744 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 N. Wever S. Würzer C. Fierz M. Lehning Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
For physics-based snow cover models, simulating the formation of dense ice layers inside the snowpack has been a long-time challenge. Their formation is considered to be tightly coupled to the presence of preferential flow, which is assumed to happen through flow fingering. Recent laboratory experiments and modelling techniques of liquid water flow in snow have advanced the understanding of conditions under which preferential flow paths or flow fingers form. We propose a modelling approach in the one-dimensional, multilayer snow cover model SNOWPACK for preferential flow that is based on a dual domain approach. The pore space is divided into a part that represents matrix flow and a part that represents preferential flow. Richards' equation is then solved for both domains and only water in matrix flow is subjected to phase changes. We found that preferential flow paths arriving at a layer transition in the snowpack may lead to ponding conditions, which we used to trigger a water flow from the preferential flow domain to the matrix domain. Subsequent refreezing then can form dense layers in the snowpack that regularly exceed 700 kg m −3 . A comparison of simulated density profiles with biweekly snow profiles made at the Weissfluhjoch measurement site at 2536 m altitude in the Eastern Swiss Alps for 16 snow seasons showed that several ice layers that were observed in the field could be reproduced. However, many profiles remain challenging to simulate. The prediction of the early snowpack runoff also improved under the consideration of preferential flow. Our study suggests that a dual domain approach is able to describe the net effect of preferential flow on ice layer formation and liquid water flow in snow in one-dimensional, detailed, physics-based snowpack models, without the need for a full multidimensional model. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
N. Wever S. Würzer C. Fierz M. Lehning |
author_facet |
N. Wever S. Würzer C. Fierz M. Lehning |
author_sort |
N. Wever |
title |
Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks |
title_short |
Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks |
title_full |
Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks |
title_fullStr |
Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks |
title_full_unstemmed |
Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks |
title_sort |
simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2731-2016 https://doaj.org/article/075b9c5f11f048aa927ce1381d7fff61 |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 10, Iss 6, Pp 2731-2744 (2016) |
op_relation |
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/2731/2016/tc-10-2731-2016.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-10-2731-2016 https://doaj.org/article/075b9c5f11f048aa927ce1381d7fff61 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2731-2016 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
2731 |
op_container_end_page |
2744 |
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1766216629892415488 |