Abstract
Abstract. Ice layers may form deep in the snowpack due to preferential water flow, with impacts on the snowpack mechanical, hydrological and thermodynamical properties. This detailed study at a high-altitude alpine site aims to monitor their formation and evolution thanks to the combined use of a comprehensive observation dataset at a daily frequency and state-of-the-art snow-cover modeling with improved ice formation representation. In particular, daily SnowMicroPen penetration resistance profiles enabled us to better identify ice layer temporal and spatial heterogeneity when associated with traditional snowpack profiles and measurements, while upward-looking ground penetrating radar measurements enabled us to detect the water front and better describe the snowpack wetting when associated with lysimeter runoff measurements. A new ice reservoir was implemented in the one-dimensional SNOWPACK model, which enabled us to successfully represent the formation of some ice layers when using Richards equation and preferential flow domain parameterization during winter 2017. The simulation of unobserved melt-freeze crusts was also reduced. These improved results were confirmed over 17 winters. Detailed snowpack simulations with snow microstructure representation associated with a high-resolution comprehensive observation dataset were shown to be relevant for studying and modeling such complex phenomena despite limitations inherent to one-dimensional modeling.
Highlights
The presence of ice layers in a snowpack may impact its mechanical, hydrological and thermodynamical properties
We presented here a detailed study of deep ice layer formation in the snowpack due to preferential water flow at Weissfluhjoch, a high-altitude alpine site
This research proposed an approach based on the combined use of a novel comprehensive observation dataset at high temporal resolution and detailed snow-cover modeling with improved ice formation representation
Summary
The presence of ice layers in a snowpack may impact its mechanical, hydrological and thermodynamical properties. Monitoring the formation and evolution of ice layers is crucial in many research fields Because of their low permeability (Albert and Perron, 2000), ice layers may increase the liquid water storage of the snowpack, which can substantially affect the snowpack runoff (Singh et al, 1999). Retrieval algorithms for the water equivalent of snow cover and snow depth from passive microwave emissions are sensitive to the presence of ice layers (Rees et al, 2010; Roy et al, 2016). Better knowledge about their formation could help the assimilation of such data in detailed snow-cover models (Larue et al, 2018)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
