Articles | Volume 10, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2981-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2981-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
06 Dec 2016
Research article |
| 06 Dec 2016
Evaposublimation from the snow in the Mediterranean mountains of Sierra Nevada (Spain)
Fluvial Dynamics and Hydrology Research Group, Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research,
University of Granada, Avda. del Mediterráneo s/n 18006, Granada, Spain
María José Polo
Fluvial Dynamics and Hydrology Research Group, Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research,
University of Córdoba, Rabanales Campus, Leonardo da Vinci Building 14071, Córdoba, Spain
Related authors
María J. Polo, Javier Herrero, Rafael Pimentel, and María J. Pérez-Palazón
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 393–407, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-393-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-393-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This work presents the Guadalfeo Monitoring Network in the Sierra Nevada (Spain), a snow monitoring network in the Guadalfeo Experimental Catchment, a semiarid area in southern Europe representative of snowpacks with highly variable dynamics on both annual and seasonal scales and significant topographic gradients. The network includes weather stations and time-lapse cameras to capture the variability of the ablation phases on different spatial scales.
Rafael Pimentel, Javier Herrero, and María José Polo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 805–820, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-805-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-805-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This study analyses the subgrid variability of the snow distribution in a Mediterranean region and formulates a parametric approach that includes these scale effects in the physical modelling of snow by means of accumulation–depletion curves associated with snow evolution patterns, by means of terrestrial photography. The results confirm that the use of these on a cell scale provides a solid foundation for the extension of point snow models to larger areas.
M. J. Pérez-Palazón, R. Pimentel, J. Herrero, C. Aguilar, J. M. Perales, and M. J. Polo
Proc. IAHS, 369, 157–162, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-369-157-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-369-157-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Sierra Nevada National Park (South Spain) constitute a key monitoring point for climate variability and its impacts. This work presents the local trend analysis of weather variables at this area together with additional snow-related variables. The joint analysis of weather and snow variables showed a decrease trend in the extent and persistence of the snow covered area over the area. The precipitation regime seems to be the most relevant driver on the snow regime forcing in Mediterranean areas.
Eva Contreras, Rafael Pimentel, Cristina Aguilar, Javier Aparicio, and María J. Polo
Proc. IAHS, 385, 297–303, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-385-297-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-385-297-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Global Surface Water Explorer (GSWE) was combined with bathymetric and historical meteorological data to quantify water balance during the period 1984–2020 in the Primera de Palos freshwater lagoon (Southwest Spain). The results showed that the natural hydrological regime of the lagoon was modified from 1995 by water inputs from irrigation returns. Thanks to a water balance approach, these irrigation returns were quantified as the closure term of the water balance.
Eva Sebok, Hans Jørgen Henriksen, Ernesto Pastén-Zapata, Peter Berg, Guillaume Thirel, Anthony Lemoine, Andrea Lira-Loarca, Christiana Photiadou, Rafael Pimentel, Paul Royer-Gaspard, Erik Kjellström, Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen, Jean Philippe Vidal, Philippe Lucas-Picher, Markus G. Donat, Giovanni Besio, María José Polo, Simon Stisen, Yvan Caballero, Ilias G. Pechlivanidis, Lars Troldborg, and Jens Christian Refsgaard
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5605–5625, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5605-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5605-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrological models projecting the impact of changing climate carry a lot of uncertainty. Thus, these models usually have a multitude of simulations using different future climate data. This study used the subjective opinion of experts to assess which climate and hydrological models are the most likely to correctly predict climate impacts, thereby easing the computational burden. The experts could select more likely hydrological models, while the climate models were deemed equally probable.
Cristina Aguilar, Rafael Pimentel, and María J. Polo
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 1335–1359, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-1335-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-1335-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This work presents the reconstruction of 19 years of daily, monthly, and annual global radiation maps in Sierra Nevada (Spain) derived using daily historical records from weather stations in the area and a modeling scheme that captures the topographic effects that constitute the main sources of the spatial and temporal variability of solar radiation. The generated datasets are valuable in different fields, such as hydrology, ecology, or energy production systems downstream.
María J. Polo, Javier Herrero, Rafael Pimentel, and María J. Pérez-Palazón
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 393–407, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-393-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-393-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This work presents the Guadalfeo Monitoring Network in the Sierra Nevada (Spain), a snow monitoring network in the Guadalfeo Experimental Catchment, a semiarid area in southern Europe representative of snowpacks with highly variable dynamics on both annual and seasonal scales and significant topographic gradients. The network includes weather stations and time-lapse cameras to capture the variability of the ablation phases on different spatial scales.
Theano Iliopoulou, Cristina Aguilar, Berit Arheimer, María Bermúdez, Nejc Bezak, Andrea Ficchì, Demetris Koutsoyiannis, Juraj Parajka, María José Polo, Guillaume Thirel, and Alberto Montanari
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 73–91, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-73-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-73-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the seasonal memory properties of a large sample of European rivers in terms of high and low flows. We compute seasonal correlations between peak and low flows and average flows in the previous seasons and explore the links with various physiographic and hydro-climatic catchment descriptors. Our findings suggest that there is a traceable physical basis for river memory which in turn can be employed to reduce uncertainty and improve probabilistic predictions of floods and droughts.
Rafael Pimentel, Carlo Marín, Ludovica De Gregorio, Mattia Callegari, María J. Pérez-Palazón, Claudia Notarnicola, and María J. Polo
Proc. IAHS, 380, 67–72, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-380-67-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-380-67-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In Mediterranean regions, the spatiotemporal evolution of the snow cover can experiment quick changes and high frequency sensors are required to adequately monitor such shifts. This work presents a methodological approach to validate the improved MODIS daily snow cover maps, in a Sierra Nevada (southern Spain), from a reference data set obtained by Landsat TM data. The results show a significantly high correlation between the two snow map products at differents spatial scale.
María J. Polo, Maria P. González-Dugo, and Christopher Neale
Proc. IAHS, 380, 1–2, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-380-1-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-380-1-2018, 2018
Cristina Aguilar, Alberto Montanari, and María-José Polo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3687–3700, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3687-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3687-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Assuming that floods are driven by both short- (meteorological forcing) and long-term perturbations (higher-than-usual moisture), we propose a technique for updating a season in advance the flood frequency distribution. Its application in the Po and Danube rivers helped to reduce the uncertainty in the estimation of floods and thus constitutes a promising tool for real-time management of flood risk mitigation. This study is the result of the stay of the first author at the University of Bologna.
Rafael Pimentel, Javier Herrero, and María José Polo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 805–820, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-805-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-805-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This study analyses the subgrid variability of the snow distribution in a Mediterranean region and formulates a parametric approach that includes these scale effects in the physical modelling of snow by means of accumulation–depletion curves associated with snow evolution patterns, by means of terrestrial photography. The results confirm that the use of these on a cell scale provides a solid foundation for the extension of point snow models to larger areas.
María J. Polo, Albert Rovira, Darío García-Contreras, Eva Contreras, Agustín Millares, Cristina Aguilar, and Miguel A. Losada
Proc. IAHS, 373, 45–49, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-373-45-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-373-45-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Regulation by reservoirs affects both the freshwater regime and the sediment delivery downstream. Spain is one the countries with more water storage capacity by reservoirs in the world. The spatial redistribution of the seasonal and annual water storage in reservoirs mainly for irrigation and urban supply has resulted in significant environmental impacts downstream. This work shows these effects in the Guadalquivir and the Ebro River basins, two of the largest regulated areas in Spain.
