Fiches de cours

Physics and hydrology of snow

ENV-525

Enseignant(s) :

Gaume Johan Alexandre Philippe
Huwald Wolf Hendrik
Lehning Michael

Langue:

English

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

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 detailed snow cover model (SNOWPACK)
• Formulate snow-air-ground exchange processes
• Explain the 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

Teaching methods

Lectures, exercises (incl. computer labs), self-learning

Expected student activities

Active participation, individual work on exercises, group work where indicated

Assessment methods

40%-Exercises (including model simulations)

60%-Written exam (end of semester)

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
• The avalanche handbook
• The global cryosphere / Barry
• Snow and climate / Armstrong

Moodle Link

• http://moodle.epfl.ch/course/view.php?id=9791