Influence of snow cover and grain size on the ground thermal regime in the discontinuous permafrost zone, Swiss Alps

In this paper the spatial distribution of water reserves in the snow cover and the dynamics of snow cover melting due to the peculiarity of the thermal regime were analyzed for the central part of Yenisei Siberia. To create digital maps of water reserves in the snow cover, regression models were developed. The geographic coordinates, elevation above sea level and the distance from the orographic boundaries were used as independent variables in regression models. Based on the created maps, the dynamics of snow cover melting was obtained in the study area, taking into account the thermal regime at a key weather station.

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The future of ski resorts in the Swiss Alps: using DMDU to identify tipping points

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-12302 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Saeid Ashraf Vaghefi ◽

Veruska Muccione ◽

Kees C.H. van Ginkel ◽

Marjolijn Haasnoot

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Climate Models ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Tipping Points ◽

Annual Variability ◽

Ski Resorts ◽

The Future ◽

Total Profit ◽

Climate Uncertainty ◽

Snow Conditions

<p>The future of ski resorts in the Swiss Alps is highly uncertain. Being dependent on snow cover conditions, winter sport tourism is highly susceptible to changes in temperature and precipitation. With the observed warming of the European Alps being well above global average warming, snow cover in Switzerland is projected to shrink at a rapid pace. Climate uncertainty originates from greenhouse gas emission trajectories (RCPs) and differences between climate models. Beyond climate uncertainty, the snow conditions are strongly subject to intra-annual variability. Series of unfavorable years have already led to the financial collapse of several low-altitude ski resorts. Such abrupt collapses with a large impact on the regional economy can be referred to as climate change induced socio-economic tipping points. To some degree, tipping points may be avoided by adaptation measures such as artificial snowmaking, although these measures are also subject to physical and economical constraints. In this study, we use a variety of exploratory modeling techniques to identify tipping points in a coupled physical-economic model applied to six representative ski resorts in the Swiss Alps. New high-resolution climate projections (CH2018) are used to represent climate uncertainty. To improve the coverage of the uncertainty space and accounting for the intra-annual variability of the climate models, a resampling technique was used to produce new climate realizations. A snow process model is used to simulate daily snow-cover in each of the ski resorts. The likelihood of survival of each resort is evaluated from the number of days with good snow conditions for skiing compared to the minimum thresholds obtained from the literature. Economically, the good snow days are translated into the total profit of ski resorts per season of operation. Multiple unfavorable years of total profit may lead to a tipping point. We use scenario discovery to identify the conditions under which these tipping points occur, and reflect on their implications for the future of snow tourism in the Swiss Alps.</p>

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Distributed snow and rock temperature modelling in steep rock walls using Alpine3D

The Cryosphere ◽

10.5194/tc-11-585-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 585-607 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Anna Haberkorn ◽

Nander Wever ◽

Martin Hoelzle ◽

Marcia Phillips ◽

Robert Kenner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Balance ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Snow Depth ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Balance Model ◽

Near Surface ◽

Surface Rock ◽

Depth Data ◽

Rock Temperature

Abstract. In this study we modelled the influence of the spatially and temporally heterogeneous snow cover on the surface energy balance and thus on rock temperatures in two rugged, steep rock walls on the Gemsstock ridge in the central Swiss Alps. The heterogeneous snow depth distribution in the rock walls was introduced to the distributed, process-based energy balance model Alpine3D with a precipitation scaling method based on snow depth data measured by terrestrial laser scanning. The influence of the snow cover on rock temperatures was investigated by comparing a snow-covered model scenario (precipitation input provided by precipitation scaling) with a snow-free (zero precipitation input) one. Model uncertainties are discussed and evaluated at both the point and spatial scales against 22 near-surface rock temperature measurements and high-resolution snow depth data from winter terrestrial laser scans.In the rough rock walls, the heterogeneously distributed snow cover was moderately well reproduced by Alpine3D with mean absolute errors ranging between 0.31 and 0.81 m. However, snow cover duration was reproduced well and, consequently, near-surface rock temperatures were modelled convincingly. Uncertainties in rock temperature modelling were found to be around 1.6 °C. Errors in snow cover modelling and hence in rock temperature simulations are explained by inadequate snow settlement due to linear precipitation scaling, missing lateral heat fluxes in the rock, and by errors caused by interpolation of shortwave radiation, wind and air temperature into the rock walls.Mean annual near-surface rock temperature increases were both measured and modelled in the steep rock walls as a consequence of a thick, long-lasting snow cover. Rock temperatures were 1.3–2.5 °C higher in the shaded and sunny rock walls, while comparing snow-covered to snow-free simulations. This helps to assess the potential error made in ground temperature modelling when neglecting snow in steep bedrock.

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Ground thermal regime in the vicinity of relict rock glaciers (Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain)

Finisterra ◽

10.18055/finis1375 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 44 (87) ◽

Author(s):

Javier Santos-González ◽

Rosa González-Gutiérrez ◽

Amélia Gómes-Villar ◽

José Redondo-Vega

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Thermal Regime ◽

Strong Influence ◽

Temperature Data ◽

Ground Temperature ◽

Cantabrian Mountains ◽

Nw Spain ◽

Freeze Thaw ◽

Rock Glaciers ◽

Frost Penetration

Ground temperature data obtained from 2002 to 2007 in sites near relict rock glaciers in the cantabrian mountains, at altitudes between 1500 and 2300 meters is analysed. Snow cover lasted between 3 and 9 months and had a strong influence on the thermal regime. When snow was present, the soil was normally frozen in the first 5 to 10 cm, but daily freeze-thaw cycles were rare. In well developed soils located at sunny faces frost penetration rarely reached more than 10 cm. on the contrary in shady and windy faces with scarce snow cover, frost penetration reached, at least, 40 cm. In persistent snow patches the temperature was stable at 0 ºc, even in relict rock glaciers, where subnival winter air fluxes appear to have been very rare.

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