Cristina Aguilar, Alberto Montanari, and María José Polo
Proc. IAHS, 373, 189–192, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-373-189-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-373-189-2016, 2016
M. Egüen, M. J. Polo, Z. Gulliver, E. Contreras, C. Aguilar, and M. A. Losada
Proc. IAHS, 370, 51–56, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-370-51-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-370-51-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
This work shows the change on flood risk in the coastal areas of three hydrographic basins in South Spain during the reservoir expansion period. The results differentiate the impact of the regulation level on both the cumulative distribution functions of the fluvial discharge near the river mouth, and the associated damage related to the enhanced soil occupation during this period.
M. J. Pérez-Palazón, R. Pimentel, J. Herrero, C. Aguilar, J. M. Perales, and M. J. Polo
Proc. IAHS, 369, 157–162, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-369-157-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-369-157-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Sierra Nevada National Park (South Spain) constitute a key monitoring point for climate variability and its impacts. This work presents the local trend analysis of weather variables at this area together with additional snow-related variables. The joint analysis of weather and snow variables showed a decrease trend in the extent and persistence of the snow covered area over the area. The precipitation regime seems to be the most relevant driver on the snow regime forcing in Mediterranean areas.
Related subject area
Energy Balance Obs/Modelling
Surface heat fluxes at coarse blocky Murtèl rock glacier (Engadine, eastern Swiss Alps)
Modeling snowpack dynamics and surface energy budget in boreal and subarctic peatlands and forests
Evaluation of reanalysis data and dynamical downscaling for surface energy balance modeling at mountain glaciers in western Canada
Brief communication: Surface energy balance differences over Greenland between ERA5 and ERA-Interim
A computationally efficient statistically downscaled 100 m resolution Greenland product from the regional climate model MAR
Modeling of surface energy balance for Icelandic glaciers using remote-sensing albedo
Strategies for regional modeling of surface mass balance at the Monte Sarmiento Massif, Tierra del Fuego
A sensor-agnostic albedo retrieval method for realistic sea ice surfaces: model and validation
Estimating degree-day factors of snow based on energy flux components
Long-term firn and mass balance modelling for Abramov Glacier in the data-scarce Pamir Alay
The surface energy balance during foehn events at Joyce Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Sub-seasonal variability of supraglacial ice cliff melt rates and associated processes from time-lapse photogrammetry
Understanding wind-driven melt of patchy snow cover
Understanding model spread in sea ice volume by attribution of model differences in seasonal ice growth and melt
An 11-year record of wintertime snow-surface energy balance and sublimation at 4863 m a.s.l. on the Chhota Shigri Glacier moraine (western Himalaya, India)
Sensitivity of modeled snow grain size retrievals to solar geometry, snow particle asphericity, and snowpack impurities
Metamorphism of snow on Arctic sea ice during the melt season: impact on spectral albedo and radiative fluxes through snow
Cloud forcing of surface energy balance from in situ measurements in diverse mountain glacier environments
Modelling glacier mass balance and climate sensitivity in the context of sparse observations: application to Saskatchewan Glacier, western Canada
GABLS4 intercomparison of snow models at Dome C in Antarctica
Divergence of apparent and intrinsic snow albedo over a season at a sub-alpine site with implications for remote sensing
Understanding monsoon controls on the energy and mass balance of glaciers in the Central and Eastern Himalaya
A new Stefan equation to characterize the evolution of thermokarst lake and talik geometry
SNICAR-ADv4: a physically based radiative transfer model to represent the spectral albedo of glacier ice
Convective heat transfer of spring meltwater accelerates active layer phase change in Tibet permafrost areas
Modelling surface temperature and radiation budget of snow-covered complex terrain
Impact of the melt–albedo feedback on the future evolution of the Greenland Ice Sheet with PISM-dEBM-simple
Snow model comparison to simulate snow depth evolution and sublimation at point scale in the semi-arid Andes of Chile
Brief communication: Evaluation of multiple density-dependent empirical snow conductivity relationships in East Antarctica
Sensitivity of the surface energy budget to drifting snow as simulated by MAR in coastal Adelie Land, Antarctica
Firn changes at Colle Gnifetti revealed with a high-resolution process-based physical model approach
The surface energy balance in a cold and arid permafrost environment, Ladakh, Himalayas, India
The diurnal Energy Balance Model (dEBM): a convenient surface mass balance solution for ice sheets in Earth system modeling
Spectral attenuation coefficients from measurements of light transmission in bare ice on the Greenland Ice Sheet
On the statistical properties of sea-ice lead fraction and heat fluxes in the Arctic
Effect of small-scale snow surface roughness on snow albedo and reflectance
New insights into radiative transfer within sea ice derived from autonomous optical propagation measurements
Long-term surface energy balance of the western Greenland Ice Sheet and the role of large-scale circulation variability
Seasonal and interannual variability of melt-season albedo at Haig Glacier, Canadian Rocky Mountains
Surface energy fluxes on Chilean glaciers: measurements and models
Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier
Incorporating moisture content in surface energy balance modeling of a debris-covered glacier
Surface melt and the importance of water flow – an analysis based on high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data for an Arctic glacier
Impact of forcing on sublimation simulations for a high mountain catchment in the semiarid Andes
Intercomparison and improvement of two-stream shortwave radiative transfer schemes in Earth system models for a unified treatment of cryospheric surfaces
Water tracks intensify surface energy and mass exchange in the Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valleys
Quantifying the snowmelt–albedo feedback at Neumayer Station, East Antarctica
A key factor initiating surface ablation of Arctic sea ice: earlier and increasing liquid precipitation
Brief communication: An ice surface melt scheme including the diurnal cycle of solar radiation
Glacio-hydrological melt and run-off modelling: application of a limits of acceptability framework for model comparison and selection
Dominik Amschwand, Martin Scherler, Martin Hoelzle, Bernhard Krummenacher, Anna Haberkorn, Christian Kienholz, and Hansueli Gubler
The Cryosphere, 18, 2103–2139, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2103-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2103-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Rock glaciers are coarse-debris permafrost landforms that are comparatively climate resilient. We estimate the surface energy balance of rock glacier Murtèl (Swiss Alps) based on a large surface and sub-surface sensor array. During the thaw seasons 2021 and 2022, 90 % of the net radiation was exported via turbulent heat fluxes and only 10 % was transmitted towards the ground ice table. However, early snowmelt and droughts make these permafrost landforms vulnerable to climate warming.
Jari-Pekka Nousu, Matthieu Lafaysse, Giulia Mazzotti, Pertti Ala-aho, Hannu Marttila, Bertrand Cluzet, Mika Aurela, Annalea Lohila, Pasi Kolari, Aaron Boone, Mathieu Fructus, and Samuli Launiainen
The Cryosphere, 18, 231–263, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-231-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-231-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The snowpack has a major impact on the land surface energy budget. Accurate simulation of the snowpack energy budget is difficult, and studies that evaluate models against energy budget observations are rare. We compared predictions from well-known models with observations of energy budgets, snow depths and soil temperatures in Finland. Our study identified contrasting strengths and limitations for the models. These results can be used for choosing the right models depending on the use cases.
Christina Draeger, Valentina Radić, Rachel H. White, and Mekdes Ayalew Tessema
The Cryosphere, 18, 17–42, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-17-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-17-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our study increases our confidence in using reanalysis data for reconstructions of past glacier melt and in using dynamical downscaling for long-term simulations from global climate models to project glacier melt. We find that the surface energy balance model, forced with reanalysis and dynamically downscaled reanalysis data, yields <10 % difference in the modeled total melt energy when compared to the same model being forced with observations at our glacier sites in western Canada.
Uta Krebs-Kanzow, Christian B. Rodehacke, and Gerrit Lohmann
The Cryosphere, 17, 5131–5136, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5131-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5131-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We compare components of the surface energy balance from two datasets, ERA5 and ERA-Interim, which can be used to estimate the surface mass balance (SMB) on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). ERA5 differs significantly from ERA-Interim, especially in the melt regions with lower temperatures and stronger shortwave radiation. Consequently, methods that previously estimated the GrIS SMB from ERA-Interim need to be carefully recalibrated before conversion to ERA5 forcing.
Marco Tedesco, Paolo Colosio, Xavier Fettweis, and Guido Cervone
The Cryosphere, 17, 5061–5074, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5061-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5061-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a technique to improve the outputs of a model that calculates the gain and loss of Greenland and consequently its contribution to sea level rise. Our technique generates “sharper” images of the maps generated by the model to better understand and quantify where losses occur. This has implications for improving models, understanding what drives the contributions of Greenland to sea level rise, and more.
Andri Gunnarsson, Sigurdur M. Gardarsson, and Finnur Pálsson
The Cryosphere, 17, 3955–3986, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3955-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3955-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A model was developed with the possibility of utilizing satellite-derived daily surface albedo driven by high-resolution climate data to estimate the surface energy balance (SEB) for all Icelandic glaciers for the period 2000–2021.
Franziska Temme, David Farías-Barahona, Thorsten Seehaus, Ricardo Jaña, Jorge Arigony-Neto, Inti Gonzalez, Anselm Arndt, Tobias Sauter, Christoph Schneider, and Johannes J. Fürst
The Cryosphere, 17, 2343–2365, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2343-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2343-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Calibration of surface mass balance (SMB) models on regional scales is challenging. We investigate different calibration strategies with the goal of achieving realistic simulations of the SMB in the Monte Sarmiento Massif, Tierra del Fuego. Our results show that the use of regional observations from satellite data can improve the model performance. Furthermore, we compare four melt models of different complexity to understand the benefit of increasing the processes considered in the model.
Yingzhen Zhou, Wei Li, Nan Chen, Yongzhen Fan, and Knut Stamnes
The Cryosphere, 17, 1053–1087, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1053-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1053-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a method to compute albedo (percentage of the light reflected) of the cryosphere surface using observations from optical satellite sensors. This method can be applied to sea ice, snow-covered ice, melt pond, open ocean, and mixtures thereof. Evaluation of the albedo values calculated using this approach demonstrated excellent agreement with observations. In addition, we have included a statistical comparison of the proposed method's results with those derived from other approaches.
Muhammad Fraz Ismail, Wolfgang Bogacki, Markus Disse, Michael Schäfer, and Lothar Kirschbauer
The Cryosphere, 17, 211–231, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-211-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-211-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Fresh water from mountainous catchments in the form of snowmelt and ice melt is of critical importance especially in the summer season for people living in these regions. In general, limited data availability is the core concern while modelling the snow and ice melt components from these mountainous catchments. This research will be helpful in selecting realistic parameter values (i.e. degree-day factor) while calibrating the temperature-index models for data-scarce regions.
Marlene Kronenberg, Ward van Pelt, Horst Machguth, Joel Fiddes, Martin Hoelzle, and Felix Pertziger
The Cryosphere, 16, 5001–5022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-5001-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-5001-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The Pamir Alay is located at the edge of regions with anomalous glacier mass changes. Unique long-term in situ data are available for Abramov Glacier, located in the Pamir Alay. In this study, we use this extraordinary data set in combination with reanalysis data and a coupled surface energy balance–multilayer subsurface model to compute and analyse the distributed climatic mass balance and firn evolution from 1968 to 2020.
Marte G. Hofsteenge, Nicolas J. Cullen, Carleen H. Reijmer, Michiel van den Broeke, Marwan Katurji, and John F. Orwin
The Cryosphere, 16, 5041–5059, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-5041-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-5041-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), foehn winds can impact glacial meltwater production and the fragile ecosystem that depends on it. We study these dry and warm winds at Joyce Glacier and show they are caused by a different mechanism than that found for nearby valleys, demonstrating the complex interaction of large-scale winds with the mountains in the MDV. We find that foehn winds increase sublimation of ice, increase heating from the atmosphere, and increase the occurrence and rates of melt.
Marin Kneib, Evan S. Miles, Pascal Buri, Stefan Fugger, Michael McCarthy, Thomas E. Shaw, Zhao Chuanxi, Martin Truffer, Matthew J. Westoby, Wei Yang, and Francesca Pellicciotti
The Cryosphere, 16, 4701–4725, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4701-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4701-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Ice cliffs are believed to be important contributors to the melt of debris-covered glaciers, but this has rarely been quantified as the cliffs can disappear or rapidly expand within a few weeks. We used photogrammetry techniques to quantify the weekly evolution and melt of four cliffs. We found that their behaviour and melt during the monsoon is strongly controlled by supraglacial debris, streams and ponds, thus providing valuable insights on the melt and evolution of debris-covered glaciers.
Luuk D. van der Valk, Adriaan J. Teuling, Luc Girod, Norbert Pirk, Robin Stoffer, and Chiel C. van Heerwaarden
The Cryosphere, 16, 4319–4341, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4319-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4319-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Most large-scale hydrological and climate models struggle to capture the spatially highly variable wind-driven melt of patchy snow cover. In the field, we find that 60 %–80 % of the total melt is wind driven at the upwind edge of a snow patch, while it does not contribute at the downwind edge. Our idealized simulations show that the variation is due to a patch-size-independent air-temperature reduction over snow patches and also allow us to study the role of wind-driven snowmelt on larger scales.
Alex West, Edward Blockley, and Matthew Collins
The Cryosphere, 16, 4013–4032, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4013-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4013-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we explore a method of examining model differences in ice volume by looking at the seasonal ice growth and melt. We use simple physical relationships to judge how model differences in key variables affect ice growth and melt and apply these to three case study models with ice volume ranging from very thin to very thick. Results suggest that differences in snow and melt pond cover in early summer are most important in causing the sea ice differences for these models.
Arindan Mandal, Thupstan Angchuk, Mohd Farooq Azam, Alagappan Ramanathan, Patrick Wagnon, Mohd Soheb, and Chetan Singh
The Cryosphere, 16, 3775–3799, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3775-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3775-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Snow sublimation is an important component of glacier surface mass balance; however, it is seldom studied in detail in the Himalayan region owing to data scarcity. We present an 11-year record of wintertime snow-surface energy balance and sublimation characteristics at the Chhota Shigri Glacier moraine site at 4863 m a.s.l. The estimated winter sublimation is 16 %–42 % of the winter snowfall at the study site, which signifies how sublimation is important in the Himalayan region.
