Abstract
Abstract. A detailed, physically based, one dimensional column snowpack model (Crocus) has been incorporated into the hydrological model, Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-Hydro, to allow for direct surface mass balance simulation of glaciers and subsequent modeling of meltwater discharge from glaciers. The new system (WRF-Hydro/Glacier) is only activated over a priori designated glacier areas. This glacier area is initialized with observed glacier thickness and assumed to be pure ice (with corresponding ice density). This allows for melting of the glacier to continue after all accumulated snow has melted. Furthermore, the simulation of surface albedo over the glacier is more realistic, as surface albedo is represented by snow, where there is accumulated snow, and glacier ice, when all accumulated snow is melted. To evaluate the WRF-Hydro/Glacier system over a glacier in southern Norway, WRF atmospheric model simulations were downscaled to 1 km grid spacing. This provided meteorological forcing data to the WRF-Hydro/Glacier system at 100 m grid spacing for surface and streamflow simulation. Evaluation of the WRF downscaling showed a good comparison with in situ meteorological observations for most of the simulation period. The WRF-Hydro/Glacier system reproduced the glacier surface winter/summer and net mass balance, snow depth, surface albedo and glacier runoff well compared to observations. The improved estimation of albedo has an appreciable impact on the discharge from the glacier during frequent precipitation periods. We have shown that the integrated snowpack system allows for improved glacier surface mass balance studies and hydrological studies.
Highlights
Glaciers provide natural storage of water supply to rivers
The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations were validated by using observations from 21 automated weather stations (AWSs) operated by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (Fig. 3)
We note that additional stations exist in the southwestern corner of the domain that were excluded in our evaluation because they were too close to the border of the domain
Summary
Glaciers provide natural storage of water supply to rivers. It is imperative to understand how glaciers and associated hydrological processes respond to a changing climate to better inform communities that rely on glaciers for their livelihoods and wellbeing. It is the surface mass balance on glaciers that impacts the subsequent glacier-fed streamflow. Mass balance changes in glaciers in Norway are largely controlled by accumulation season precipitation and ablation season temperature. This was determined by comparing measured glacier mass balance from stake measurements with meteorological station
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