Impact of measured and simulated tundra snowpack properties on heat transfer

Abstract n = 1050) compared to traditional snowpit observations (3 cm vertical resolution; n = 115). Comparing measurements with simulations shows CLM overestimated snow thermal conductivity by a factor of 3, leading to a cold bias in wintertime soil temperatures (RMSE = 5.8  ∘ C). Two different approaches were taken to reduce this bias: alternative parameterisations of snow thermal conductivity and the application of a correction factor. All the evaluated parameterisations of snow thermal conductivity improved simulations of wintertime soil temperatures, with that of Sturm et al. (1997) having the greatest impact (RMSE = 2.5  ∘ C). The required correction factor is strongly related to snow depth (R 2 = 0.77, RMSE = 0.066) and thus differs between the two snow seasons, limiting the applicability of such an approach. Improving simulated snow properties and the corresponding heat flux is important, as wintertime soil temperatures are an important control on subnivean soil respiration and hence impact Arctic winter carbon fluxes and budgets.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Impact of measured and simulated tundra snowpack properties on heat transfer ; volume:16 ; number:10 ; year:2022 ; pages:4201-4222 ; extent:22 ; The Cryosphere ; 16, Heft 10 (2022), 4201-4222 (gesamt 22)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Dutch, Victoria R. ; Rutter, Nick ; Wake, Leanne ; Sandells, Melody ; Derksen, Chris ; Walker, Branden ; Hould Gosselin, Gabriel ; Sonnentag, Oliver ; Essery, Richard ; Kelly, Richard ; Marsh, Phillip ; King, Joshua ; Boike, Julia

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/tc-16-4201-2022
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022101305154141524979
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:34 AM CEST