Modeling the snow cover in climate studies - 2. The sensitivity to internal snow parameters and interface processes
In order to find an optimal complexity for snow-cover models in climate studies, the influence of single snow processes on both the snow mass balance and the energy fluxes between snow surface and atmosphere has been investigated. Using a sophisticated model, experiments were performed under several...
| Published in: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1998
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000C-3BCD-C http://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000C-3BCF-A |
| Summary: | In order to find an optimal complexity for snow-cover models in climate studies, the influence of single snow processes on both the snow mass balance and the energy fluxes between snow surface and atmosphere has been investigated. Using a sophisticated model, experiments were performed under several different atmospheric and regional conditions (Arctic, midlatitudes, alpine regions). A high simulation quality can be achieved with a multi layered snow-cover model resolving the internal snow processes (cf. part 1,[Loth and Graf, this issue]). Otherwise, large errors can occur, mostly in zones which are of paramount importance for the entire climate dynamics. Owing to simplifications of such a model, the mean energy balance of the snow cover, the turbulent heat fluxes, and the long-wave radiation at the snow surface may alter by between 1 W/m(2) and 8 W/m(2). The snow-surface temperatures can be systematically changed by about 10 K. |
|---|