Computer simulation of the snowmelt and soil thermal regime at Barrow, Alaska

Abstract

An annual snow‐soil simulator for arctic tundra was developed by using coupled models of surface equilibrium temperature and substrate thermal diffusion. Snow ripening, melt, and accumulation are modeled in the simulator which is forced with daily weather data. The simulator predicts that a snow fence array capable of producing drift deeper than 4.2 m will initiate permanent snowfield at Barrow, Alaska. Such a man‐induced snowfield could serve as a reliable source of freshwater for Barrow and similar villages in the north slope region of Alaska. Further analysis indicated that albedo reduction due to dust fall, snow removal, etc., is dominant over aerodynamic effects in producing the early spring meltout observed at Barrow Village.

Estimates of Climate Change Impact on River Discharge in Japan Based on a Super-High-Resolution Climate Model

“…Soil and snow temperature profiles were calculated using the thermal conductive model developed by Outcalt et al (1975) and Fukuda and Ishizaki (1980) to obtain the values of soil and snow heat flux, G (W m -2 ). The soil layer and snow pack were subdivided at 0.01-m intervals.…”

Analysis of long‐term water balance in the source area of the Yellow River basin

“…Snow density was set at 100 kg m 3 . Soil and snow temperature profiles were calculated using the thermal conductive model developed by Outcalt et al (1975) and Fukuda and Ishizaki (1980) to obtain the values of soil and snow heat flux, G (W m 2 ). The value of G at 0Ð01 m beneath the land surface was calculated as:…”

Permafrost hydrology in North America1

“…The energy balance approach has often been used to study snowmelt in permafrost areas (Outcalt et al, 1975;Price and Dunne, 1976;Weiler and Holmgren, 1974;. Simple empirical approaches such as the temperature index method have been attempted (James and Vieira-Ribeiro, 1975;Woo, 1976).…”