The Thermodynamic Effects of Sublimating, Blowing Snow in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

A seasonal snowcover blankets much of Canada during wintertime. In such an environment, the frequency of blowing snow events is relatively high and can have important meteorological and hydrological impacts. Apart from the transport of snow, the thermodynamic impact of sublimating blowing snow in air near the surface can be investigated. Using a time or fetch-dependent blowing snow model named 'PIEKTUK' that incorporates prognostic equations for a spectrum of sublimating snow particles, plus temperature and humidity distributions, it is found that the sublimation of blowing snow can lead to temperature decreases of the order of 0.5 °C and significant water vapour increases in the near-surface air. Typical predicted snow removal rates due to sublimation of blowing snow are several millimetres snow water equivalent per day over open Arctic tundra conditions. The model forecast sublimation rates are most sensitive to humidity, as well as wind speed, temperature and particle distributions, with a maximum value in sublimation typically found approximately 1 km downstream from blowing snow initiation. This suggests that the sublimation process is self-limiting despite ongoing transport of snow by wind, yielding significantly lower values of blowing snow sublimation rates (nearly two-thirds less) compared to situations where the thermodynamic feedbacks are neglected. The PIEKTUK model may provide the necessary thermodynamic inputs or blowing snow parameterizations for mesoscale models, allowing the assessment of the contribution of blowing snow fluxes, in more complex situations, to the moisture budgets of high-latitude regions.     

An Intercomparison Among Four Models Of Blowing Snow

Four one-dimensional, time-dependent blowing snow models areintercompared. These include three spectral models, PIEKTUK-T,WINDBLAST, SNOWSTORM, and the bulk version of PIEKTUK-T,PIEKTUK-B. Although the four models are based on common physicalconcepts, they have been developed by different research groups. Thestructure of the models, numerical methods, meteorological field treatmentand the parameterization schemes may be different. Under an agreed standardcondition, the four models generally give similar results for the thermodynamic effects of blowing snow sublimation on the atmospheric boundary layer, including an increase of relative humidity and a decrease of the ambient temperature due to blowing snow sublimation. Relative humidity predicted by SNOWSTORM is lower than the predictions of the other models, which leads to a larger sublimation rate in SNOWSTORM. All four models demonstrate that sublimation rates in a column of blowing snow have a single maximum in time, illustrating self-limitation of the sublimation process of blowing snow. However, estimation of the eddy diffusioncoefficient for momentum (K_m), and thereby the diffusion coefficients for moisture (K_w) and for heat (K_h), has a significant influence on the process. Sensitivitytests with PIEKTUK-T show that the sublimation rate can be approximately constant with time after an initial phase, if K_m is a linear function with height. In order to match the model results with blowing snow observations, some parameters in the standard run, such as settling velocity of blowing snow particles in these models, may need to be changed to more practical values.     

A New Triple-Moment Blowing Snow Model

This paper presents a new triple-moment blowing snow model PIEKTUK-T by including predictive equations for three moments of the gamma size distribution. Specifically, predictive equations for the total number concentration, total mass mixing ratio, and total radar reflectivity for blowing snow are included. Tests in the context of idealized experiments and observed case studies demonstrate that the triple-moment model performs better than the double-moment model PIEKTUK-D in predicting the evolution of the number concentration, mixing ratio, shape parameter, and visibility in blowing snow, provided that the fall velocities for the total number concentration, mass mixing ratio, and radar reflectivity are weighted by the same order of the respective moments in both models. The power law relationship between the radar reflectivity factor and particle extinction coefficient found in PIEKTUK-T is consistent with one observed in snow storms. Coupling of the triple-moment blowing snow model to an atmospheric model would allow realistic studies of the effect of blowing snow on weather and climate.     

