The automatic meteorological station network of Piedmont (North- West Italy), whose realization started in 1988, together with the pre-existing manned stations are now providing snow depth and fresh snow depth measurements in more than 100 sites
spread out over Western Alps, also outside the geographical borders of the Region. The high spatial resolution network in combination with satellite devices can be used for an integrated monitoring of snow cover that combines information on snow depth
, amount of snow precipitation and snow cover extension. In particular satellites can provide complementary knowledge on snow cover over large scale with spatial continuity, supplying the lack of data where surface measurements are not available. - (NF)
Interactions between seasonal snow cover, ground surface temperature and topography (Andes of Santiago, Chile, 33.5°S)
Andes ; Chile ; High mountain ; Model ; Periglacial features ; Permafrost ; Sensitivity analysis ; Snow cover ; Soil temperature ; Topography ; Watershed
) on mean GST (MGST) and ground surface thermal regimes. The effect of snow cover onset and disappearance dates on MGST is further examined in a sensitivity analysis. The results corroborate the effect of late snow cover in the linear models, which can
The role of snow melting upon landslides in the central Argentinean Andes
Andes ; Argentina ; Climate ; ENSO ; Impact ; Landslide ; Meltwater ; Mountain ; Natural hazards ; Nature park ; Ocean atmosphere interaction ; Precipitation ; Regression analysis ; Snow ; Soil water
Park appears to be mainly forced by the melting of snow accumulated during the winter season, which in turn promotes soil saturation and landslide occurrence the following spring–summer (December-February). This finding is supported by a strong
correlation between landslides and stream flows of Andean rivers. These peaks occur during warmer seasons, fed by snow and ice-glacier melting. In contrast, the correlation between landslide frequency and precipitation (diary/accumulative/monthly/annual
to the combined effect of measurement errors and orographic effects. The study is based on the availability of long term series of weather data, snow observations and glacier mass balance measurements. The error in precipitation measurement at the uppermost
weather station was assessed by comparison with snow water equivalent data. The error estimates were consistent with the outcomes of a precipitation correction model, with the aerodynamic correction as its main component. This correction procedure was used
to compute correction factors for the entire precipitation gauge network. This paper highlights the need for precipitation correction in precipitation analyses over snow-dominated mountain areas. This study also provides evidence of a considerable interannual
variability in the correction factors for snow at the uppermost weather station. Further improvements in precipitation estimations would require an analysis of the dominant processes controlling this variability. - (NF)
The aim of this paper is to determine the meteorological, topographical and snowpack conditions that caused both the recent large-scale wet snow avalanche periods (January 2010 and March 2011). Based on mapping of the spatial distribution
of large-scale avalanching and also add to understanding of how wet snow avalanche cycles can be influenced by climate change and/or occur within the natural meteorological variability of the maritime climate of High Arctic Svalbard.
Air temperature ; Alps (The) ; Climatic change ; Climatic data ; Glacier ; Glacier retreat ; Italy ; Precipitation ; Snow ; Valle d'Aosta
especially during late spring and summer, and substantially unchanged total precipitation, with marked reduction of snowfall, snow cover, number of snowfall events and duration of continuous snow cover, especially during spring and summer, likely driving
Bohemia ; Bystřice River ; Czech Republic ; Flood control ; Impact study ; Model ; Natural hazards ; Ore Mountains ; Rainfall and discharge relationship ; Snow cover ; Snow melt ; Temperature gradient ; Watershed
and snowmelt computation. The published results present fundamental uncertainties in winter flood modelling and demonstrate the influence of the course and character of a given winter on the model's capabilty to simulate the snow water equivalent and runoff
Thereby, the AA. refer to 2 major drilling areas (located in the summit range of Monte Rosa and Mt Blanc massif, respectively) which largely differ in their snow accumulation rate and, hence, in their accessible time scale. A simple scheme
considering the seasonality of both, the precipitation-borne signal and the snow erosion-controlled net accumulation rate is presented. It shows that water isotope trends are generally more sensitive to distortion by a seasonality effect than recent snow
Alps (The) ; Altitude ; Climatic variability ; Glacier ; Glacier fluctuation ; Italy ; Lombardia ; Meteorology ; Season ; Snow melt ; Weather station
collected by an Automatic Weather Station (named AWS1 Forni) which has been running at the glacier surface (2669 m, ellipsoidal elevation) since 26 September 2005. The AWS is also equipped with a sonic ranger to measure snow depth and its variability
influences in promoting surface lowering. It is argued that nivation (chemical and mechanical snow-related processes) associated with several cool/cold periods is likely to have played an important role in surface lowering. Complicating factors associated
with surface lowering (thickness and longevity of snow and regolith covers) are identified but as yet cannot be quantified.
Using gridded temperature and precipitation data from the service seNorge, surface mass balance was modeled for 5 Norwegian glaciers of different size and climate conditions. The model accounts for melting of snow and ice by applying a degree-day
approach and considers refreezing assuming a snow depth depended storage. Calculated values are compared to point measurements of glacier winter mass balance. On average for each glacier, modeled and measured surface mass-balance evolutions agree well
from 1965, two from 1971, and one from 1979. Properties of snow cover in the selected catchments were presented, including dates of appearance and decline, duration and thickness. Snow water equivalent values were calculated. Peak high-water events
of NW China, the contribution of glacier and snow to the discharge is significant. Therefore, the significantly increased temperature during the last 50 years would eventually lead to an increased discharge due to the increased amount of melt water from
glacier and snow. However, the increasing water demand for the economic development and oasis expansion in the middle reach of the basin will reduce discharge flowing into the lower reach of the basin.
. The results of the research show that the lower hypsometric zones, in comparison to the highest parts of the mountains, are characterized by more favorable bioclimatic conditions as regards most of the criteria selected, excluding snow conditions for skiing
on the hydrological cycle. As the glacier area subject to melting has increased and the ablation season has become longer, the contribution of meltwater to annual river discharge has increased. Seasonal runoff variations are dominated by snow and glacier melt