Abstract
Direct measurements of winter water loss due to sublimation were made in a sub-alpine forest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Above-and below-canopy eddy covariance systems indicated substantial losses of winter-season snow accumulation in the form of snowpack (0.41 mm d-1) and intercepted snow (0.71 mm d-1) sublimation. The partitioning between these over and under story components of water loss was highly dependent on atmospheric conditions and near-surface conditions at and below the snow/atmosphere interface. High above-canopy sensible heat fluxes lead to strong temperature gradients between vegetation and the snow-surface, driving substantial specific humidity gradients at the snow surface and high sublimation rates. Intercepted snowfall resulted in rapid response of above-canopy latent heat fluxes, high within-canopy sublimation rates (maximum = 3.7 mm d-1), and diminished sub-canopy snowpack sublimation. These results indicate that sublimation losses from the sub-canopy snowpack are strongly dependent on the partitioning of sensible and latent heat fluxes in the canopy. This compels comprehensive studies of snow sublimation in forested regions that integrate sub-canopy and over-story processes.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1567-1575 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Hydrological Processes |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 15 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Eddy covariance
- Rocky mountains
- Snow interception
- Sublimation
- Vegetation canopy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Water Science and Technology
Cite this
Estimating sublimation of intercepted and sub-canopy snow using eddy covariance systems. / Molotch, Noah P.; Blanken, Peter D.; Williams, Mark W.; Turnipseed, Andrew A.; Monson, Russell; Margulis, Steven A.
In: Hydrological Processes, Vol. 21, No. 12, 15.06.2007, p. 1567-1575.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Estimating sublimation of intercepted and sub-canopy snow using eddy covariance systems
AU - Molotch, Noah P.
AU - Blanken, Peter D.
AU - Williams, Mark W.
AU - Turnipseed, Andrew A.
AU - Monson, Russell
AU - Margulis, Steven A.
PY - 2007/6/15
Y1 - 2007/6/15
N2 - Direct measurements of winter water loss due to sublimation were made in a sub-alpine forest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Above-and below-canopy eddy covariance systems indicated substantial losses of winter-season snow accumulation in the form of snowpack (0.41 mm d-1) and intercepted snow (0.71 mm d-1) sublimation. The partitioning between these over and under story components of water loss was highly dependent on atmospheric conditions and near-surface conditions at and below the snow/atmosphere interface. High above-canopy sensible heat fluxes lead to strong temperature gradients between vegetation and the snow-surface, driving substantial specific humidity gradients at the snow surface and high sublimation rates. Intercepted snowfall resulted in rapid response of above-canopy latent heat fluxes, high within-canopy sublimation rates (maximum = 3.7 mm d-1), and diminished sub-canopy snowpack sublimation. These results indicate that sublimation losses from the sub-canopy snowpack are strongly dependent on the partitioning of sensible and latent heat fluxes in the canopy. This compels comprehensive studies of snow sublimation in forested regions that integrate sub-canopy and over-story processes.
AB - Direct measurements of winter water loss due to sublimation were made in a sub-alpine forest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Above-and below-canopy eddy covariance systems indicated substantial losses of winter-season snow accumulation in the form of snowpack (0.41 mm d-1) and intercepted snow (0.71 mm d-1) sublimation. The partitioning between these over and under story components of water loss was highly dependent on atmospheric conditions and near-surface conditions at and below the snow/atmosphere interface. High above-canopy sensible heat fluxes lead to strong temperature gradients between vegetation and the snow-surface, driving substantial specific humidity gradients at the snow surface and high sublimation rates. Intercepted snowfall resulted in rapid response of above-canopy latent heat fluxes, high within-canopy sublimation rates (maximum = 3.7 mm d-1), and diminished sub-canopy snowpack sublimation. These results indicate that sublimation losses from the sub-canopy snowpack are strongly dependent on the partitioning of sensible and latent heat fluxes in the canopy. This compels comprehensive studies of snow sublimation in forested regions that integrate sub-canopy and over-story processes.
KW - Eddy covariance
KW - Rocky mountains
KW - Snow interception
KW - Sublimation
KW - Vegetation canopy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34250342569&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34250342569&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hyp.6719
DO - 10.1002/hyp.6719
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34250342569
VL - 21
SP - 1567
EP - 1575
JO - Hydrological Processes
JF - Hydrological Processes
SN - 0885-6087
IS - 12
ER -