Simulating of snow cover formation by the model of interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere (SWAP)

• Published in: Ice and Snow
• Main Authors: E. Gusev M., O. Nasonova N., Е. Гусев М., О. Насонова Н.
• Other Authors: The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation: project № 16-1710039, calculations of snowpack dynamics in the Lena river basin were supported by the Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation (project № 14.B25.31.0026), Работа выполнена при финансовой поддержке РНФ (грант № 16-17-10039), расчёты динамики снегозапасов на территории бассейна р.Лена – при поддержке Министерства образования и науки РФ (проект № 14.B25.31.0026)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: IGRAS 2019
• Subjects: ESM-SnowMIP reference sites; model of interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere (SWAP); models of snow processes; snow storage; the River Lena basin; the River Ob basin; бассейны рек Лены и Оби; модели формирования снежного покрова; модель взаимодействия поверхности суши с атмосферой SWAP; снегозапасы; Arctic
• Online Access: https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/558; https://doi.org/10.15356/2076-6734-2019-2-401

In framework of the project «The Earth system Models – Snow Models Intercomparison Project» (ESMSnowMIP), calculations of snow storages were carried out on ten experimental sites organized for longterm monitoring of the snow cover variability in various regions of the globe. The calculation method is based on the physical and mathematical description of heat and moisture exchange processes occurring within the system «ground water – soil – vegetation cover/snow cover – surface layer of the atmosphere», and it is implemented in the form of the model of interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere (SWAP). The model was developed at the Institute of water problems (IWP) of Russian Academy of Sciences. The model makes possible to calculate components of water and heat balances and different characteristics of the hydrological regime of terrestrial ecosystems and river basins having different spatial scales and located in different natural conditions. Good quality of reproduction of the snow storages variability on all considered sites is reached that allows consideration of the SWAP model as one of the best models of the snow cover formation. Thus, the SWAP model has a sufficiently optimal degree of complexity of the algorithm for reproducing the dynamics of snow cover, which is necessary and sufficient in global and regional hydrological models describing formation of the water balance of the land in the cold regions of the planet, and can be used to create scenario forecasts of snow dynamics (as the important part of the cryosphere). This conclusion is verified by the results of using the SWAP model to reproduce long-term variability of snow storages in basins of the River Lena and the River Ob (with its tributary Irtysh) which are the two largest rivers of the Russian Federation. The calculated and measured characteristics of snow cover dynamics for these basins are shown to be in good agreement. Расчёты снегозапасов на десяти экспериментальных площадках в разных районах земного шара показали, что ...