Internal accumulation on Storglaciären, Sweden, in a multi-layer snow model coupled to a distributed energy- and mass-balance model

Authors: Reijmer, Carleen H.; Hock, Regine

Source: Journal of Glaciology, Volume 54, Number 184, January 2008 , pp. 61-72(12)

Publisher: International Glaciological Society

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Abstract:

To investigate the internal accumulation on Storglaciären, Sweden, we couple a multilayer snow model to a distributed energy- and mass-balance model. The snow model describes the temperature, density and water-content evolution of the snow/ice pack and includes the processes of percolation and refreezing of water. The model is run for the period 9 May-2 September 1999 and validated against weather station and mass-balance observations on the glacier. The model performs reasonably well, with an average summer mass balance for the location of stake observations of −1.56 m w.e. compared to −1.59 m w.e. observed. However, the amount of melt is overestimated in the higher parts of the accumulation area and underestimated in the lower parts of the ablation area. The modelled mass balance is most sensitive to the albedo parameterization, the chosen momentum and scalar roughness lengths and all parameters related to snowfall. The modelled internal accumulation is +0.25 m w.e., which amounts to about 20% of the winter accumulation and results in a positive net balance for 1999 of +0.23 m w.e. The modelled internal accumulation is most sensitive to the initial subsurface temperature profile and the irreducible water content.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/002214308784409161

Publication date: 2008-01-01

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The Journal of Glaciology is published six times per year. It accepts submissions from any discipline related to the study of snow and ice. All articles are peer reviewed. The Journal is included in the ISI Science Citation Index.
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