Sublimation from snow surface in southern mountain taiga of eastern Siberia

Abstract

Through intensive observations of snow sublimation and meteorological elements, cold season processes at the snow‐atmosphere interface were clarified for both forested and open field conditions in the taiga region of eastern Siberia. Sublimation from snow surfaces differed with atmospheric stability. During early spring a significant difference in snow sublimation was observed between slopes and valley bottoms, despite variable vegetation cover. However, during the observation period, only one episode of significant snow sublimation was observed, which was caused by strong wind and ensuing light snowmelt. The sublimation for that week was ∼50% of the sublimation observed in the study period (29 days). As atmospheric stability decreased, the effect of forest cover on snow sublimation was clear, with a significant difference between forested areas and open fields. Later in the spring, increased net all‐wave radiation did not lead to an increase in sublimation but was consumed in meltwater production. The effect of forest cover on snow sublimation can be seen from the estimated bulk transfer coefficient for latent heat. The bulk transfer coefficient was larger for a larch forest than was that of open site. In the period 13 March–22 April (48 days), total snow sublimation was 15.7, 12.1, and 10.4 mm for open field, larch forest, and larch forest on a slope, respectively. This represents 14.3%, 13.0%, and 7.6% of the maximum water‐equivalent snow cover, respectively. However, the study period was only a part of the entire snow season, so totals for the whole winter would be larger.