TY - JOUR
T1 - Drifting snow measurements on the Greenland Ice Sheet and their application for model evaluation
AU - Lenaerts, J.T.M.
AU - Smeets, C.J.P.P.
AU - Nishimura, K.
AU - Eijkelboom, M.
AU - Boot, W.
AU - van den Broeke, M.R.
AU - van de Berg, W.J.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - This paper presents autonomous drifting snow observations performed on the Greenland
Ice Sheet in the fall of 2012. High-frequency Snow Particle Counter (SPC) observations
at 1m above the surface provided drifting snow number fluxes and size
5 distributions; these were combined with meteorological observations at six levels. We
identify two types of drifting snow events: katabatic events are relatively cold and dry,
with prevalent winds from the southeast, whereas synoptic events are short-lived, warm
and wet. Precipitating snow during synoptic events disturbs the drifting snow measurements.
Output of the regional atmospheric climate model RACMO2, which includes the
10 drifting snow routine PIEKTUK-B, agrees well with the observed near-surface climate
at the site, as well as with the frequency and timing of drifting snow events. Direct
comparisons with the SPC observations at 1m reveal that the model overestimates the
typical size of drifting snow particles, as well as the horizontal snow transport at this
level.
AB - This paper presents autonomous drifting snow observations performed on the Greenland
Ice Sheet in the fall of 2012. High-frequency Snow Particle Counter (SPC) observations
at 1m above the surface provided drifting snow number fluxes and size
5 distributions; these were combined with meteorological observations at six levels. We
identify two types of drifting snow events: katabatic events are relatively cold and dry,
with prevalent winds from the southeast, whereas synoptic events are short-lived, warm
and wet. Precipitating snow during synoptic events disturbs the drifting snow measurements.
Output of the regional atmospheric climate model RACMO2, which includes the
10 drifting snow routine PIEKTUK-B, agrees well with the observed near-surface climate
at the site, as well as with the frequency and timing of drifting snow events. Direct
comparisons with the SPC observations at 1m reveal that the model overestimates the
typical size of drifting snow particles, as well as the horizontal snow transport at this
level.
U2 - 10.5194/tcd-8-21-2014
DO - 10.5194/tcd-8-21-2014
M3 - Article
SN - 1994-0432
VL - 8
SP - 21
EP - 53
JO - Cryosphere Discussions
JF - Cryosphere Discussions
ER -