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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ftunivzuerich:oai:www.zora.uzh.ch:52736 2024-09-30T14:41:19+00:00 Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face Wirz, V Schirmer, M Gruber, S Lehning, M 2011 application/pdf https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/52736/ https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/52736/1/2011_WirzV_tc-5-893-2011_kl.pdf https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-52736 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-893-2011 eng eng Copernicus Publications https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/52736/1/2011_WirzV_tc-5-893-2011_kl.pdf doi:10.5167/uzh-52736 doi:10.5194/tc-5-893-2011 urn:issn:1994-0416 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Wirz, V; Schirmer, M; Gruber, S; Lehning, M (2011). Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face. The Cryosphere, 5(4):893-905. Institute of Geography 910 Geography & travel Earth-Surface Processes Water Science and Technology Journal Article PeerReviewed info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2011 ftunivzuerich https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-5273610.5194/tc-5-893-2011 2024-09-11T00:49:00Z 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 after different weather periods and investigated the main factors contributing to those distributions. In a first step we could show that with TLS reliable information on surface data of a steep rocky surface can be obtained. In comparison to the flatter sites in the vicinity, mean HS in the rock face was lower during the entire winter, but trends of snow depth changes were similar. We observed repeating accumulation and ablation patterns in the rock face, while maximum snow depth loss always occurred at those places with maximum snow depth gain. Further analysis of the main factors contributing to the snow depth distribution in the rock face revealed terrain-wind-interaction processes to be dominant. Processes related to slope angle seem to play a role, but no simple relationship between slope angle and snow depth was found. Further analyses should involve measurements in rock faces with other characteristics and higher temporal resolutions to be able to distinguish individual processes better. Additionally, the relation of spatial and temporal distribution of snow depth to terrain – wind interactions should be tested. Article in Journal/Newspaper permafrost The Cryosphere University of Zurich (UZH): ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Zurich (UZH): ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftunivzuerich |
language |
English |
topic |
Institute of Geography 910 Geography & travel Earth-Surface Processes Water Science and Technology |
spellingShingle |
Institute of Geography 910 Geography & travel Earth-Surface Processes Water Science and Technology Wirz, V Schirmer, M Gruber, S Lehning, M Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face |
topic_facet |
Institute of Geography 910 Geography & travel Earth-Surface Processes Water Science and Technology |
description |
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 after different weather periods and investigated the main factors contributing to those distributions. In a first step we could show that with TLS reliable information on surface data of a steep rocky surface can be obtained. In comparison to the flatter sites in the vicinity, mean HS in the rock face was lower during the entire winter, but trends of snow depth changes were similar. We observed repeating accumulation and ablation patterns in the rock face, while maximum snow depth loss always occurred at those places with maximum snow depth gain. Further analysis of the main factors contributing to the snow depth distribution in the rock face revealed terrain-wind-interaction processes to be dominant. Processes related to slope angle seem to play a role, but no simple relationship between slope angle and snow depth was found. Further analyses should involve measurements in rock faces with other characteristics and higher temporal resolutions to be able to distinguish individual processes better. Additionally, the relation of spatial and temporal distribution of snow depth to terrain – wind interactions should be tested. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Wirz, V Schirmer, M Gruber, S Lehning, M |
author_facet |
Wirz, V Schirmer, M Gruber, S Lehning, M |
author_sort |
Wirz, V |
title |
Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face |
title_short |
Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face |
title_full |
Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face |
title_fullStr |
Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face |
title_sort |
spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/52736/ https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/52736/1/2011_WirzV_tc-5-893-2011_kl.pdf https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-52736 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-893-2011 |
genre |
permafrost The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
permafrost The Cryosphere |
op_source |
Wirz, V; Schirmer, M; Gruber, S; Lehning, M (2011). Spatio-temporal measurements and analysis of snow depth in a rock face. The Cryosphere, 5(4):893-905. |
op_relation |
https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/52736/1/2011_WirzV_tc-5-893-2011_kl.pdf doi:10.5167/uzh-52736 doi:10.5194/tc-5-893-2011 urn:issn:1994-0416 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-5273610.5194/tc-5-893-2011 |
_version_ |
1811643714091614208 |