Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simulation Of Blowing Snow In The Canadian Arctic Using A Double-Moment Model

  • Published:
Boundary-Layer Meteorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We describe in this paper the development of a double-moment modelof blowing snow and its application to the Canadian Arctic. Wefirst outline the formulation of the numerical model, whichsolves a prognostic equation for both the blowing snow mixingratio and total particle numbers, both moments of particles thatare gamma-distributed. Under idealized simulations, the modelyields realistic evolutions of the blowing snow particledistributions, transport and sublimation rates as well as the thermodynamic fields at low computational costs. A parametrizationof the blowing snow sublimation rate is subsequently derived. The model and parametrization are then applied to a Canadian Arctictundra site prone to frequent blowing snow events. Over a period of210 days during the winter of 1996/1997, the near-surfacerelative humidity consistently approaches saturationwith respect to ice. These conditions limit snowpack erosion byblowing snow sublimation to ≈3 mm snow water equivalent (swe)with surface sublimation removing an additional 7 mm swe.We find that our results are highly sensitiveto the proper assimilation of the humidity measurements and the evolving thermodynamic fields in the atmospheric boundary layer during blowingsnow. These factors may explain the lower values of blowing snow sublimationreported in this paper than previously published for the region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, P. S.: 1994, ‘A Method for Rescaling Humidity Sensors at Temperatures Well Below Freezing’ J. Atmos. Oceanic Tech. 11, 1388-1391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benoit, R.,Desgagné, M.,Pellerin, P.,Pellerin, S.,Chartier, Y., andDesjardins, S.: 1997, ‘The Canadian MC2: A Semi-Lagrangian, Semi-Implicit Wideband Atmospheric Model Suited for Finescale Process Studies and Simulation’ Mon. Wea. Rev. 125, 2382-2415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bintanja, R.: 1998, ‘The Contribution of Snowdrift Sublimation to the Surface Mass Balance of Antarctica’ Ann. Glaciol. 27, 251-259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Budd, W. F.: 1966, ‘The Drifting of Non-Uniform Snow Particles’ in M. J. Rubin (ed.), Studies in Antarctic Meteorology, Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 9, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, pp. 59-70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Déry, S. J. andTaylor, P. A.: 1996, ‘Some Aspects of the Interaction of Blowing Snow with the Atmospheric Boundary Layer’ Hydrol. Proc. 10, 1345-1358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Déry, S. J. andYau, M. K.: 1999a, ‘A Climatology of Adverse Winter-Type Weather Events’ J. Geophys. Res. 104(D14), 15,657-16,672.

    Google Scholar 

  • Déry, S. J. andYau, M. K.: 1999b, ‘A Bulk Blowing Snow Model’ Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 93, 237-251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Déry, S. J.,Taylor, P. A., andXiao, J.: 1998, ‘The Thermodynamic Effects of Sublimating, Blowing Snow in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer’ Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 89, 251-283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Essery, R.,Li, L., andPomeroy, J. W.: 1999, ‘A Distributed Model of Blowing Snow over Complex Terrain’ Hydrol. Proc. 13, 2423-2438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, J. Y.,Meyers, M. P.,Walko, R. L., andCotton, W. R.: 1995, ‘Parameterization of Ice Crystal Conversion Process Due to Vapor Deposition for Mesoscale Models Using Doublemoment Basis Functions. Part I: Basic Formulation and Parcel Model Results’ J. Atmos. Sc. 52, 4344-4366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoode, E.,Williams, M., andCline, D.: 1999, ‘Sublimation from a Seasonal Snowpack at a Continental, Mid-Latitude Alpine Site’ Hydrol. Proc. 13, 1781-1797.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, J. C. andAnderson, P. S.: 1999, ‘A Humidity Climatology for Halley, Antarctica Based on Hygrometer Measurements’ Antarct. Sci. 11, 100-104.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, J. C.,Anderson, P. S.,Smith, M. C., andMobbs, S. D.: 1996, ‘The Surface Energy and Mass Balance at Halley, Antarctica during Winter’ J. Geophys. Res. 101(D14), 19,119-19,128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawford, R. G.: 1994, ‘Knowns and Unknowns in the Hydroclimatology of the Mackenzie River Basin’ in S. D. Cohen (ed.), Mackenzie Basin Impact Study (MBIS), Interim Report #2, Yellowknife, NWT, pp. 173-195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, G. W.,Anderson, P. S., andMobbs, S. D.: 2000, ‘Profile Measurements of Blowing Snow at Halley, Antarctica’ J. Geophys. Res., 105(D19), 24,491-24,508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy, J. W.,Gray, D. M., andLandine, P. G.: 1993, ‘The Prairie Blowing Snow Model: Characteristics, Validation, Operation’ J. Hydrol. 144, 165-192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy, J.W.,Marsh, P., andGray, D.M.: 1997, ‘Application of a Distributed Blowing Snow Model to the Arctic’ Hydrol. Proc. 11, 1451-1464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reisner, J.,Rasmussen, R. M., andBruintjes, R. T.: 1998, ‘Explicit Forecasting of Supercooled Liquid Water in Winter Storms Using the MM5 Mesoscale Model’ Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 124, 1071-1107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, R. R. andYau, M. K.: 1989, A Short Course in Cloud Physics, Third Edition, Pergamon Press, 293 pp.

  • Schmidt, R. A.: 1982, ‘Vertical Profiles of Wind Speed, Snow Concentrations, and Humidity in Blowing Snow’ Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 23, 223-246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwerdtfeger, W.: 1984, Climate of the Antarctic, Developments in Atmospheric Science 15, Elsevier, 261 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, R. E.,Bachard, D.,Dunkley, R. R.,Giles, A. C.,Lawson, B.,Legal, L.,Miller, S. T.,Murphy, B. P.,Parker, M. N.,Paruk, B. J., andYau, M. K.: 1995, ‘Winter Storms over Canada’ Atmos.-Ocean 33, 223-247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, R. E.,Leighton, H. G.,Marsh, P.,Moore, G. W. K.,Rouse, W. R.,Soulis, S. D.,Strong, G. S.,Crawford, R. W., andKochtubajda, B.: 1998, ‘The Mackenzie GEWEX Study: The Water and Energy Cycles of a Major North American River Basin’ Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc. 79, 2665-2684.

    Google Scholar 

  • van den Broeke, M. R.: 1997, ‘Spatial and Temporal Variation of Sublimation on Antarctica: Results of a High-Resolution General Circulation Model’ J. Geophys. Res. 102(D25), 29,765-29,777.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vowinckel, E. andOrvig, S.: 1970, ‘The Climate of the North Polar Basin’ in S. Orvig (ed.), Climate of the Polar Regions, World Survey of Climatology, Vol. 7, Elsevier, pp. 129-252.

  • Xiao, J.,Bintanja, R.,Déry, S. J.,Mann, G. W., andTaylor, P. A.: 2000, ‘An Intercomparison among Four Models of Blowing Snow’ Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 97, 109-135.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 206 Oceanography, Route 9W, Palisades, NY, 10964-8000, USA

    Stephen J. Déry

  2. Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke St, W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 2K6, Canada

    M. K. Yau

Authors
  1. Stephen J. Déry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. K. Yau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Déry, S.J., Yau, M.K. Simulation Of Blowing Snow In The Canadian Arctic Using A Double-Moment Model. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 99, 297–316 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018965008049

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018965008049

Search

Navigation