Zachary Fair, Mark Flanner, Adam Schneider, and S. McKenzie Skiles
The Cryosphere, 16, 3801–3814, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3801-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3801-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Snow grain size is important to determine the age and structure of snow, but it is difficult to measure. Snow grain size can be found from airborne and spaceborne observations by measuring near-infrared energy reflected from snow. In this study, we use the SNICAR radiative transfer model and a Monte Carlo model to examine how snow grain size measurements change with snow structure and solar zenith angle. We show that improved understanding of these variables improves snow grain size precision.
Gauthier Vérin, Florent Domine, Marcel Babin, Ghislain Picard, and Laurent Arnaud
The Cryosphere, 16, 3431–3449, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3431-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3431-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Snow physical properties on Arctic sea ice are monitored during the melt season. As snow grains grow, and the snowpack thickness is reduced, the surface albedo decreases. The extra absorbed energy accelerates melting. Radiative transfer modeling shows that more radiation is then transmitted to the snow–sea-ice interface. A sharp increase in transmitted radiation takes place when the snowpack thins significantly, and this coincides with the initiation of the phytoplankton bloom in the seawater.
Jonathan P. Conway, Jakob Abermann, Liss M. Andreassen, Mohd Farooq Azam, Nicolas J. Cullen, Noel Fitzpatrick, Rianne H. Giesen, Kirsty Langley, Shelley MacDonell, Thomas Mölg, Valentina Radić, Carleen H. Reijmer, and Jean-Emmanuel Sicart
The Cryosphere, 16, 3331–3356, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3331-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3331-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We used data from automatic weather stations on 16 glaciers to show how clouds influence glacier melt in different climates around the world. We found surface melt was always more frequent when it was cloudy but was not universally faster or slower than under clear-sky conditions. Also, air temperature was related to clouds in opposite ways in different climates – warmer with clouds in cold climates and vice versa. These results will help us improve how we model past and future glacier melt.
Christophe Kinnard, Olivier Larouche, Michael N. Demuth, and Brian Menounos
The Cryosphere, 16, 3071–3099, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3071-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3071-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study implements a physically based, distributed glacier mass balance model in a context of sparse direct observations. Carefully constraining model parameters with ancillary data allowed for accurately reconstructing the mass balance of Saskatchewan Glacier over a 37-year period. We show that the mass balance sensitivity to warming is dominated by increased melting and that changes in glacier albedo and air humidity are the leading causes of increased glacier melt under warming scenarios.
Patrick Le Moigne, Eric Bazile, Anning Cheng, Emanuel Dutra, John M. Edwards, William Maurel, Irina Sandu, Olivier Traullé, Etienne Vignon, Ayrton Zadra, and Weizhong Zheng
The Cryosphere, 16, 2183–2202, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2183-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2183-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes an intercomparison of snow models, of varying complexity, used for numerical weather prediction or academic research. The results show that the simplest models are, under certain conditions, able to reproduce the surface temperature just as well as the most complex models. Moreover, the diversity of surface parameters of the models has a strong impact on the temporal variability of the components of the simulated surface energy balance.
Edward H. Bair, Jeff Dozier, Charles Stern, Adam LeWinter, Karl Rittger, Alexandria Savagian, Timbo Stillinger, and Robert E. Davis
The Cryosphere, 16, 1765–1778, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1765-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1765-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding how snow and ice reflect solar radiation (albedo) is important for global climate. Using high-resolution topography, darkening from surface roughness (apparent albedo) is separated from darkening by the composition of the snow (intrinsic albedo). Intrinsic albedo is usually greater than apparent albedo, especially during melt. Such high-resolution topography is often not available; thus the use of a shade component when modeling mixtures is advised.
Stefan Fugger, Catriona L. Fyffe, Simone Fatichi, Evan Miles, Michael McCarthy, Thomas E. Shaw, Baohong Ding, Wei Yang, Patrick Wagnon, Walter Immerzeel, Qiao Liu, and Francesca Pellicciotti
The Cryosphere, 16, 1631–1652, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1631-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1631-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The monsoon is important for the shrinking and growing of glaciers in the Himalaya during summer. We calculate the melt of seven glaciers in the region using a complex glacier melt model and weather data. We find that monsoonal weather affects glaciers that are covered with a layer of rocky debris and glaciers without such a layer in different ways. It is important to take so-called turbulent fluxes into account. This knowledge is vital for predicting the future of the Himalayan glaciers.
Noriaki Ohara, Benjamin M. Jones, Andrew D. Parsekian, Kenneth M. Hinkel, Katsu Yamatani, Mikhail Kanevskiy, Rodrigo C. Rangel, Amy L. Breen, and Helena Bergstedt
The Cryosphere, 16, 1247–1264, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1247-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1247-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
New variational principle suggests that a semi-ellipsoid talik shape (3D Stefan equation) is optimum for incoming energy. However, the lake bathymetry tends to be less ellipsoidal due to the ice-rich layers near the surface. Wind wave erosion is likely responsible for the elongation of lakes, while thaw subsidence slows the wave effect and stabilizes the thermokarst lakes. The derived 3D Stefan equation was compared to the field-observed talik thickness data using geophysical methods.
Chloe A. Whicker, Mark G. Flanner, Cheng Dang, Charles S. Zender, Joseph M. Cook, and Alex S. Gardner
The Cryosphere, 16, 1197–1220, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1197-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1197-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Snow and ice surfaces are important to the global climate. Current climate models use measurements to determine the reflectivity of ice. This model uses physical properties to determine the reflectivity of snow, ice, and darkly pigmented impurities that reside within the snow and ice. Therefore, the modeled reflectivity is more accurate for snow/ice columns under varying climate conditions. This model paves the way for improvements in the portrayal of snow and ice within global climate models.
Yi Zhao, Zhuotong Nan, Hailong Ji, and Lin Zhao
The Cryosphere, 16, 825–849, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-825-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-825-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Convective heat transfer (CHT) is important in affecting thermal regimes in permafrost regions. We quantified its thermal impacts by contrasting the simulation results from three scenarios in which the Simultaneous Heat and Water model includes full, partial, and no consideration of CHT. The results show the CHT commonly happens in shallow and middle soil depths during thawing periods and has greater impacts in spring than summer. The CHT has both heating and cooling effects on the active layer.
Alvaro Robledano, Ghislain Picard, Laurent Arnaud, Fanny Larue, and Inès Ollivier
The Cryosphere, 16, 559–579, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-559-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-559-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Topography controls the surface temperature of snow-covered, mountainous areas. We developed a modelling chain that uses ray-tracing methods to quantify the impact of a few topographic effects on snow surface temperature at high spatial resolution. Its large spatial and temporal variations are correctly simulated over a 50 km2 area in the French Alps, and our results show that excluding a single topographic effect results in cooling (or warming) effects on the order of 1 °C.
Maria Zeitz, Ronja Reese, Johanna Beckmann, Uta Krebs-Kanzow, and Ricarda Winkelmann
The Cryosphere, 15, 5739–5764, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5739-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5739-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
With the increasing melt of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which contributes to sea level rise, the surface of the ice darkens. The dark surfaces absorb more radiation and thus experience increased melt, resulting in the melt–albedo feedback. Using a simple surface melt model, we estimate that this positive feedback contributes to an additional 60 % ice loss in a high-warming scenario and additional 90 % ice loss for moderate warming. Albedo changes are important for Greenland’s future ice loss.