Transport of Snow by the Wind: A Comparison Between Observations in Ad��lie Land, Antarctica, and Simulations Made with the Regional Climate Model MAR

For the first time a simulation of blowing snow events was validated in detail using one-month long observations (January 2010) made in Adélie Land, Antarctica. A regional climate model featuring a coupled atmosphere/blowing snow/snowpack model is forced laterally by meteorological re-analyses. The vertical grid spacing was 2 m from 2 to 20 m above the surface and the horizontal grid spacing was 5?km. The simulation was validated by comparing the occurrence of blowing snow events and other meteorological parameters at two automatic weather stations. The Nash test allowed us to compute efficiencies of the simulation. The regional climate model simulated the observed wind speed with a positive efficiency (0.69). Wind speeds higher than 12 m s ^?1 were underestimated. Positive efficiency of the simulated wind speed was a prerequisite for validating the blowing snow model. Temperatures were simulated with a slightly negative efficiency (?0.16) due to overestimation of the amplitude of the diurnal cycle during one week, probably because the cloud cover was underestimated at that location during the period concerned. Snowfall events were correctly simulated by our model, as confirmed by field reports. Because observations suggested that our instrument (an acoustic sounder) tends to overestimate the blowing snow flux, data were not sufficiently accurate to allow the complete validation of snow drift values. However, the simulation of blowing snow occurrence was in good agreement with the observations made during the first 20 days of January 2010, despite the fact that the blowing snow flux may be underestimated by the regional climate model during pure blowing snow events. We found that blowing snow occurs in Adélie Land only when the 30-min wind speed value at 2 m a.g.l. is >10 m s ^?1. The validation for the last 10 days of January 2010 was less satisfactory because of complications introduced by surface melting and refreezing.     

Simulation Of Blowing Snow In The Canadian Arctic Using A Double-Moment Model

We describe in this paper the development of a double-moment modelof blowing snow and its application to the Canadian Arctic. Wefirst outline the formulation of the numerical model, whichsolves a prognostic equation for both the blowing snow mixingratio and total particle numbers, both moments of particles thatare gamma-distributed. Under idealized simulations, the modelyields realistic evolutions of the blowing snow particledistributions, transport and sublimation rates as well as the thermodynamic fields at low computational costs. A parametrizationof the blowing snow sublimation rate is subsequently derived. The model and parametrization are then applied to a Canadian Arctictundra site prone to frequent blowing snow events. Over a period of210 days during the winter of 1996/1997, the near-surfacerelative humidity consistently approaches saturationwith respect to ice. These conditions limit snowpack erosion byblowing snow sublimation to 3 mm snow water equivalent (swe)with surface sublimation removing an additional 7 mm swe.We find that our results are highly sensitiveto the proper assimilation of the humidity measurements and the evolving thermodynamic fields in the atmospheric boundary layer during blowingsnow. These factors may explain the lower values of blowing snow sublimationreported in this paper than previously published for the region.     

Blowing Snow Forecast Using Numerical Atmospheric Model Output Data

The object under study is the blowing snow, i.e., the transport of snow lifted from the snow surface. The method is described for predicting the blowing snow initiation using the output data of the WRF-ARW numerical atmospheric model. The skill scores are presented for the forecasts for January 2013 calculated from data of 10 stations of the Canadian weather observation network.     

Variations in Wind Speed and Air Temperature in the Surface Layer during Blowing Snow Analyzed from Empirical Data

Variations in wind speed and air temperature during blowing snow are considered in detail using data from the Canadian weather observation network with high spatiotemporal resolution. It is revealed that blowing snow considerably affects the lower atmospheric layer regime. The analysis of observational data illustrates the fact of wind speed increase during the snowstorm. The local minima of air temperature during the period of blowing snow are identified. The method is determined for calculating the threshold wind speed that provokes the onset of blowing snow. The highest skill scores were obtained for the method which takes into account air temperature and humidity.     

