Snow interception modelling: Isolated observations have led to many land surface models lacking appropriate temperature sensitivities

When formulating a hydrologic model, scientists rely on parameterizations of multiple processes based on field data, but literature review suggests that more frequently people select parameterizations that were included in pre-existing models rather than re-evaluating the underlying field experiments. Problems arise when limited field data exist, when “trusted” approaches do not get reevaluated, and when sensitivities fundamentally change in different environments. The physics and dynamics of snow interception by conifers is just such a case, and it is critical to simulation of the water budget and surface albedo. The most commonly used interception parameterization is based on data from four trees from one site, but results from this field study are not directly transferable to locations with relatively warmer winters, where the dominant processes differ dramatically. Here, we combine a literature review with model experiments to demonstrate needed improvements. Our results show that the choice of model form and parameters can vary the fraction of snow lost through interception by as much as 30%. In most simulations, the warming of mean winter temperatures from −7 to 0°C reduces the modelled fraction of snow under the canopy compared to the open, but the magnitude of simulated decrease varies from about 10% to 40%. The range of results is even larger when considering models that neglect the melting of in-canopy snow in higher-humidity environments where canopy sublimation plays less of a role. Thus, we recommend that all models represent canopy snowmelt and include representation of increased loading due to increased adhesion and cohesion when temperatures rise from −3 to 0°C. In addition to model improvements, field experiments across climates and forest types are needed to investigate how to best model the combination of dynamically changing forest cover and snow cover to better understand and predict changes to albedo and water supplies.     

Effect of snow and soil frost melting on the concentrations of suspended solids and phosphorus in two rural watersheds in Western Finland

Hydrological processes are known to have a considerable effect on nutrient transport from agricultural land to watercourses. In cold temperate regions peak discharges are caused not only by storm conditions but also by melting of snow and frost. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of snow and frost melt on concentrations of phosphorus and suspended solids. The samples were taken using flowweighted automatic sampling techniques from two agricultural drainage basins. During the beginning of the snowmelt period the concentration of suspended solids was rather low by comparison with the total phosphorus concentration and the discharge. The different behaviour compared with the relationships found during storm conditions was probably caused by continuous extraction of the soil surface by low ionic concentration melt water, and to some extent by leaching from plant residues. The gradual decrease of total phosphorus concentration during the frost thawing period could be attributed to the gradually increasing proportion of the subsurface and ground water discharge in the runoff.     

塞北雪（锂—锶—偏硅酸）珍贵天然矿泉水

经勘察评价和国家级评审鉴定，天镇县城关Ｔ＿（６７）井属锂－锶－偏硅酸三项达标的复合型优质饮用天然矿泉水。矿泉水产于近东西向挽近断裂带上，马圈痒地热田边部，地势平坦，环境无污染，交通便利，水质独特，水量丰富，具有综合开发优势，适宜建厂开发。     

Fuzzy factorial analysis of snow avalanches

The mutual influence of 21 factors pertaining to terrain, weather, forest and snowpack have been discussed by 10 experts. The semantic (nil, weak, medium, high) evaluations are translated as membership degrees of fuzzy sets, and averaged between the experts by taking their fuzzy expectation value, yielding a 21 × 21 fuzzy matrix for direct interactions. Fuzzy successive multiplications and additions of the matrix give the indirect interactions. The activity and the passivity of the factors with respect to avalanches is represented by directed weighted graphs, and the average semantic values by a 4 × 4 matrix: the activity (passivity) is weak (strong) for tree damage; medium (nil) for altitude; medium (weak) for ground shape; medium (medium) for vegetation, soil, wind, microclimate, tree type, vertical distribution and mechanics of trees, snowpack distribution and snow gliding; strong (nil) for ground inclination and exposition, weather; strong (medium) for heat, precipitation, horizontal distribution of trees, snowpack constitution and stability.     

NUMERICAL EXPERIMENTS ON THE EFFECT OF QINGHAIXIZANG PLATEAU SNOW COVER ON SUMMER MONSOON FORMATION

The calculating schemes of underlying surface processes in the model described by Li et al.(1989)are modified with inclusion of simple land surface processes and oceanic mixed layer processes,then a simulation on the zonal wind along 90°E from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere with moun-tains is performed.Comparisons of the results and the observations show that the modified model not onlyhas an excellent stability in calculation but also can better display the seasonal change of the wind field,theability of the present model is improved as compared with that of the previous one.Based on the simulations,the authors investigate the effects of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau snow cover on theformation of South Asian monsoon by thickcning the snow depth and by increasing the snow albedo.Themain results arc as follows:The summer meridional circulation over the south of the Plateau and its vicinityis weakeued,and the precipitation reduced.However,over the northern tropics,the circulation is enhanced,and the ecipitation is increased,and the land and the air above it become warmer,the tropical easterly jetis weakened.     