Annelies Voordendag, Marion Réveillet, Shelley MacDonell, and Stef Lhermitte
The Cryosphere, 15, 4241–4259, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4241-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4241-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The sensitivity of two snow models (SNOWPACK and SnowModel) to various parameterizations and atmospheric forcing biases is assessed in the semi-arid Andes of Chile in winter 2017. Models show that sublimation is a main driver of ablation and that its relative contribution to total ablation is highly sensitive to the selected albedo parameterization and snow roughness length. The forcing and parameterizations are more important than the model choice, despite differences in physical complexity.
Minghu Ding, Tong Zhang, Diyi Yang, Ian Allison, Tingfeng Dou, and Cunde Xiao
The Cryosphere, 15, 4201–4206, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4201-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4201-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Measurement of snow heat conductivity is essential to establish the energy balance between the atmosphere and firn, but it is still not clear in Antarctica. Here, we used data from three automatic weather stations located in different types of climate and evaluated nine schemes that were used to calculate the effective heat diffusivity of snow. The best solution was proposed. However, no conductivity–density relationship was optimal at all sites, and the performance of each varied with depth.
Louis Le Toumelin, Charles Amory, Vincent Favier, Christoph Kittel, Stefan Hofer, Xavier Fettweis, Hubert Gallée, and Vinay Kayetha
The Cryosphere, 15, 3595–3614, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3595-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3595-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Snow is frequently eroded from the surface by the wind in Adelie Land (Antarctica) and suspended in the lower atmosphere. By performing model simulations, we show firstly that suspended snow layers interact with incoming radiation similarly to a near-surface cloud. Secondly, suspended snow modifies the atmosphere's thermodynamic structure and energy exchanges with the surface. Our results suggest snow transport by the wind should be taken into account in future model studies over the region.
Enrico Mattea, Horst Machguth, Marlene Kronenberg, Ward van Pelt, Manuela Bassi, and Martin Hoelzle
The Cryosphere, 15, 3181–3205, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3181-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3181-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In our study we find that climate change is affecting the high-alpine Colle Gnifetti glacier (Swiss–Italian Alps) with an increase in melt amounts and ice temperatures.
In the near future this trend could threaten the viability of the oldest ice core record in the Alps.
To reach our conclusions, for the first time we used the meteorological data of the highest permanent weather station in Europe (Capanna Margherita, 4560 m), together with an advanced numeric simulation of the glacier.
John Mohd Wani, Renoj J. Thayyen, Chandra Shekhar Prasad Ojha, and Stephan Gruber
The Cryosphere, 15, 2273–2293, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2273-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2273-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We study the surface energy balance from a cold-arid permafrost environment in the Indian Himalayan region. The GEOtop model was used for the modelling of surface energy balance. Our results show that the variability in the turbulent heat fluxes is similar to that reported from the seasonally frozen ground and permafrost regions of the Tibetan Plateau. Further, the low relative humidity could be playing a critical role in the surface energy balance and the permafrost processes.
Uta Krebs-Kanzow, Paul Gierz, Christian B. Rodehacke, Shan Xu, Hu Yang, and Gerrit Lohmann
The Cryosphere, 15, 2295–2313, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2295-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2295-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The surface mass balance scheme dEBM (diurnal Energy Balance Model) provides a novel, computationally inexpensive interface between the atmosphere and land ice for Earth system modeling. The dEBM is particularly suitable for Earth system modeling on multi-millennial timescales as it accounts for changes in the Earth's orbit and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration.
Matthew G. Cooper, Laurence C. Smith, Asa K. Rennermalm, Marco Tedesco, Rohi Muthyala, Sasha Z. Leidman, Samiah E. Moustafa, and Jessica V. Fayne
The Cryosphere, 15, 1931–1953, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1931-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1931-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We measured sunlight transmitted into glacier ice to improve models of glacier ice melt and satellite measurements of glacier ice surfaces. We found that very small concentrations of impurities inside the ice increase absorption of sunlight, but the amount was small enough to enable an estimate of ice absorptivity. We confirmed earlier results that the absorption minimum is near 390 nm. We also found that a layer of highly reflective granular "white ice" near the surface reduces transmittance.
Einar Ólason, Pierre Rampal, and Véronique Dansereau
The Cryosphere, 15, 1053–1064, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1053-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1053-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We analyse the fractal properties observed in the pattern of the long, narrow openings that form in Arctic sea ice known as leads. We use statistical tools to explore the fractal properties of the lead fraction observed in satellite data and show that our sea-ice model neXtSIM displays the same behaviour. Building on this result we then show that the pattern of heat loss from ocean to atmosphere in the model displays similar fractal properties, stemming from the fractal properties of the leads.
Terhikki Manninen, Kati Anttila, Emmihenna Jääskeläinen, Aku Riihelä, Jouni Peltoniemi, Petri Räisänen, Panu Lahtinen, Niilo Siljamo, Laura Thölix, Outi Meinander, Anna Kontu, Hanne Suokanerva, Roberta Pirazzini, Juha Suomalainen, Teemu Hakala, Sanna Kaasalainen, Harri Kaartinen, Antero Kukko, Olivier Hautecoeur, and Jean-Louis Roujean
The Cryosphere, 15, 793–820, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-793-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-793-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The primary goal of this paper is to present a model of snow surface albedo (brightness) accounting for small-scale surface roughness effects. It can be combined with any volume scattering model. The results indicate that surface roughness may decrease the albedo by about 1–3 % in midwinter and even more than 10 % during the late melting season. The effect is largest for low solar zenith angle values and lower bulk snow albedo values.
Christian Katlein, Lovro Valcic, Simon Lambert-Girard, and Mario Hoppmann
The Cryosphere, 15, 183–198, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-183-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-183-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
To improve autonomous investigations of sea ice optical properties, we designed a chain of multispectral light sensors, providing autonomous in-ice light measurements. Here we describe the system and the data acquired from a first prototype deployment. We show that sideward-looking planar irradiance sensors basically measure scalar irradiance and demonstrate the use of this sensor chain to derive light transmittance and inherent optical properties of sea ice.
Baojuan Huai, Michiel R. van den Broeke, and Carleen H. Reijmer
The Cryosphere, 14, 4181–4199, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4181-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4181-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents the surface energy balance (SEB) of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) using a SEB model forced with observations from automatic weather stations (AWSs). We correlate ERA5 with AWSs to show a significant positive correlation of GrIS summer surface temperature and melt with the Greenland Blocking Index and weaker and opposite correlations with the North Atlantic Oscillation. This analysis may help explain melting patterns in the GrIS with respect to circulation anomalies.
Shawn J. Marshall and Kristina Miller
The Cryosphere, 14, 3249–3267, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3249-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3249-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Surface-albedo measurements from 2002 to 2017 from Haig Glacier in the Canadian Rockies provide no evidence of long-term trends (i.e., the glacier does not appear to be darkening), but there are large variations in albedo over the melt season and from year to year. The glacier ice is exceptionally dark in association with forest fire fallout but is effectively cleansed by meltwater or rainfall. Summer snowfall plays an important role in refreshing the glacier surface and reducing summer melt.
