Articles | Volume 20, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3483-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3483-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Thermohydraulic experiments on water infiltration into frozen slopes: the role of macropores and initial water content
Julian Bauer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Mountain River Research Group, Institute for Hydroscience, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85579 Neubiberg, Germany
Sebastian Müller
Institute for Hydroscience, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85579 Neubiberg, Germany
Thomas Heinze
Dept. of Hydrogeology & Environmental Geology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
Homa Khanahmadi Bafghi
Dept. of Hydrogeology & Environmental Geology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
Ivo Baselt
Mountain River Research Group, Institute for Hydroscience, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85579 Neubiberg, Germany
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When water infiltrates into a snowpack, it alters the thermal state of the system. This work presents a first-of-its-kind multi-phase heat transfer model for local thermal non-equilibrium scenarios of water infiltration into an existing snowpack, such as during rain-on-snow events. The model can be used to calculate the formation of ice layers, as well as partial melting of the snow. Hence, it can support hazard assessment for flash floods and snow avalanches.
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Short summary
We studied how rainwater infiltrates into frozen slopes. Using large experiments on an artificial soil slope, we found that larger channels, so-called macropores, first speed up infiltration, but later refreeze and block the flow. These results explain when frozen slopes absorb or shed rainwater and help improve predictions of runoff and slope stability in cold regions.
We studied how rainwater infiltrates into frozen slopes. Using large experiments on an...