Impact of newly discovered airborne snow metamorphism on optical grain size and isotopic composition of polar snow

A new process named airborne snow metamorphism (ASM) was recently discovered by wind tunnel experiments at WSL/SLF. ASM was found resulting in unexpected vapor deposition at the airborne snow particles, severely affecting the isotopic composition and the (optical) grain size of snow. We expect ASM having considerable implications for the snow albedo, (radar) remote sensing, surface mass balance, and climate signals in low precipitation and high wind speed polar regions.

This project aims at

• proving the existence and relevance of ASM for  polar regions based on field experiments conducted at Dome-C (Antarctica),
• a detailed characterization and quantification of ASM based on further systematic cold lab experiments,
• implementing ASM into the coupled atmosphere-snow cover model CRYOWRF. 

The project will result in a comprehensive understanding and quantification of ASM and an advanced CRYOWRF model to be used for studying ASM for a variety of polar atmospheric
conditions.