Marius Schaefer, Duilio Fonseca-Gallardo, David Farías-Barahona, and Gino Casassa
The Cryosphere, 14, 2545–2565, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2545-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2545-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Chile hosts glaciers in a large range of latitudes and climates. To project future ice extent, a sound quantification of the energy exchange between atmosphere and glaciers is needed. We present new data for six Chilean glaciers belonging to three glaciological zones. In the Central Andes, the main energy source for glacier melt is the incoming solar radiation, while in southern Patagonia heat provided by the mild and humid air is also important. Total melt rates are higher in Patagonia.
Pleun N. J. Bonekamp, Chiel C. van Heerwaarden, Jakob F. Steiner, and Walter W. Immerzeel
The Cryosphere, 14, 1611–1632, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Drivers controlling melt of debris-covered glaciers are largely unknown. With a 3D turbulence-resolving model the impact of surface properties of debris on micrometeorological variables and the conductive heat flux is shown. Also, we show ice cliffs are local melt hot spots and that turbulent fluxes and local heat advection amplify spatial heterogeneity on the surface.This work is important for glacier mass balance modelling and for the understanding of the evolution of debris-covered glaciers.
Alexandra Giese, Aaron Boone, Patrick Wagnon, and Robert Hawley
The Cryosphere, 14, 1555–1577, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1555-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1555-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Rocky debris on glacier surfaces is known to affect the melt of mountain glaciers. Debris can be dry or filled to varying extents with liquid water and ice; whether debris is dry, wet, and/or icy affects how efficiently heat is conducted through debris from its surface to the ice interface. Our paper presents a new energy balance model that simulates moisture phase, evolution, and location in debris. ISBA-DEB is applied to West Changri Nup glacier in Nepal to reveal important physical processes.
Eleanor A. Bash and Brian J. Moorman
The Cryosphere, 14, 549–563, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-549-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-549-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
High-resolution measurements from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery allowed for examination of glacier melt model performance in detail at Fountain Glacier. This work capitalized on distributed measurements at 10 cm resolution to look at the spatial distribution of model errors in the ablation zone. Although the model agreed with measurements on average, strong correlation was found with surface water. The results highlight the contribution of surface water flow to melt at this location.
Marion Réveillet, Shelley MacDonell, Simon Gascoin, Christophe Kinnard, Stef Lhermitte, and Nicole Schaffer
The Cryosphere, 14, 147–163, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-147-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-147-2020, 2020
Cheng Dang, Charles S. Zender, and Mark G. Flanner
The Cryosphere, 13, 2325–2343, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2325-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2325-2019, 2019
Tobias Linhardt, Joseph S. Levy, and Christoph K. Thomas
The Cryosphere, 13, 2203–2219, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2203-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2203-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents surface energy fluxes in an Antarctic polar desert in the summer season, comparing wetted soil at a water track with dominating dry soils. Elevated energy uptake, evaporation, and soil heat fluxes at the water track highlight the importance of wetted soils for water and energy cycling in polar deserts. This connection will grow more relevant, as wetted soils are expected to expand due to climate warming, with implications for landscape-scale hydrology and soil ecosystems.
Constantijn L. Jakobs, Carleen H. Reijmer, Peter Kuipers Munneke, Gert König-Langlo, and Michiel R. van den Broeke
The Cryosphere, 13, 1473–1485, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1473-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1473-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We use 24 years of observations at Neumayer Station, East Antarctica, to calculate the surface energy balance and the associated surface melt, which we find to be mainly driven by the absorption of solar radiation. Meltwater can refreeze in the subsurface snow layers, thereby decreasing the surface albedo and hence allowing for more absorption of solar radiation. By implementing an albedo parameterisation, we show that this feedback accounts for a threefold increase in surface melt at Neumayer.
Tingfeng Dou, Cunde Xiao, Jiping Liu, Wei Han, Zhiheng Du, Andrew R. Mahoney, Joshua Jones, and Hajo Eicken
The Cryosphere, 13, 1233–1246, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1233-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1233-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The variability and potential trends of rain-on-snow events over Arctic sea ice and their role in sea-ice losses are poorly understood. This study demonstrates that rain-on-snow events are a critical factor in initiating the onset of surface melt over Arctic sea ice, and onset of spring rainfall over sea ice has shifted to earlier dates since the 1970s, which may have profound impacts on ice melt through feedbacks involving earlier onset of surface melt.
Uta Krebs-Kanzow, Paul Gierz, and Gerrit Lohmann
The Cryosphere, 12, 3923–3930, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3923-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3923-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new surface melt scheme for land ice. Derived from the energy balance of melting surfaces, the scheme may be particularly suitable for long ice-sheet simulations of past and future climates. It is computationally inexpensive and can be adapted to changes in the Earth's orbit and atmospheric composition. The scheme yields a better spatial representation of surface melt than common empirical schemes when applied to the Greenland Ice Sheet under present-day climate conditions.
Jonathan D. Mackay, Nicholas E. Barrand, David M. Hannah, Stefan Krause, Christopher R. Jackson, Jez Everest, and Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir
The Cryosphere, 12, 2175–2210, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2175-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2175-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We apply a framework to compare and objectively accept or reject competing melt and run-off process models. We found no acceptable models. Furthermore, increasing model complexity does not guarantee better predictions. The results highlight model selection uncertainty and the need for rigorous frameworks to identify deficiencies in competing models. The application of this approach in the future will help to better quantify model prediction uncertainty and develop improved process models.
Cited articles
Alter, J. C.: Shielded storage precipitation gages, Mon. Weather Rev., 65, 262–265, 1937.
Anderson, E. A.: Development and testing of snow pack energy balance equations, Water Resour. Res., 4, 19–37, 1968.
Anderson, E. A.: A point of energy and mass balance model of snow cover, Tech. Rep. NWS 19, NOAA, Department of Commerce, 1976.
Andreas, E. L.: A relationship between the aerodynamic and physical roughness of winter sea ice, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 137, 1581–1588, 2011.
Avery, C. C., Dexter, L. R., Wier, R. R., Delinger, W. G., Tecle, A., and Becker, R. J.: Where has all the snow gone? Snowpack sublimation in northern Arizona, in: Proceedings of the 60th Western Snow Conference, 84–94, Colorado State University, Jackson Hole, WY, 1992.
Baker, D., Ruschy, D., and Wall, D.: The albedo decay of prairie snows, J. Appl. Meteorol., 29, 179–187, 1990.
Baldocchi, D. D., Hincks, B. B., and Meyers, T. P.: Measuring biosphere-atmosphere exchanges of biologically related gases with micrometeorological methods, Ecology, 69, 1331–1340, 1988.
Barry, R. G.: Mountain weather and climate, Psychology Press, Routledge, Boca Raton, Florida, 2nd edn., 1992.
Bengtsson, L.: Evaporation from a Snow Cover – Review and Discussion of Measurements, Nord. Hydrol., 11, 221–234, 1980.
Boudhar, A., Boulet, G., Hanich, L., Sicart, J. E., and Chehbouni, A.: Energy fluxes and melt rate of a seasonal snow cover in the Moroccan High Atlas, Hydrolog Sci. J., 61, 931–943, 2016.
Braithwaite, R.: Aerodynamics stability and turbulent sensible-heat flux over a melting ice surface, the Greenland ice sheet, J. Glaciol., 41, 562–571, 1995.