Extraordinary blowing snow transport events in East Antarctica

In the convergence slope/coastal areas of Antarctica, a large fraction of snow is continuously eroded and exported by wind to the atmosphere and into the ocean. Snow transport observations from instruments and satellite images were acquired at the wind convergence zone of Terra Nova Bay (East Antarctica) throughout 2006 and 2007. Snow transport features are well-distinguished in satellite images and can extend vertically up to 200 m as first-order quantitatively estimated by driftometer sensor FlowCapt?. Maximum snow transportation occurs in the fall and winter seasons. Snow transportation (drift/blowing) was recorded for ~80% of the time, and 20% of time recorded, the flux is >10^?2 kg m^?2 s^?1 with particle density increasing with height. Cumulative snow transportation is ~4 orders of magnitude higher than snow precipitation at the site. An increase in wind speed and transportation (~30%) was observed in 2007, which is in agreement with a reduction in observed snow accumulation. Extensive presence of ablation surface (blue ice and wind crust) upwind and downwind of the measurement site suggest that the combine processes of blowing snow sublimation and snow transport remove up to 50% of the precipitation in the coastal and slope convergence area. These phenomena represent a major negative effect on the snow accumulation, and they are not sufficiently taken into account in studies of surface mass balance. The observed wind-driven ablation explains the inconsistency between atmospheric model precipitation and measured snow accumulation value.     

The Electric Field During Blowing Snow Events

A model is proposed to determine the electric field strength in blowing snow. To test this model, the electric field strength was measured over an 80-day period during the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES) in 2004. The electric field strength at 0.5 m correlates well with the difference between 10-m wind speed and a threshold wind speed, although there is a large amount of variation between the electric fields generated during different blowing snow events. Although the model predicts that the electric field should be proportional to particle number density, the correlation is weak. The correlation of wind speed and electric field strength suggests that particles become charged primarily due to friction-induced temperature difference as they impact upon the surface. The strength of the electric field is likely influenced by a large number of other factors that are difficult to measure. However, the model predicts electric field strengths in excess of 25 kV m⁻¹ near the surface, which would have a significant effect on particle motion.     

Treatment of frozen soil and snow cover in the land surface model SEWAB

Summary  The land surface model SEWAB (Surface Energy and Water Balance) is designed to be coupled to both, atmospheric and hydrological models. Its application in mid and high latitudes requires the inclusion of freezing and thawing processes within the soil and the accumulation and ablation of a snow cover. These winter processes are parameterised with a minimum number of empirical formulations in order to assure reasonable computation times for an application in climate and sensitivity studies yet accounting for all important processes. Meteorological forcing data and measurements of snow depth, soil temperature and liquid soil water content at two locations in the mid-west of North America are used to test the model. Generally the simulated snow depth matches the measurements, remaining differences in snow depth can be explained by uncertainties in snow density, blowing snow and errors in precipitation measurements. The simulated soil temperature and liquid soil water content compare well with the measurements, showing the isolating effect of the snow cover. Received August 25, 2000 Revised January 19, 2001     

1981—2013年四川省视程障碍类天气现象分析

利用四川省1981—2013年雾、轻雾、吹雪、雪暴、烟幕、霾、沙尘暴、扬沙和浮尘9种视程障碍天气现象资料,对其发生日数、发生概率和分布特征进行统计。结果表明:(1)各天气现象发生日数排序为:轻雾>雾>浮尘>霾>烟幕>扬沙>沙尘暴>吹雪>雪暴。(2)轻雾和雾年发生日数为分别为176d/a和29d/a,日发生概率分别为48%和8%,远高出其他天气现象。(3)季节变化方面,雾和轻雾主要出现在秋季和冬季;霾、吹雪和雪暴集中出现在冬季;浮尘发生春季;扬沙多发生在冬季和春季;而沙尘暴、烟幕主要发生在春季和秋季。(4)变化趋势上轻雾基本保持平稳;烟幕呈增加趋势;而雾、霾、沙尘暴、扬沙和浮尘呈下降趋势。(5)大气层结稳定、水汽充足、风速较小、人口集中和排放量较大,易于盆地雾、轻雾、霾和烟幕的形成;不合理利用水和土地资源,北方地区沙尘天气随冷空气南下,是沙尘天气发生的重要原因;而吹雪和雪暴均发生在冬季降雪量大且风速较大的川西高原。     

The Effect of Coherent Structures in the Atmospheric Surface Layer on Blowing-Snow Transport

