Reviewer for manuscript "Spatial variability of snow precipitation and accumulation in COSMO-WRF simulations and radar estimations over complex terrain"

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anonymous
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Snow Precipitation

scholarly journals Spatial variability in snow precipitation and accumulation in COSMO–WRF simulations and radar estimations over complex terrain

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3137-3160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Gerber ◽  
Nikola Besic ◽  
Varun Sharma ◽  
Rebecca Mott ◽  
Megan Daniels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Precipitation Patterns ◽  
Simulated Precipitation ◽  
Precipitation Processes ◽  
Snow Distribution ◽  
Snow Precipitation

Abstract. Snow distribution in complex alpine terrain and its evolution in the future climate is important in a variety of applications including hydropower, avalanche forecasting and freshwater resources. However, it is still challenging to quantitatively forecast precipitation, especially over complex terrain where the interaction between local wind and precipitation fields strongly affects snow distribution at the mountain ridge scale. Therefore, it is essential to retrieve high-resolution information about precipitation processes over complex terrain. Here, we present very-high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) simulations (COSMO–WRF), which are initialized by 2.2 km resolution Consortium for Small-scale Modeling (COSMO) analysis. To assess the ability of COSMO–WRF to represent spatial snow precipitation patterns, they are validated against operational weather radar measurements. Estimated COSMO–WRF precipitation is generally higher than estimated radar precipitation, most likely due to an overestimation of orographic precipitation enhancement in the model. The high precipitation amounts also lead to a higher spatial variability in the model compared to radar estimates. Overall, an autocorrelation and scale analysis of radar and COSMO–WRF precipitation patterns at a horizontal grid spacing of 450 m show that COSMO–WRF captures the spatial variability normalized by the domain-wide variability in precipitation patterns down to the scale of a few kilometers. However, simulated precipitation patterns systematically show a lower variability on the smallest scales of a few hundred meters compared to radar estimates. A comparison of spatial variability for different model resolutions gives evidence for an improved representation of local precipitation processes at a horizontal resolution of 50 m compared to 450 m. Additionally, differences of precipitation between 2830 m above sea level and the ground indicate that near-surface processes are active in the model.

scholarly journals Controls on the temporal and spatial variability of soil moisture in a mountainous landscape: the signatures of snow and complex terrain

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1927-1966 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Williams ◽  
J. P. McNamara ◽  
D. G. Chandler
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Spatial Correlations ◽  
Static Properties ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. The controls on the spatial distribution of soil moisture include static and dynamic variables. The superposition of static and dynamic controls can lead to different soil moisture patterns for a given catchment during wetting, draining, and drying periods. These relationships can be further complicated in snow-dominated mountain regions where soil water input by precipitation is largely dictated by the spatial variability of snow accumulation and melt. In this study, we assess controls on spatial and temporal soil moisture variability in a small (0.02 km2), snow-dominated, semi-arid catchment by evaluating spatial correlations between soil moisture and site characteristics through different hydrologic seasons. We assess the relative importance of snow with respect to other catchment properties on the spatial variability of soil moisture and track the temporal persistence of those controls. Spatial distribution of snow, distance from divide, soil texture, and soil depth exerted significant control on the spatial variability of moisture content throughout most of the hydrologic year. These relationships were strongest during the wettest period and degraded during the dry period. As the catchment cycled through wet and dry periods, the relative spatial variability of soil moisture tended to remain unchanged. We suggest that the static properties in complex terrain (slope, aspect, soils) impose first order controls on the spatial variability of snow and consequent soil moisture, and that the interaction of dynamic (timing of water input) and static properties propagate that relative constant spatial variability through the hydrologic year. The results demonstrate snow exerts significant influence on how water is retained within mid-elevation semi-arid catchments throughout the year and infer that reductions in annual snowpacks associated with changing climate regimes may strongly influence spatial and temporal soil moisture patterns and catchment physical and biological processes.

scholarly journals The spatial variability of snow resistance on potential avalanche slopes

1995 ◽  
Vol 41 (137) ◽  
pp. 183-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. W. Birkeland ◽  
K.J. Hansen ◽  
R. L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Slope Stability ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Snow Avalanches ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Terrain Features ◽  
Avalanche Control

AbstractSince snow avalanches are believed to release from zones of localized weakness, knowledge of snow-strength patterns is important for determining slope stability and for applying effective avalanche-control measures. In this study, the spatial variability of snow resistance (an index of snow strength) and depth were measured and compared with terrain features on two inclined slopes. A refined instrument allowed the strength of an entire snow slab to be characterized in a short time. The spatial pattern of trees appeared to affect the pattern of snow depth at one site, where a significant linear relationship was found between snow depth and average snow resistance. These results suggest that localized snow-depth variations may be important in snow-strength genesis. Although a linear relationship existed at that site, additional factors may be critically relevant. A second site with more complex terrain features and less localized wind drifting did not show a linear relationship between depth and average resistance. Instead, complex patterns of resistance demonstrated that many factors contribute to snow resistance. In particular, die snow overlying rocks was found to have significantly weaker resistance than that in adjacent areas not over rocks.

