The end of the snow accumulation period in a small basin for a particular year i

Question

The end of the snow accumulation period in a small basin for a particular year is April 1^st. The snow accumulation is uniform over the basin, and the following April 1^st measurements were taken: a snow temperature of-5 degree C, snow depth of 1 meter, and a snow density of 550 kg m^-3. Assume that April 1^st is the very beginning of the melt period. a) What is the snow water equivalent (SWE), liquid water content, and snow porosity on April 1^st? b) Compute the energy input required to respectively complete the warming, ripening, and melt output phases. What fraction of the total energy goes into each phase? c) As you know by now, incoming radiation can vary greatly throughout a basin due to topography (slope/aspect). For the first thirty days after April 1^st, the snowpack at three locations in the basin absorb an average of 4 W m^-2, 23 W m^-2, and 75 W m^-2, respectively. Determine the phase and snow water equivalent (SWE) of the snowpack at each location after the thirty days. Assume the amount of water retained in the snowpack is constant from the end of the ripening phase until all water is melted.

Explanation / Answer

Snow water equivalent SNW) is the amount of water contained in snow pack. It is the depth of the water resulted after melting the entire snowpack.

Water density= 1000 kg/m³

Snow density given = 550 kg/m³

Snow density in percentage =55%

Snow Water equivalent (SWE)= snow depth x snow density %

As the density of snowpack on April 1st was 55% and the remain space of snow is occupied by porous space. So the porosity of the snow on April 1st is 45%.

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