A Computer Routing of Unsaturated Flow through Snow.

• Main Authors: Tucker,Walter B , III, Colbeck,Samuel C
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER N H
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1977
• Subjects: Hydrology; Limnology and Potamology; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Computer Programming and Software; *WATER FLOW; *SNOW; COMPUTER PROGRAMS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; DENSITY; PARTICLE SIZE; SHOCK WAVES; FORECASTING; POROSITY; SNOW COVER; MATHEMATICAL PREDICTION; VERTICAL ORIENTATION; ERRORS; MELTING; RUNOFF; SINE WAVES; WU001; PE61102A; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA040121; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA040121

Computer programs for routing the vertical movement of water through snow have been developed. Previously, manual graphical techniques were used, making calculation of the flow and shock front a very time-consuming procedure. The shock front is dependent on surface melt taking place now as well as the antecedent flow in the snow, usually a function of the nature of the flow for the previous day. One program, designed to accommodate actual surface melt data, has the ability to handle complicated input profiles such as when melt is erratic on a cloudy day, creating such complexities as intersecting shock fronts. Another program, designed for rapid simulation purposes, approximates a simple surface input with a function, in this case a sine wave. This function is easily changed, allowing a variety of conditions to be assessed, although only one shock front is accommodated. Error analysis and some applications of the programs are presented. (Author)