Snow and Climate Physical Processes, Surface Energy Exchange and Modeling

This book presents the prevailing state of snow-climate science for researchers and advanced students.

The extent and variability of seasonal snow cover are important parameters in the climate system, due to their effects on energy and moisture budgets, and because surface temperature is highly dependent on snow cover. In turn, snow cover trends serve as key indicators of climate change. Many distinct techniques have become available to study snow-climate relationships. Satellites provided the first capability for monitoring snow cover extent at continental and hemispheric scales, and there have been rapid advances in snow modeling physics to represent snow cover and snow processes in Global Climate Models (GCMs). These advances have changed the way we look at snow cover. The main goal of this book is to provide a synthesis of the prevailing state of snow-climate science that reflects this distinct perspective. This volume provides an excellent synthesis for researchers and advanced students.

Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction Richard L. Armstrong and Ross Brown; 2. Physical processes within the snow cover and their parameterization Rachel E. Jordan, Mary Remley, Albert and Eric Brun; 3. Snow-atmosphere energy and mass balance John C. King, John W. Pomeroy, Donald M. Gray, Charles Fierz, Richard J. Harding, Rachel E. Jordan, Christian Plüss, Paul M. B. Föhn and Eric Martin; 4. Snow cover parameterizations and modeling Eric Brun, Zong-Liang Yang, Richard Essery and Judah Cohen; 5. Snow cover data: Sources and products Ross Brown and Richard L. Armstrong; Index.

Many distinct techniques for studying snow-climate relationships have changed the way we look at snow cover. This book gives information on the prevailing state of snow-climate science and provides an excellent synthesis for researchers and advanced students.