CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Gray, D.M.; Pomeroy, J.W.; Toth, B.; Zhao, L.; and Granger, R.J.
Date : 2000.
Title : A deterministic approach to modeling and scaling frozen soil infiltration for snow ablation.
Publication : Annual Scientific Meeting, Canadian Geophysical Union, Banff, Alberta, May 23-27, 2000.
Issue : Abstract.
Page(s) :
Abstract
A conceptual model, which is based on the surface entry and water transmission properties of frozen ground, is used as the framework to scale frozen soil infiltration for snow ablation. Frozen soils are divided into three classes in terms of their infiltrability for snowmelt: (a) restricted -water entry is impeded by surface conditions, (b) limited -downward movement of water is influenced primarily by the soil physical and storage properties, and (c) unlimited - soils that are able to imbibe most of the available meltwater. Restricted and unlimited cases can be identified from climate history and/or field observations. For limited soils cumulative infiltration over time is estimated by a parametric equation from surface saturation, initial soil moisture content (water + ice), initial soil temperature and infiltration opportunity time. The scale of variability in frozen soil infiltration is established by the spatial variability's of depth of soil freezing, snow water equivalent, soil infiltrability and soil moisture (water + ice). A hierarchy of scales among primary parameters is hypothesized. For example, the minimum scale required to define the areal extent of frozen ground is the maximum scale for snow accumulation, likewise the minimum scale required to define the spatial variability of snow accumulation is the maximum scale for frozen soil infiltrability. Scaling the infiltrability of frozen soils therefore can exploit much of the established landscape-stratification methodology used to derive snow accumulation means and distributions. The procedure requires information on the spatial distribution of soil moisture (water + ice) or the covariance between snow water equivalent and soil moisture content at the start of ablation. Additional research is needed to acquire these data.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology