Comparison between observed and simulated aeolian snow mass fluxes in Adélie Land, East Antarctica

[en] The regional climate model MAR including a coupled snow pack/aeolian snow transport parameterisation is compared with aeolian snow mass fluxes at a fine spatial resolution (5 km horizontally and 2 m vertically) and at a fine temporal resolution (30 min) over 1 month in Antarctica. Numerous feedbacks are taken into account in the MAR including the drag partitioning caused by the roughness elements. Wind speed is correctly simulated with a positive value of the Nash test (0.60 and 0.37) but the wind speeds above 10 m s−1 are underestimated. The aeolian snow transport events are correctly reproduced with a good temporal resolution except for the aeolian snow transport events with a particles' maximum height below 1 m. The simulated threshold friction velocity, calculated without snowfall, is overestimated. The simulated aeolian snow mass fluxes between 0 to 2 m have the same variations but are underestimated compared to the second-generation FlowCapt values and so is the simulated relative humidity at 2 m. This underestimation is not entirely due to the underestimation of the simulated wind speed. The MAR underestimates the aeolian snow quantity that pass through the first two meters by a factor ten compared to the second-generation FlowCapt value (13 990 kg m−1 and 151 509 kg m−1 respectively). It will conduct the MAR, with this parametrisation, to underestimate the effect of the aeolian snow transport on the Antarctic surface mass balance.

Disciplines :

Earth sciences & physical geography

Author, co-author :

Amory, Charles ; Université de Liège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie

Trouvillez, A.

Gallée, H.

Favier, V.

Naaim-Bouvet, F.

Genthon, C.

Agosta, Cécile ; Université de Liège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie

Piard, L.

Bellot, H.

Language :

English

Title :

Comparison between observed and simulated aeolian snow mass fluxes in Adélie Land, East Antarctica

Publication date :

30 July 2015

Journal title :

The Cryosphere

ISSN :

1994-0416

eISSN :

1994-0424

Publisher :

Copernicus, Katlenberg-Lindau, Germany

Volume :

Pages :

1373-1383

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/8/6007/2014/

Available on ORBi :

since 15 June 2015

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