A simulation of a large-scale drifting snowstorm  in the turbulent boundary layer

Wang, Zhengshi; Jia, Shuming

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3841-2018

Articles | Volume 12, issue 12

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3841-2018

© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3841-2018

© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 12, issue 12

Research article

|

10 Dec 2018

Research article |

| 10 Dec 2018

A simulation of a large-scale drifting snowstorm in the turbulent boundary layer

Zhengshi Wang and Shuming Jia

Data sets

The Advanced Regional Prediction System~(ARPS) -- A multi-scale nonhydrostatic atmospheric simulation and prediction tool. Part II: Model physics and applications M. Xue, K. K., Droegemeier, V. Wong, A. Shapiro, K. Brewster, F. Carr, D. Weber, Y. Liu, and D. Wang https://doi.org/10.1007/s007030170027

Short summary

Drifting snowstorms that are hundreds of meters in depth are reproduced using a large-eddy simulation model combined with a Lagrangian particle tracking method, which also exhibits obvious spatial structures following large-scale turbulent vortexes. The horizontal snow transport flux at high altitude, previously not observed, actually occupies a significant proportion of the total flux. Thus, previous models may largely underestimate the total mass flux and consequently snow sublimation.