While turbulent bursts are considered critical for blowing-snow transport and initiation, the interaction of the airflow with the snow surface is not fully understood. To better characterize the coupling of turbulent structures and blowing-snow transport, observations collected in natural environments at the necessary high-resolution time scales are needed. To address this, high-frequency measurements of turbulence, blowing-snow density and particle velocity were made in the Canadian Rockies. During blowing-snow storms, modified variable-interval time averaging enabled identification of periods of near-surface blowing-snow coupling with shear-stress-producing motions in the lowest 2 m of the atmospheric surface layer. The identification of those turbulent motions responsible for blowing snow yields a better understanding of the event-driven mechanics of initiation and sustained transport. The type of coherent structures generating the Reynolds stress are just as important as the magnitude of the Reynolds stress in initiating and sustaining near-surface blowing snow. Our results suggest that blowing-snow models driven by merely the time-averaged shear stress lack physical realism in the near-surface region. The next phase of the development of blowing-snow models should incorporate parametrizations of coherent turbulent structures.     

A simple model for air/snow fractionation of aerosol components over the Antarctic Peninsula

A model has been set up to investigate the wet and dry aerosol removal processes which occur in clean air over the Antarctic Peninsula. Input for the model was obtained from bulk chemical analysis and scanning electron microscopy of aerosol and snow samples collected simultaneously at remote sites around the Peninsula. The model predicts that sulphate and sea-salt aerosol will be removed mainly in-cloud by riming of falling snow and ice crystals. Crustal aerosol is principally removed by acting as nuclei for these crystals and by impaction on falling snow. For the largest, locally-generated aerosol dry deposition is indicated as the major removal process. These findings suggest a possible mechanism for the observed air/snow fractionation.     

The extension of a density current model of katabatic winds to include the effects of blowing snow and sublimation

A density current model was extended for use in katabatic flow over the steep slopes of Antarctica through the inclusion of the Coriolis effect and weight flux terms corresponding to blowing snow and cooling caused by sublimation. The model was calibrated and tested against data obtained during two flights in Adelie Land, Antarctica, along a trajectory starting about 170 km inland and extending to Dumont d'Urville. The predicted trend in water vapor flux agrees with measurements of this flux, lending support to empirical formulae for both snow flux and sublimation rate. Model predictions of velocity were in good agreement with measured quantities when reasonable estimates of radiation divergence and surface heat exchange were provided as input to the model. The potential temperature gradient above the katabatic layer was found to play a major role in flow stability for high velocity and deep katabatic flows. Velocity predictions were in better agreement with the data when a locally determined value was used for the coefficient in the empirical snow flux expression.     

基于观测事实的四川天气现象发生空间分布特征

利用四川省145个气象台站1981～2013年连续人工观测资料,对34种天气现象发生日数和概率进行统计。结果表明:除极光外,四川省共观测到33种天气现象,露和轻雾日平均发生频率大于40%;雨和阵雨日平均发生频率大于20%;结冰、霜和雷暴日平均发生频率大于10%。露、霜、结冰、雷暴、闪电、大风、积雪、雨、阵雨、雨夹雪、雪11种天气全省各站均有发生,而雨凇、雪暴、吹雪、龙卷仅在个别站点发生。液态降水、雾、轻雾、霾、浮尘、烟幕、露均是盆地内多于高原,而混合降水、固态降水、扬沙、沙尘暴、吹雪、雪暴、雷暴、霜、大风、结冰、积雪、冰针、龙卷、尘卷风则是川西高原多于盆地。      

Comparison of Winter Precipitation Measurements by Six Tretyakov Gauges at the Valdai Experimental Site

