Interannual persistence of the seasonal snow cover in a glacierized catchment. Issue 223 (2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Helfricht, Kay; Schöber, Johannes; Schneider, Katrin; Sailer, Rudolf; Kuhn, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal of Glaciology. Volume 60:Issue 223(2014)
• Page Start: 889
• Page End: 904
• Publication Date: 2014
• Subjects: accumulation, -- mountain glaciers, -- remote sensing, -- snow, -- snow/ice surface processes
• DOI: 10.3189/2014JoG13J197
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1430

Abstract

Abstract: Knowledge of the spatial snow distribution and its interannual persistence is of interest for a broad spectrum of issues in cryospheric sciences. In this study, snow depths derived from airborne laser scanning are analyzed for interannual persistence of the seasonal snow cover in a partly glacierized mountain area (~36 km 2 ). At the end of five accumulation periods, the snow-covered area varied by 16% of its temporal mean. Mean snow depth of the total area ranged by a factor of two (1.31–2.58 m), with a standard deviation of 0.42 m. Interannual correlation coefficients of snow depth distribution were in the range 0.68–0.84. Of the investigated area, 75% was found to be interannually persistent. The remaining area showed variable snow cover from year to year, caused by occasional avalanches and changes in surface topography as a result of glacier retreat. Snow cover underwent a change from a homogeneous distribution on the former glacier surface to a more heterogeneous snow cover in the recently deglaciated terrain. A geostatistical analysis shows interannual persistence in scaling behavior of snow depth in ice-free terrain with scale break distances at 20 m. Scale-invariant behavior of snow depth is indicated over >100 m on smooth glacier surfaces.