EGS XXVI General Assembly, Nice, France, March 2001

OA14.02 Surface fluxes over land and ocean: Energy and mass exchange of snow covers and glaciers (co-sponsored by HS)

Event Information

The topic of this session is the energy and mass balance of snow covers and glaciers both in high-latitude and high-altitude regions. The role of snow covers and glaciers within the climate system, their economic value as a resource, and their potential for high-magnitude natural hazards define the scientific background for this session. Results from field studies, remote sensing analyses and numerical models are in the scope of this session. There are many particularities common to snow covers and glaciers: The radiation budget of these surfaces is completely different compared to any other surface structure due to generally high albedo values and the fact that snow/ice temperatures can not exceed 0 C. This limit is also of relevance for sensible heat flux, since stable conditions are predominant during times of highest energy input. Katabatic flows, most of the time present over melting tilted surfaces, complicates the application of existing methods to determine turbulent fluxes. Energy and mass exchange of snow/ice bodies are closely coupled with each other by melt and refreeze processes difficult to quantify. The need for improved methods for determining the energy and mass balance of snow covers and glaciers is further enhanced by the remote-ness of many areas where they form important phenomena of the natural environment.

Preliminary List of Solicited Speakers

Co-Sponsorship