A study of snow metamorphism: I Model description

Abstract

A one dimensional model has been developed to simulate all-around snow metamorphism using meteorological data. This model takes into account the heat balance at snow surface and the heat conduction in snow as well as the liquid water flow and the densification, and calculates time series of profiles of temperature, liquid water content, snow density and solid impurities density. Improvements were made on parameterization of the compactive viscosity coefficient of wet snow and the thermal conductivity. Albedo decrease by impurities and liquid water in snow was considered for albedo parameterization.