Physics and hydrology of snow
Summary
This course covers principles of snow physics, snow hydrology, snow-atmosphere interaction, and snow modeling. It transmits detailed understanding of physical processes within the snow and at its interfaces with the atmosphere and the ground, and presents field, laboratory, and modeling techniques.
Content
- Processes of snow formation in the atmosphere
- Physical (thermal, optical, mechanical) properties of snow
- Snow accumulation, transport, redistribution
- Heat and mass transfer in snow, metamorphism
- Energy balance within snow and at its boundaries
- Processes of snow pack ablation and melt
- Snow cover variability and interaction with vegetation
- Snow cover-climate interactions at various spatio-temporal scales
- Measurement methods and field techniques
- Snow avalanche mechanics and release processes
- Approaches of snow cover modeling
- Snow modeling using the SNOWPACK model
Keywords
Snow, glaciology, cryosphere, hydrology, atmospheric boundary layer, environmental physics, climate, avalanches
Learning Prerequisites
Recommended courses
ENV-167, ENV-221, ENG-272, ENV-320
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Analyze a snow cover and acting physical processes
- Compute heat and mass fluxes related to snow
- Apply a numerical snow cover model (SNOWPACK)
- Formulate snow-air-ground exchange processes
- Explain the temporal evolution of a snow cover
- Interpret a snow cover as a result of its genesis
- Perform practical field work and measurements
- Assess / Evaluate the role of snow in local and global climate
- Characterize a snow cover in terms of avalanche risk
Teaching methods
Lectures, exercises (incl. computer labs), autonomous learning, videos
Expected student activities
Active participation, individual work on exercises, group work where indicated, guided and autonomous learning
Assessment methods
50% Exercises (graded, including model simulations; individual and dyad assessment)
50% Written exam (exam session; individual assessment)
Supervision
| Office hours | Yes |
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | Yes |
Resources
Bibliography
Armstrong, R.L., and E. Brun, (Eds.), 2008. Snow and climate, Cambridge University Press.
Barry, R.G., and T.Y. Gan, 2011. The global cryosphere, Cambridge University Press.
DeWalle, D.R., and A. Rango, 2008. Principles of snow hydrology, Cambridge University Press.
McClung, D., and P.A. Schaerer. The avalanche handbook. The Mountaineers Books, 2006.
Selected journal articles and/or book chapters.
Ressources en bibliothèque
- Principles of Snow Hydrology / DeWalle
- The avalanche handbook
- The global cryosphere / Barry
- Snow and climate / Armstrong
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Physics and hydrology of snow
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Physics and hydrology of snow
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional