Spatial Snowdrift Modeling using the Snow Movement Over Open Terrain for Hydrology (SMOOTH) model

Abstract:

Although snow redistribution processes considerably impacts the local hydrology and ecosystem, robust physically-based modeling has not been established due to lack of understanding of mechanisms. This study attempted to implement a numerical modeling for snow redistribution based on the Linear Particle Distribution (LPD) equation. This equation represents the evolution of the snow surface elevation by Eulerian particle motion processes, such as snow surface diffusion, snow surface advection, and snow erosion. To describe the snowdrift patterns affected by rapid elevation change, a perforated snow fence and variability in ground-surface roughness, a snow surface erosion for a fetch-eddy effect was introduced to the well-known advection dispersion equation. This presentation will focus on the numerical model development and implementations for two-dimensional natural terrains at meter-scale resolutions with and without perforated snow fences. The numerical scheme in the Snow Movement Over Open Terrain for Hydrology (SMOOTH) model was improved to overcome the advection instability using the flux limiter method. Then, an equivalent solid snow fence concept was introduced for snowdrifts around the snow detention structures in the middle of the computational domain. Some demonstrative simulations in the Laramie Range, Wyoming, and on the North Slope of Alaska, will be shown along with the corresponding observed snow distributions from Airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry. The implemented numerical snow redistribution model seems effective in reproducing the observed snowdrift distributions during the peak snow period.