Introduction

Wind-blown snow is one of the main causes of avalanches, which can lead to great economic losses in high-mountain areas (ski and mountain resorts). Snowdrifting also causes disturbance to traffic and is the main reason for closing roads in mountain areas during the winter.

Snowdrifting is very similar to aeolian sand transport. Thus, basic aeolian sand-transport studies (Reference BagnoldBagnold, 1941) are classically applied to snow transport. However, there are differences between the behaviour of sand and snow grains during scour, transport and sedimentation, mainly due to the differences in cohesion between the grains.

The aim of this paper is to compare three different field gauges used to quantify the snowdrifting mass flux at different heights. One of them, a snow-collector column, is stationary, so it quantifies the snowdrifting in a total wind episode. The other gauges are used in short measuring experiments during a wind episode. The data used in this work were collected during four winters: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

The Study Area

The experimental site is located on the highest slopes of La Molina ski resort (Reference Mases, Vilaplana, Arnáez, Garcia-Ruíz and Gómez VillarMases and Vilaplana, 1994).

The landscape in the study area is divided into two parts. In the lower part, there are steeper slopes while the higher part is characterized by high erosion surfaces or platforms and is flatter. However, there are some slope ruptures that produce snowdrifts. The study was undertaken in the higher part.

The altitude ranges between 2000 and 2400 m a.s.l., with a slope mainly exposed to the north. Mean annual precipitation is about 1211.2 mm of water; mean annual solid precipitation is about 414 mm of water and the average snow-accumulation thickness is about 2.5m at 2050 m a.S.1. (Reference SalvadorSalvador, 1985). Precipitation comes mainly from the east, and is often followed by strong northerly winds that immediately redistribute all the fresh snow.

Experimental Equipment and Field Methods

The experimental site is equipped with several gauges that allow us to characterize the wind episodes.

Comparison of Gauges Used in Mass-Flux Measurements at La Molina

Since the 1992–93 season, different gauges have been progressively installed at the experimental plot.

In mass-flux measurements, the gauges used collect a quantity of snow representative of the natural phenomenon. The amount of snow collected is considered to be the minimal amount that drifts, since there is often a loss of drifted mass due to the trap's design.

Field tests have been carried out with the aim of establishing a relative collection efficiency value for each gauge and discovering which gauge is the most representative of the natural phenomenon.

We have situated the three gauges at the same places to ensure there are identical transport conditions to facilitate their comparison. In Figure 3, we show one of these field tests; the wind was blowing from right to left and the hut was situated behind (lee side) and to the right of the testing area. Results show important differences; the snow traps, both types A and B, collect similar quantities of snow, whereas the snow-collector columns collect much more. We consider the collector that collects the highest amount of snow is the most efficient; thus, the collection efficiency of this gauge is considered to be 100% for this episode.

Fig. 3.

The different gauges during a field experiment. From left to right: anemometers, snow trap A, snow trap B and snow-collector column.

In Table 1 we present the data obtained during the snowdrifting episodes of 8 February 1996 (columns a, b and c) and of 15 February 1997 (the remainder of the columns). For the first episode, we tested both types of snow trap, A and B, and for the second the three gauges were tested.

Table 1.

Data obtained from La Molina during the snowdrifting episodes of 8 February 1996 and 15 February 1997

From the observation of Figure 4 (Table 1), we assume that although wind velocities were similar during both episodes, from 20–22 m S−1, transport values on the 8 February 1996 episode were lower than those of the 15 February 1997 episode. There is an influence of the snow-surface hardness that is 0.029 and 0.025 kg cm ⁻², respectively, but as these values are similar we consider that the main factor is the availability of snow to be drifted, 0.35 and 0.65 m, respectively.

Fig. 4.

Comparison of the mass-flux profiles obtained using the three different gauges used at La Molina. Lines are fitted to the data (see Table 1).

In column i of Table 1, we present the snow-collector column values for the 15 February 1997 episode. The higher mass-flux values were obtained from these columns. Considering these values to be 100%, a relative efficiency rate for the different gauges at different heights was established. Results are shown in column f for type A snow traps and column h For type B snow traps (Table 1; Fig. 5).

Fig. 5.

Relation of the collection efficiency, relative to the snow-collector columns, with heights for the type A and B snow-trap gauges. Lines are fitted to the data (see Table 1).

In Figure 5, the variations of the relative collection-efficiency values with height above the surface are shown. We observed a decrease in the collection efficiency with height. The highest efficiency values of the snow traps are about 45% of the snow-collector columns.

Reference SatoSato (1990) proposed that the sublimation rate increases with increases in air temperature and the transfer coefficient for sensible heat, which is close to that for water vapour. The sublimation rate was shown to decrease with an increase in relative humidity of the air. The transfer coefficient is an increasing function of ambient wind speed and does not depend on air temperature, humidity or the depth of the snow in the collector.

From measurements in a cold room with a net-type collector and a cyclone-type collector, Reference SatoSato (1991) found that the error in the mass-flux measurement with the net-type collector, caused by the sublimation of the collected blowing snow, was below that for the cyclone-type collector.

Our snow traps are comparable to Sato's net-type collectors and the snow-collector columns are similar to Sato's cyclone-type collector. However, as the snow-collector columns are closed reservoirs, even if sublimation processes affect the snow collected, water vapour remains inside the collector and is also measured. In the snow traps, sublimation affects the measurements, because it produces a loss in the amount of snow mass collected. We can consider sublimation to be one of the causes of the differences found in the trapping efficiency among the three gauges.