scholarly journals The spatial variability of snow resistance on potential avalanche slopes

1995 ◽  
Vol 41 (137) ◽  
pp. 183-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. W. Birkeland ◽  
K.J. Hansen ◽  
R. L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Slope Stability ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Snow Avalanches ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Terrain Features ◽  
Avalanche Control

AbstractSince snow avalanches are believed to release from zones of localized weakness, knowledge of snow-strength patterns is important for determining slope stability and for applying effective avalanche-control measures. In this study, the spatial variability of snow resistance (an index of snow strength) and depth were measured and compared with terrain features on two inclined slopes. A refined instrument allowed the strength of an entire snow slab to be characterized in a short time. The spatial pattern of trees appeared to affect the pattern of snow depth at one site, where a significant linear relationship was found between snow depth and average snow resistance. These results suggest that localized snow-depth variations may be important in snow-strength genesis. Although a linear relationship existed at that site, additional factors may be critically relevant. A second site with more complex terrain features and less localized wind drifting did not show a linear relationship between depth and average resistance. Instead, complex patterns of resistance demonstrated that many factors contribute to snow resistance. In particular, die snow overlying rocks was found to have significantly weaker resistance than that in adjacent areas not over rocks.

Spatial variability of sulfur dioxide and sulfate over complex terrain in East Tennessee, USA

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (18) ◽  
pp. 3024-3028 ◽  
Author(s):  
LaToya Myles ◽  
Ronald J. Dobosy ◽  
Tilden P. Meyers ◽  
William R. Pendergrass
Keyword(s):  
Sulfur Dioxide ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
East Tennessee

Simulating snow instability in complex terrain

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Richter ◽  
Alec van Herwijnen ◽  
Mathias W. Rotach ◽  
Jürg Schweizer
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Avalanche Forecasting ◽  
Snow Stratigraphy ◽  
Operational Forecasting

<p><span>Numerical snow cover models are increasingly used in operational avalanche forecasting. While these models can provide snow stratigraphy and some snow instability information, their full potential is not yet exploited in forecasting. We investigated, how well the snow cover model Alpine3D simulated spatial and temporal variations in snow instability. Therefore, simulations were performed in highly varying complex terrain for the winter season 2016-2017 in the region of Davos, Switzerland for an area of about 21 km x 21 km. Alpine3D was forced with data from several automatic weather stations within the region, which were interpolated to a resolution of 100 m. To reproduce observed spatial variability, we scaled precipitation input with snow height measurements derived with airborne laser scanning. For comparison, we also simulated the snowpack without scaling. The simulation with scaling precipitation showed significantly higher spatial variability in modeled snow instability than the simulation without scaling. However, when information was aggregated to aspect and elevation dependent information for the whole region, as it is done for operational forecasting, this variability vanished and scaling precipitation seems unnecessary. At the beginning of the season and towards the end, snow instability depended on aspect, while in the winter months December to March, differences between different aspects were small. The simulations with scaling precipitation revealed a strong influence of snow depth on snow instability, although the various snow instability criteria provided inconsistent results. Simulated profiles, which were classified as rather favourable were rated as rather unstable and vice versa. A comparison to traditional snow profiles shows that snow stratigraphy was reproduced well, but assessing snow instability from stratigraphy alone is not feasible.</span></p>

scholarly journals Controls on the temporal and spatial variability of soil moisture in a mountainous landscape: the signature of snow and complex terrain

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1325-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Williams ◽  
J. P. McNamara ◽  
D. G. Chandler
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Spatial Correlations ◽  
Static Properties ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. The controls on the spatial distribution of soil moisture include static and dynamic variables. The superposition of static and dynamic controls can lead to different soil moisture patterns for a given catchment during wetting, draining, and drying periods. These relationships can be further complicated in snow-dominated mountain regions where soil water input by precipitation is largely dictated by the spatial variability of snow accumulation and melt. In this study, we assess controls on spatial and temporal soil moisture variability in a small (0.02 km2), snow-dominated, semi-arid catchment by evaluating spatial correlations between soil moisture and site characteristics through different hydrologic seasons. We assess the relative importance of snow with respect to other catchment properties on the spatial variability of soil moisture and track the temporal persistence of those controls. Spatial distribution of snow, distance from divide, soil texture, and soil depth exerted significant control on the spatial variability of moisture content throughout most of the hydrologic year. These relationships were strongest during the wettest period and degraded during the dry period. As the catchment cycled through wet and dry periods, the relative spatial variability of soil moisture tended to remain unchanged. We suggest that the static properties in complex terrain (slope, aspect, soils) impose first order controls on the spatial variability of snow and resulting soil moisture patterns, and that the interaction of dynamic (timing of water input) and static influences propagate that relative constant spatial variability through most of the hydrologic year. The results demonstrate that snow exerts significant influence on how water is retained within mid-elevation semi-arid catchments and suggest that reductions in annual snowpacks associated with changing climate regimes may strongly influence spatial and temporal soil moisture patterns and catchment physical and biological processes.

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