Brun, E., Yang, Z., Essery, R., and Cohen, J.: Snow-cover parameterization and modeling, in: Snow and climate: physical processes, surface energy exchange and modeling, edited by: Armstrong, R. L. and Brun, E., 125–180, Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Calanca, P.: A note on the roughness length for temperature over melting snow and ice, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 127, 255–260, 2001.
Cline, D., Elder, K., and Bales, R.: Scale effects in a distributed snow water equivalence and snowmelt model for mountain basins, Hydrol. Process., 12, 1527–1536, 1998.
Cline, D. W.: Snow surface energy exchanges and snowmelt at a continental, midlatitude Alpine site, Water Resour. Res., 33, 689–701, 1997.
Colbeck, S.: An overview of seasonal snow metamorphism, Rev. Geophys., 20, 45–61, 1982.
Datt, P., Srivastava, P., Sood, G., and Satyawali, P.: Estimation of equivalent permeability of snowpack using a snowmelt lysimeter at Patsio, northwest Himalaya, Ann. Glaciol., 51, 195–199, 2010.
Dingman, S.: Physical hydrology, Prentice Hall, Upper Addle River, New Jersey, 2nd edn., 646 pp., 2002.
Dionisio, M. Á., Alcaraz-Segura, D., and Cabello, J.: Satellite-based monitoring of ecosystem functioning in protected areas: recent trends in the oak forests (quercus pyrenaica willd.) of Sierra Nevada (Spain), in: International Perspectives on Global Environmental Change, edited by: Young, S. S. and Silvern, S. E., 355–374, InTech, available at: http://www.intechopen.com/books/international-perspectives-on-global-environmental-change (last access: 3 December 2016), 2012.
Doty, R. D. and Johnston, R. S.: Comparison of gravimetric measurements and mass transfer computations of snow evaporation beneath selected vegetation canopies, in: Proceedings of the 37th Western Snow Conference, 57–62, Salt Lake City, UT, 1969.
Earman, S., Campbell, A. R., Phillips, F. M., and Newman, B. D.: Isotopic exchange between snow and atmospheric water vapor: Estimation of the snowmelt component of groundwater recharge in the southwestern United States, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 111, D09302, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JD006470, 2006.
Essery, R., Li, L., and Pomeroy, J.: A distributed model of blowing snow over complex terrain, Hydrol. Process., 13, 2423–2438, 1999.
Eugster, W. and Merbold, L.: Eddy covariance for quantifying trace gas fluxes from soils, SOIL, 1, 187–205, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-187-2015, 2015.
Fassnacht, S.: Estimating Alter-shielded gauge snowfall undercatch, snowpack sublimation, and blowing snow transport at six sites in the coterminous USA, Hydrol. Process., 18, 3481–3492, 2004.
Feick, S., Kronholm, K., and Schweizer, J.: Field observations on spatial variability of surface hoar at the basin scale, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 112, F02002, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JF000587, 2007.
Föhn, P.: Short-term snow melt and ablation derived from heat-and mass-balance measurements, J. Glaciol., 12, 275–289, 1973.
Froyland, H. K.: Snow loss on the San Francisco peaks: Effects of an elevation gradient on evapo-sublimation, Ph.D. thesis, Northern Arizona University, 2013.
Froyland, H. K., Untersteiner, N., Town, M. S., and Warren, S. G.: Evaporation from Arctic sea ice in summer during the International Geophysical Year, 1957–1958, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 115, D15104, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012769, 2010.
Garstka, W.: Snow and snow survey, in: Handbook of Applied Hydrology, edited by: Chow, V., 10.10–10.12, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1964.
Gray, D. and Prowse, T.: Snow and floating ice, in: Handbook of Hydrology, edited by: Maidment, D., 7.1–7.58, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1993.
Hachikubo, A.: Numerical modelling of sublimation on snow and comparison with field measurements, Ann. Glaciol., 32, 27–32, 2001.
Hall, D. K., Riggs, G. A., Salomonson, V. V., DiGirolamo, N. E., and Bayr, K. J.: MODIS snow-cover products, Remote Sens. Environ., 83, 181–194, 2002.
Herrero, J.: Modelo fisico de acumulacion y fusion de la nieve, Aplicacion en Sierra Nevada (Espana), Ph.D. thesis, University of Granada, available at: http://www.ugr.es/~herrero (last access: April 2016), 2007.
Herrero, J. and Polo, M. J.: Parameterization of atmospheric longwave emissivity in a mountainous site for all sky conditions, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 3139–3147, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3139-2012, 2012.
Herrero, J., Polo, M., Moñino, A., and Losada, M.: An energy balance snowmelt model in a Mediterranean site, J. Hydrol., 371, 98–107, 2009.
Herrero, J., Polo, M. J., Pimentel, R., and Pérez-Palazón, M. J.: Meteorology and snow depth at Refugio Poqueira (Sierra Nevada, Spain) at 2510 m, 2008–2015, PANGEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.867303 2016.
Hock, R.: Glacier melt: a review of processes and their modelling, Prog. Phys. Geogr., 29, 362–391, 2005.
Hood, E., Williams, M., and Cline, D.: Sublimation from a seasonal snowpack at a continental, mid-latitude alpine site, Hydrol. Process., 13, 1781–1797, 1999.
Jackson, S. I. and Prowse, T. D.: Spatial variation of snowmelt and sublimation in a high-elevation semi-desert basin of western Canada, Hydrol. Process., 23, 2611–2627, 2009.
Johnson, J. B. and Marks, D.: The detection and correction of snow water equivalent pressure sensor errors, Hydrol. Process., 18, 3513–3525, 2004.
Jordan, R.: A one-dimensional temperature model for a snow cover: Technical documentation for SNTHERM.89, Tech. Rep. CRREL-SR-91-16, Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH, 1991.
Jordan, R. E., Andreas, E. L., and Makshtas, A. P.: Heat budget of snow-covered sea ice at North Pole 4, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 104, 7785–7806, 1999.
Kaser, G.: Measurement of evaporation from snow, Arch. Meteor. Geophy. B, 30, 333–340, 1982.
Kattelmann, R.: Snowmelt lysimeters in the evaluation of snowmelt models, Ann. Glaciol., 31, 406–410, 2000.
King, J. C., Pomeroy, J. W., Gray, D. M., Fierz, C., Fohn, P. M. B., Harding, R. J., Jordan, R. E., Martin, E., and Plüss, C.: Snow-atmosphere energy and mass balance, in: Snow and climate: physical processes, surface energy exchange and modeling, edited by: Armstrong, R. L. and Brun, E., 70–124, Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Knowles, J. F., Burns, S. P., Blanken, P. D., and Monson, R. K.: Fluxes of energy, water, and carbon dioxide from mountain ecosystems at Niwot Ridge, Colorado, Plant Ecol. Divers., 8, 663–676, 2015.
Koivusalo, H. and Kokkonen, T.: Snow processes in a forest clearing and in a coniferous forest, J. Hydrol., 262, 145–164, 2002.
Kuusisto, E.: The energy balance of a melting snow cover in different environments, in: Modelling Snowmelt-Induced Processes. Proceedings of the Budapest symposium, IAHS Publ. no. 155, 37–45, IAHS, Wallingford, UK, Budapest, 1986.
Lemmelä, R. and Kuusisto, E.: Evaporation-condensation and snowmelt measurements in Finland, Nord. Hydrol., 5, 64–74, 1974.
