Numerical simulation of drifting snow sublimation in the saltation layer

Dai, Xiaoqing; Huang, Ning

doi:10.1038/srep06611

Cited by 27 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…This phenomenon occurs approximatively on 70 % of the Antarctic continent during winter (Palm et al, 2011). In addition, drifting and blowing snow sublimation contributes substantially to SMB (Kodama et al, 1985;Takahashi et al, 1992;Thiery et al, 2012;Dai and Huang, 2014). This process can even be more effective to remove mass than surface sublimation (van den Broeke et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blowing snow detection from ground-based ceilometers: application to East Antarctica

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Blowing snow impacts Antarctic ice sheet surface mass balance by snow redistribution and sublimation. However, numerical models poorly represent blowing snow processes, while direct observations are limited in space and time. Satellite retrieval of blowing snow is hindered by clouds and only the strongest events are considered. Here, we develop a blowing snow detection (BSD) algorithm for ground-based remote-sensing ceilometers in polar regions and apply it to ceilometers at Neumayer III and Princess Elisabeth (PE) stations, East Antarctica. The algorithm is able to detect (heavy) blowing snow layers reaching 30 m height. Results show that 78 % of the detected events are in agreement with visual observations at Neumayer III station. The BSD algorithm detects heavy blowing snow 36 % of the time at Neumayer (2011Neumayer ( -2015 and 13 % at PE station (2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016). Blowing snow occurrence peaks during the austral winter and shows around 5 % interannual variability. The BSD algorithm is capable of detecting blowing snow both lifted from the ground and occurring during precipitation, which is an added value since results indicate that 92 % of the blowing snow is during synoptic events, often combined with precipitation. Analysis of atmospheric meteorological variables shows that blowing snow occurrence strongly depends on fresh snow availability in addition to wind speed. This finding challenges the commonly used parametrizations, where the threshold for snow particles to be lifted is a function of wind speed only. Blowing snow occurs predominantly during storms and overcast conditions, shortly after precipitation events, and can reach up to 1300 m a.g.l. in the case of heavy mixed events (precipitation and blowing snow together). These results suggest that synoptic conditions play an important role in generating blowing snow events and that fresh snow availability should be considered in determining the blowing snow onset.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blowing snow detection from ground-based ceilometers: application to East Antarctica

et al. 2017

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“…Mass loss in the saltation layer is hard to measure and is neglected based on the justification that the saltation layer is saturated. However, recent studies using high-resolution large-eddy simulations (Dai and Huang, 2014) show that sublimation losses in the saltation layer are not negligible, particularly for wind speeds close to the threshold 10 velocities for aeolian transport, wherein a majority of aeolian snow transport occurs via saltation rather than suspension.…”

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confidence: 99%

On the suitability of the Thorpe-Mason model for Calculating Sublimation of Saltating Snow

Sharma¹,

Comola²,

Lehning³

2018

Preprint

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Abstract. The Thorpe and Mason (TM) model for calculating the mass lost from a sublimating snow grain is the basis of all existing small and large-scale estimates of drifting snow sublimation and the associated snow mass balance of polar and alpine regions. We revisit this model to test its validity for calculating sublimation from saltating snow grains. It is shown that numerical solutions of the unsteady mass and heat balance equations of an individual snow grain reconcile well with the steady-state solution of the TM model, albeit after a transient regime. Using large-eddy simulations (LES), it is found that the 5 residence time of a typical saltating particle is shorter than the period of the transient regime, implying that using the steady state solution might be erroneous. For scenarios with equal air and surface temperatures, these errors range from 26% for low-wind low-saturation conditions to 38% for high-wind high-saturation conditions. With a small temperature perturbation of 1 K between the air and the snow surface, the errors due to the TM model are already as high as 100% with errors increasing for larger temperature perturbations.

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“…Several studies investigated sublimation of drifting snow particles either by modeling (e.g., Dery et al, 1998;Liston and Sturm, 1998;Dery and Yau, 1999;Bintanja, 2001;Groot Zwaaftink et al, 2011, 2013Dai and Huang, 2014) or in experiments (Schmidt, 1982;Neumann et al, 2008Neumann et al, , 2009Wever et al, 2009). These studies, however, focused on sublimation of solid ice particles but did not examine the phase transition between liquid and solid also involved in the process of snow production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Losses During Technical Snow Production: Results From Field Experiments

Grünewald¹,

Wolfsperger²

2019

Front. Earth Sci.

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Alpine as well as Nordic skiing tourism strongly depend on the production of machinemade snow for the timely opening of the winter season. However, it is likely that sublimation, evaporation, wind drift, and the discharge of unfrozen water to the ground will result in the loss of significant parts of the water used. The relation between these water losses and the ambient meteorological conditions is poorly understood. We present results from a series of 12 detailed snow-making field tests performed in a ski resort near Davos, Switzerland. Water inflows, measured at the snow machine, are related to the mass of snow deposited on the ground. Snow amounts are calculated from accumulated volumes, measured with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), and manually sampled snow densities. Additionally, samples of liquid water contents (LWCs) of the produced snow are presented. We find that 7 to 35 ± 7% (mean 21%) of the consumed water was lost during snow-making and that the loss is strongly related to the ambient meteorological conditions. Linear regression analysis shows that water losses increase with air temperature (TA). Combining our data with observations from earlier field measurements shows similar correlations.

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Numerical simulation of drifting snow sublimation in the saltation layer

Cited by 27 publications

References 32 publications

Blowing snow detection from ground-based ceilometers: application to East Antarctica

Blowing snow detection from ground-based ceilometers: application to East Antarctica

On the suitability of the Thorpe-Mason model for Calculating Sublimation of Saltating Snow

Water Losses During Technical Snow Production: Results From Field Experiments

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