IACS working group MicroSnow:From quantitative stratigraphy

to microstructure-based modelling of snowHistory, Goals, Workshops

Co-chairs: Henning Lowe1, Samuel Morin2

1 WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, CH2 Meteo-France - CNRS, CNRM-GAME, Centre d’Etudes de la Neige, Saint Martin d’Heres cedex, France

MicroSnowII Workshop, Columbia, 2015

Acknowledgements

Members, contributors:

Funding:

Why this working group?

Users of “snow grain size”

I Microwave remote sensing (CoreH2O)

I Optical remote sensing

I Climate modeling (snow albedo)

I Energy balance over snow

I Snowpack modeling in general

Rhetorical question:

I Do you really want to validate the problems above with a“grain size” measured by eye with a loupe?

WG goal:

I Shape a community-voice for “grain size” issues

Snow Grain Size Workshop, Grenoble 2013

Theory....

… and practice.

Organizers: G. Picard, S. Morin, H. Lowe, L. Arnaud, M. Dumont

Outcome: Strong community agreement

I Necessity for an intercomparison workshop (Davos)

I Necessity for a workshop tailored to microwave remote sensingapplications (Reading)

Intercomparison of Snow Grain Size MeasurementsWorkshop, Davos 2014

Organizers: M. Schneebeli, T. Aoki, L. Arnaud, F. Domine, S. Morin,

G. Picard, M. Sturm, M. Proksch, M. Jaggi, M. Matzl

Outcome: Dissemniation in TC special issue (04.2015–12.2016):Intercomparison of methods to characterize snow microstructure

MicroSnow Workshop on Microstructure in SnowMicrowave Radiative Transfer, Reading 2014

Organizers: M. Sandells, N. Rutter, M. Horhold, I. Davenport, S. Linow,

W. MaslankaOutcome: Broad agreement

I Need for a campaign: microstructure and microwaves

I Keep the momentum: MicroSnow II workshop

MicroSnow: Working Group, Workshops

Main achievement:

I Formation of a strong “grain size community”

Main theme:

I Good discussions, less competition, more collaboration