Analyses of long-term (1991–2010) intercomparison data quantify the consistency of winter precipitation observations by six identical Tretyakov gauges at the Valdai research station in Russia. Relative to the standard Tretyakov gauge, the mean catch ratios are 97 to 106% for dry snow, 94 to 104% for wet snow, 87 to 109% for blowing snow, 96 to 103% for mixed precipitation, and 98 to 101% for winter rain. The differences between the highest and lowest mean catches are about 10 to 11% for snow, 7% for mixed precipitation, and 3% for rain. On average, this difference is about 0.2?mm over the 12-hour observation period. The catch difference for blowing snow is much higher, up to 22%, or an average of 0.6?mm per observation. Comparisons of 12-hour observations show better consistency in gauge performance for low snowfall events and a large variation in gauge catch for high snowfall events. The differences in 12-hour snow catches are mostly less than 2?mm among the six gauges. The differences in the 12-hour observations are less than 1% for rain and 4% for mixed precipitation. Close linear relationships exist between the 12-hour gauge observations for all precipitation types. The maximum differences in gauge snow catches increase very weakly with wind speed, and higher differences are associated with warmer temperatures, from ?5°C to 0°C. There is, however, no significant relationship between the maximum catch difference and the mean wind speed or temperature over the 12-hour period.     

Vertical profiles of wind speed,snow concentration,and humidity in blowing snow

To estimate the sublimation rate of snow during relocation by wind, sizes and concentration of ice crystal fragments were measured at 6 levels in the lowest 1 m, during ten 10-min runs, in a nocturnal blizzard. Power-law functions of height described the decrease in mean particle diameter and concentration. The vertical gradient of water vapor, measured with a thermocouple psychrometer, was approximately linear from 0.2 to 1.0m above the surface. Evaporation of blowing snow over 3 km of transport distance was estimated to be 39% of transport rate, under conditions of the experiment.     

Albedo of coastal landfast sea ice in Prydz Bay,Antarctica: Observations and parameterization

The snow/sea-ice albedo was measured over coastal landfast sea ice in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica(off Zhongshan Station)during the austral spring and summer of 2010 and 2011. The variation of the observed albedo was a combination of a gradual seasonal transition from spring to summer and abrupt changes resulting from synoptic events, including snowfall, blowing snow, and overcast skies. The measured albedo ranged from 0.94 over thick fresh snow to 0.36 over melting sea ice. It was found that snow thickness was the most important factor influencing the albedo variation, while synoptic events and overcast skies could increase the albedo by about 0.18 and 0.06, respectively. The in-situ measured albedo and related physical parameters(e.g., snow thickness, ice thickness, surface temperature, and air temperature) were then used to evaluate four different snow/ice albedo parameterizations used in a variety of climate models. The parameterized albedos showed substantial discrepancies compared to the observed albedo, particularly during the summer melt period, even though more complex parameterizations yielded more realistic variations than simple ones. A modified parameterization was developed,which further considered synoptic events, cloud cover, and the local landfast sea-ice surface characteristics. The resulting parameterized albedo showed very good agreement with the observed albedo.     

Ice-free glacial northern Asia due to dust deposition on snow

During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 21 kyr BP), no large ice sheets were present in northern Asia, while northern Europe and North America (except Alaska) were heavily glaciated. We use a general circulation model with high regional resolution and a new parameterization of snow albedo to show that the ice-free conditions in northern Asia during the LGM are favoured by strong glacial dust deposition on the seasonal snow cover. Our climate model simulations indicate that mineral dust deposition on the snow surface leads to low snow albedo during the melt season. This, in turn, caused enhanced snow melt and therefore favoured snow-free peak summer conditions over almost the entire Asian continent during the LGM, whereas perennial snow cover is simulated over a large part of eastern Siberia when glacial dust deposition is not taken into account.     

三维冰雹分档强对流云数值模式研究Ⅰ.模式建立及冰雹的循环增长机制

针对现行冰雹云参数化模式中假定冰雹谱服从特定的负指数分布，冰雹增长率依赖其加权平均末速度以及粒子间的数浓度转换不守衡等局限性，作者建立和发展了一个包括云滴、云冰、雨滴、雪团，霰和雹的云中主要水成物场及凝结、撞冻等37种主要微物理过程，可用于预测和研究三维强冰雹云降雹过程的冰雹分档模式，模式能够提供在雹云参数化模式中无法提供的关于冰雹增长与分布的信息。研究共分三部分：模式的建立及冰雹的循环增长机制；冰雹的分档分布特征；冰雹产生与增长的微物理过程。第一部分，通过建立模式及模拟一个多单体风暴个例，对多单体中冰雹的增长机制进行了数值模拟研究。