Physics and hydrology of snow
Summary
This course covers principles of snow physics, snow hydrology, snow-atmosphere interaction and snow modeling. It transmits sound understanding of physical processes within the snow and at its interfaces with the atmosphere and the ground, including 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 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, avalanches, hydrology, atmospheric boundary layer, environmental physics
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)
50% Written exam (exam session)
Supervision
| Office hours | Yes |
| Assistants | 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 other text books.
Ressources en bibliothèque
- Principles of Snow Hydrology / DeWalle
- Snow and climate / Armstrong
- The global cryosphere / Barry
- The avalanche handbook
Moodle Link
Dans les plans d'études
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Physics and hydrology of snow
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Physics and hydrology of snow
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel