Snow and Climate
Physical Processes, Surface Energy Exchange and Modeling

This book presents the prevailing state of snow-climate science for researchers and advanced students.

Richard L. Armstrong (Edited by), Eric Brun (Edited by)

9780521130653, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 February 2010

256 pages
24.4 x 17 x 1.4 cm, 0.41 kg

Review of the hardback: '…very readable … a very good overview of what every serious climate scientist, both modeller or experimentalist, should know about snow and its interaction with the atmosphere.' Antarctic Science

The extent and variability of seasonal snow cover are important parameters in the climate system, due to their effects on energy and moisture budgets, and because surface temperature is highly dependent on snow cover. In turn, snow cover trends serve as key indicators of climate change. Many distinct techniques have become available to study snow-climate relationships. Satellites provided the first capability for monitoring snow cover extent at continental and hemispheric scales, and there have been rapid advances in snow modeling physics to represent snow cover and snow processes in Global Climate Models (GCMs). These advances have changed the way we look at snow cover. The main goal of this book is to provide a synthesis of the prevailing state of snow-climate science that reflects this distinct perspective. This volume provides an excellent synthesis for researchers and advanced students.

Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction Richard L. Armstrong and Ross Brown
2. Physical processes within the snow cover and their parameterization Rachel E. Jordan, Mary Remley, Albert and Eric Brun
3. Snow-atmosphere energy and mass balance John C. King, John W. Pomeroy, Donald M. Gray, Charles Fierz, Richard J. Harding, Rachel E. Jordan, Christian Plüss, Paul M. B. Föhn and Eric Martin
4. Snow cover parameterizations and modeling Eric Brun, Zong-Liang Yang, Richard Essery and Judah Cohen
5. Snow cover data: Sources and products Ross Brown and Richard L. Armstrong
Index.

Subject Areas: Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Atmospheric physics [PHVJ]