南方大到暴雪的一种预报方法

对构成南方大到暴雪的两个特征量：降水量和积雪深度用多种预报方法从晴雨、降水性质、降水量级、冰冻及积雪厚度等不同角度分别进行预报，然后通过推理组合，最终建立暴雪预报方法。该方法除了可以得出有无大到暴雪的预报结果外，还可以得到多种中间预报结果，从而适应预报服务的多种需要。在近３年的实际使用中获得了很好的效果。     

Measurements of Powder Snow Avalanches- Laboratory -

Laboratory simulation of powder snow avalanches serves for the validation of numerical models and as a tool in its own right for consulting and research purposes. Two-phase gravity currents are simulated in water with quartz powder or glass spheres as the particle phase. Particle-phase velocity profiles and particle-phase volume fraction profiles are measured with an ultrasonic device. The experimental setup and the current state of the measurement technique are described and preliminary results are presented.     

Direct Measurement Of Shear Stress During Snow Saltation

Wind-tunnel experiments were carried out to measure the shear stressduring snow saltation. Shear stress acting on the snow surface, measured directly with a newly developed drag meter system, revealedthat the shear stress increased with the development ofsaltation. This result supports Owen's hypothesis that the saltationlayer acts as an increased roughness to the flow above the saltationlayer, leading to an increase in surface shear stress. To investigate the contribution of the grain borne shear stress_g and the fluid shear stress _f to the increment of the total shear stress _total, _g was calculated from the loss of horizontal momentum of saltating snowparticles. Since _g is the largest contribution to theincrement of _total, the collision of thesaltating particles is dominant for the shear stressmodification. The results qualitatively support the numericalsimulation reported by McEwan and Willetts.     

隆冬异常升温北疆积雪提前融化

2007年1月下旬中期开始,新疆北部地区出现了一次异常的升温天气过程,1月27日~2月4日的9d中,北疆各地的43个气象站中,有14站的日最高气温突破同期历史极值,其中伊犁河谷的新源的日最高气温上升到13.3℃,突破同期历史极值3.0℃;有19站的9天平均气温突破同期历史极值,占总站数的44.2%。1月下旬本是新疆北部的积雪稳定积累期,但是2007年元月下旬异常升温天气的出现和持续,使北疆地区积雪提前融化,到2月初,北疆的博尔塔拉蒙古自治州、伊犁地区、乌鲁木齐市等地的积雪面积明显减少,乌鲁木齐地区的积雪覆盖度仅为25.84%,比15年同期平均值偏少5成。冬季是新疆增温幅度最大的季节,在气候变暖背景下,冬季极端天气气候事件的出现也越来越频繁,隆冬季节的异常升温造成气温偏高,使北疆地区的积雪提前融化。这些变化将对新疆水资源的时空分布产生重大影响,对当地生态环境将带来难以估测的影响。在全球气候变化背景下,更加需要加强对新疆等干旱地区极端天气气候事件的监测分析及其对生态环境、经济社会发展的影响等诸多领域的研究,使社会各界以积极的态度来科学客观地认识气候变化带来的后果,及早提出应对区域气候变化的对策,采取切实可行的措施减缓气候变化带来的负面影响。     

对青藏高原末次冰盛期降温值、平衡线下降值与模拟结果的讨论

1999年 5期《第四纪研究》刊登的“青藏高原冰期环境与冰期全球降温”论文 ,内容丰富 ,提出了许多重大问题和新鲜讯息 ,发人深思。本文就部分内容进行讨论 ,认为根据新近若干冰期降温值较大的信息 ,就得出冰期降温幅度为过去认识的两倍的普遍性推断 ,还为时过早。青藏高原新近研究表明夏季降温值是较小的 ;冰川平衡线高度取决于以夏季温度为标志所提供的消融热量与全年降雪积累量的平衡 ,单纯就降温值 ,不能决定平衡线下降值 ;全球各地气候、地形差别很大 ,冰期变化也很悬殊 ,不存在全球均一的 1 0 0 0m左右平衡线下降值 ,干旱区的下降值多低于此数。青藏高原末次冰盛期 (LGM)冰川堆积 (终碛、侧碛 )和侵蚀形态(冰斗、槽谷 )一般保存良好、形态鲜明 ,较易识别 ,近年已获取测年资料 ,证明过去地貌法判别的LGM冰川规模 ,并以此决定的LGM平衡线位置基本恰当 ,当然也有误判者。从 2 0世纪 2 0年代起 ,研究者逐渐认识高原内部主要是中西部LGM平衡线下降值较小 ,经过多次改进的LGM平衡线高度分布图显示约有 1 /3左右地区 ,平衡线下降值不足 30 0m ,实为世所罕见。其原因可能主要在高原西北部是全球惟一高海拔寒旱核心区域 ,为极大陆型或极地型冰川分布区 ,以现代西昆仑山崇测冰川、古里雅冰帽为例 ,平衡线高度