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.     

An approach to mass movements in the Jiuzhaigou catchment

This paper presents a preliminary study of the main types, features, genesis, and countermeasures of mass movements in the Jiuzhaigou catchment, which is one of the most scenic regions in China. The main features are debris flows, rock-segment flows, landslides, and avalanches. Rough relief, fractured rocks, drifts, steep slopes, intensive rainstorms, and earthquakes produced their geneses. Countermeasures should include the integration of engineering and biological projects.     

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。     

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.     

Fast-changing processes in a medium subject to loading as detected by resistivity measurements

Making measurements of electric resistivity at 16 s intervals, the authors noticed fast changes of this parameter prior to the occurrence of the main fracture. The changes are superposed on bay pulsations of increasing amplitude and decreasing period. This finding opens prospects for a wider use of an electric resistivity method and proves the high quality of automatic instruments, in particular their high resolution. It also gives evidence for the occurrence of short-period precursors in the fracture zone while the main fracture is being formed.     

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。     

Characteristics and mitigation of the snow avalanche hazard in Kaghan Valley,Pakistan Himalaya

Snow avalanche hazards in mountainous areas of developing countries have received scant attention in the scientific literature. The purpose of this paper is to describe this hazard and mitigative measures in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan Himalaya, and to review alternatives for future reduction of this hazard. Snow avalanches have long posed a hazard and risk to indigenous populations of the Himalaya and Trans-Himalaya mountains. Land use intensification due to population growth, new transportation routes, military activity and tourism is raising levels of risk. The history of land use in the study area is such that investigations of avalanche hazard must rely on different theoretical bases and data than in most industrialised countries. Despite the intensive use of valley-bottom land which is affected by avalanches, a number of simple measures are currently employed by the indigenous population to mitigate the hazard. Out-migration during the winter months is the most important one. During the intensive use period of summer avalanche-transported snow provides numerous resources for the population. In Kaghan the avalanche hazard is increasing primarily as a result of poorly located new buildings and other construction projects. The large scale of avalanche activity there rules out any significant improvement or protection of the currently difficult winter access. Instead, future mitigation of the hazard should focus on protecting the small number of winter inhabitants and minimising property damage.     

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.