Leydecker, A. and Melack, J.: Evaporation from snow in the central Sierra Nevada of California, Nord. Hydrol., 30, 81–108, 1999.
Leydecker, A. and Melack, J.: Estimating evaporation in seasonally snow-covered catchments in the Sierra Nevada, California, J. Hydrol., 236, 121–138, 2000.
Lundberg, A.: Evaporation of intercepted snow – review of existing and new measurement methods, J. Hydrol., 151, 267–290, 1993.
López-Moreno, J. I., Pomeroy, J. W., Revuelto, J., and Vicente-Serrano, S. M.: Response of snow processes to climate change: spatial variability in a small basin in the Spanish Pyrenees, Hydrol. Process., 27, 2637–2650, 2013.
Magnusson, J., Wever, N., Essery, R., Helbig, N., Winstral, A., and Jonas, T.: Evaluating snow models with varying process representations for hydrological applications, Water Resour. Res., 51, 2707–2723, 2015.
Marks, D. and Dozier, J.: Climate and energy exchange at the snow surface in the Alpine Region of the Sierra Nevada: 2. Snow cover energy balance, Water Resour. Res., 28, 3043–3054, 1992.
Marks, D., Winstral, A., Flerchinger, G., Reba, M., Pomeroy, J., Link, T., and Elder, K.: Comparing simulated and measured sensible and latent heat fluxes over snow under a pine canopy to improve an energy balance snowmelt model, J. Hydrometeorol., 9, 1506–1522, 2008.
Martin, E. and Lejeune, Y.: Turbulent fluxes above the snow surface, Ann. Glaciol., 26, 179–183, 1998.
Mellor, M.: Snow and Ice on the Earth's Surface, US Army, Corps of Engineers, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, 1964.
Molotch, N. P. and Margulis, S. A.: Estimating the distribution of snow water equivalent using remotely sensed snow cover data and a spatially distributed snowmelt model: A multi-resolution, multi-sensor comparison, Adv. Water Resour., 31, 1503–1514, 2008.
Molotch, N. P., Blanken, P. D., Williams, M. W., Turnipseed, A. A., Monson, R. K., and Margulis, S. A.: Estimating sublimation of intercepted and sub-canopy snow using eddy covariance systems, Hydrol. Process., 21, 1567–1575, 2007.
Morris, E.: Turbulent transfer over snow and ice, J. Hydrol., 105, 205–223, 1989.
Oke, T.: Boundary layer climates, 2nd ed., Methuen, New York, 435 pp., 1987.
Pérez-Palazón, M. J., Pimentel, R., Herrero, J., Aguilar, C., Perales, J. M., and Polo, M. J.: Extreme values of snow-related variables in Mediterranean regions: trends and long-term forecasting in Sierra Nevada (Spain), in: Proc. IAHS, 369, 157–162, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-369-157-2015, 2015.
Pimentel, R., Herrero, J., and Polo, M. J.: Estimating snow albedo patterns in a Mediterranean site from Landsat TM and ETM+ images, in: Proc. SPIE 8887, Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Hydrology XV, 88870L, 2013.
Pimentel, R., Herrero, J., Zeng, Y., Su, Z., and Polo, M. J.: Study of snow dynamics at subgrid scale in semiarid environments combining terrestrial photography and data assimilation techniques, J. Hydrometeorol., 16, 563–578, 2015.
Plüss, C. and Mazzoni, R.: The role of turbulent heat fluxes in the energy balance of high alpine snow cover, Nord. Hydrol., 25, 25–38, 1994.
Pomeroy, J. and Essery, R.: Turbulent fluxes during blowing snow: field tests of model sublimation predictions, Hydrol. Process., 13, 2963–2975, 1999.
Price, A. and Dunne, T.: Energy balance computations of snowmelt in a subarctic area, Water Resour. Res., 12, 686–694, 1976.
Radionov, V. F., Bryazgin, N. N., and Alexandrov, E. I.: The Snow Cover of the Arctic Basin, Tech. Rep. APL-UW 9701, Appl. Phys. Lab. University of Washington, Seattle, 1997.
Reba, M. L., Link, T. E., Marks, D., and Pomeroy, J.: An assessment of corrections for eddy covariance measured turbulent fluxes over snow in mountain environments, Water Resour. Res., 45, W00D38, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR007045, 2009.
Reverter, B., Sánchez-Cañete, E., Resco, V., Serrano-Ortiz, P., Oyonarte, C., and Kowalski, A. S.: Analyzing the major drivers of NEE in a Mediterranean alpine shrubland, Biogeosciences, 7, 2601–2611, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-2601-2010, 2010.
Sade, R., Rimmer, A., Litaor, M. I., Shamir, E., and Furman, A.: Snow surface energy and mass balance in a warm temperate climate mountain, J. Hydrol., 519, 848–862, 2014.
Schmidt, R., Troendle, C., and Meiman, J.: Sublimation of snowpacks in subalpine conifer forests, Can. J. Forest Res., 28, 501–513, 1998.
Schulz, O. and de Jong, C.: Snowmelt and sublimation: field experiments and modelling in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sc., 8, 1076–1089, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-8-1076-2004, 2004.
Shaban, A., Faour, G., Khawlie, M., and Abdallah, C.: Remote sensing application to estimate the volume of water in the form of snow on Mount Lebanon, Hydrolog. Sci. J., 49, 643–653, 2004.
Strasser, U., Bernhardt, M., Weber, M., Liston, G. E., and Mauser, W.: Is snow sublimation important in the alpine water balance?, The Cryosphere, 2, 53–66, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2-53-2008, 2008.
Stull, R. B.: Meteorology for scientists and engineers (2nd edition), Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 502 pp., 2000.
Suzuki, K., Ohta, T., Kojima, A., and Hashimoto, T.: Variations in snowmelt energy and energy balance characteristics with larch forest density on Mt. Iwate, Japan: observations and energy balance analyses, Hydrol. Process., 13, 2675–2688, 1999.
Tarboton, D. G. and Luce, C. H.: Utah energy balance snow accumulation and melt model (UEB), Utah Water Research Laboratory, 64 pp., 1996.
Tekeli, A. E., Sorman, A. A., Sensoy, A., Sorman, A. U., Bonta, J., and Schaefer, G.: Snowmelt lysimeters for real-time snowmelt studies in Turkey, Turk. J. Eng. Environ. Sci., 29, 29–40, 2005.
Valeo, C., Skone, S., Ho, C., Poon, S., and Shrestha, S.: Estimating snow evaporation with GPS derived precipitable water vapour, J. Hydrol., 307, 196–203, 2005.
Vuille, M.: Zur raumzeitlichen Dynamik von Schneefall und Ausaperung im Bereich des südlichen Altiplano, Südamerika, Tech. Rep. Geographica Bernensia G 45, Verlag des Geographischen Institutes der Universität Bern, 117 pp., 1996.
Short summary
We present 7 years of field work and modelling to assess the importance of the loss of water from the snow by means of evaposublimation in the Mediterranean mountains of Sierra Nevada. The actual evaposublimation rates were detected through detailed measurement of the mass fluxes from the snow. These data have led to some improvements in the modelling of the snow dynamics in this kind of mountainous semiarid regions. Evaposublimation is estimated to range 24–33% of total annual snowfall.
We present 7 years of field work and modelling to assess the importance of the loss of water...