Even if the experimental results show that the snow collector columns are the most efficient in representing the natural phenomenon, this gauge is not particularly useful for short-duration measurements and its design implies mobility difficulties. However, this gauge is very useful, because it remains in place during the whole of the snowdrifting episode and allows for quantification of the total amount of snow drifted away. Although the snow traps have a lower trapping efficiency rate, their lightness and mobility are considered to be of considerable usefulness and the design of their inlets permits short-duration experiments.

Comparison of La Molina Experimental Mass-Flux Profiles

We have selected nine mass-flux vertical profiles that are considered to be representative of mass-flux data collected at the La Molina experimental plot between 1992 and 1996. The three different gauges used are shown in Figure 6 and the main features of the snowdrifting events are summarized in Table 2.

Fig. 6.

Experimental mass-flux profiles vs height obtained at La Molina. Using the type A snow trap profiles: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, together with the B snow traps 3 and 4 and profile 1 with the snow-collector columns. Dashed lines represent the theoretical values proposed by Reference Mellor and FellersMellor and Fellers (1986) (see Table 2).

Table 2.

Features of the profiles shown in Figure 6.

From observation of the different profiles, each of the three gauges represent equally the main features of the snowdrifting events, although different gauges have different trapping-efficiency values. Profiles of the same snow-drifting event have similar slopes. Differences are in the relative position of the profiles; some of these can be explained by the trapping efficiency of the gauges. This is reflected in profiles 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Figure 6.

Profile 1, which represents the highest mass-flux values, its from data obtained using the snow-collector columns. Profile 2 is obtained using type A snow traps and profiles 3 and 4 using type B snow traps. Although profiles 3 and 4 were obtained using the same gauge, profile 3 was obtained at the beginning of the snowdrifting event and is characterized by a snow-surface hardness and wind-speed relation that eases snowdrifting. The measurements of profile 4 show that this relation is not as favourable to snowdrifting, which explains some of the differences found in the mass-flux values.

Even if profiles 5, 8 and 9 pertain to different snowdrifting events, 16 February 1996 (5, 8) and 13 February 1995 (9), the slopes are very similar. We assume that this similarity comes from the snow-surface hardness values that arc very high in the three cases: 0.046, 0.046 and 0.042 kg cm⁻¹, respectively. Although profiles 5 and 8 have higher snow-surface hardness, mass-flux values are higher than in profile 9, and this is due to wind velocity which is higher in the first two profiles.

Finally, profiles 6 and 7 represent snowdrifting events characterized by light winds (13 m s⁻¹). The relative positions of the two profiles is explained by differences in time during the same snowdrifting event. In this case, we consider that the availability of snow to be drifted controls the mass-flux values of these profiles (Table 2).

The relation of snow-surface hardness to wind velocity is one of the main factors controlling mass flux during a snowdrifting event.

We have compared our experimental profiles with those fitted by Reference Mellor and FellersMellor and Fellers (1986) for experimental data obtained in Antarctica (Fig. 6). Reference Mellor and FellersMellor and Fellers (1986) fitted a regression equation relating mass flux to wind speed and height above the surface; it provides reasonable estimates for snow transport up to a height of 5 m. This relationship can be used to estimate the quantity, direction and vertical distribution of seasonal-snow transport from wind records (Reference Tabler and SodhiTabler, 1991).

Reference Mellor and FellersMellor and Fellers (1986) derived the following regression equation relating mass flux to height and wind speed

where and . The correlation coefficient .

The dashed lines in Figure 6 represent the fitted values for each wind velocity. The only profile that fits with Mellor and Fellers' values is profile 1. These data were obtained with snow-collector columns; thus, we assume that these collectors are most similar to the Mellor drift traps.

Finally, we have corrected the values of the A and B snow traps, applying the collection-efficiency rates, and compared them with the suggested profiles of Reference Mellor and FellersMellor and Fellers 1986; (Fig. 7). Profiles 5, 8 and 9 do not fit with the theoretical ones and we assume that this is because the snow-surface hardness values were too high to reach flux saturation in these three episodes. The remainder of the profiles fit well after the trapping-efficiency correction has been done.

Fig. 7.

Experimental mass-flux profiles vs height obtained at La Molina. The values of the A (profiles 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) and B (profiles 3 and 4) traps have been corrected applying the collection efficiency rates obtained from the comparison with the snow-collector columns. Dashed lines represent the theoretical values proposed by Reference Mellor and FellersMellor and Fellers (1986) (see Table 2).

Conclusions

The gauges designed to quantify aeolian-transport processes collect a representative amount of the natural phenomenon. We consider the gauge that collects the highest quantities of snow is the most representative.

By comparing data obtained at La Molina with three different gauges (snow traps A and B and the snow-collector columns), the important role of gauge design is confirmed. The snow-collector columns are the most efficient, so we have considered this gauge as 100% for the episode. The snow traps relative efficiency is below 45% of the snow-collector columns efficiency.

The snow-collector columns were designed to remain fixed in the field; thus, they contained the total amount of drifted snow for a drifting-snow event. The snow traps (types A and B), even if less efficient than the snow-collector columns, are useful for short-duration measurements, because of their mobility and lightness.

We compared our experimental profiles with those calculated using the regression of Reference Mellor and FellersMellor and Fellers (1986) for experimental data obtained in Antarctica and observed that our experimental values were below the calculated ones. However, the type of gauge used could explain this discrepancy. Mellor and Feller's traps efficiency is more similar to our snow-collector columns than to our own snow traps.

Indeed, after correcting the snow-trap data in relation to the snow-collector column, we observe that our field data fit with the proposed values of Mellor and Fellers (1986).