[en] The regional climate model MAR including a coupled snow pack/aeolian snow transport parameterisation is compared with aeolian snow mass fluxes at a fine spatial resolution (5 km horizontally and 2 m vertically) and at a fine temporal resolution (30 min) over 1 month in Antarctica. Numerous feedbacks are taken into account in the MAR including the drag partitioning caused by the roughness elements. Wind speed is correctly simulated with a positive value of the Nash test (0.60 and 0.37) but the wind speeds above 10 m s−1 are underestimated. The aeolian snow transport events are correctly reproduced with a good temporal resolution except for the aeolian snow transport events with a particles' maximum height below 1 m. The simulated threshold friction velocity, calculated without snowfall, is overestimated. The simulated aeolian snow mass fluxes between 0 to 2 m have the same variations but are underestimated compared to the second-generation FlowCapt values and so is the simulated relative humidity at 2 m. This underestimation is not entirely due to the underestimation of the simulated wind speed. The MAR underestimates the aeolian snow quantity that pass through the first two meters by a factor ten compared to the second-generation FlowCapt value (13 990 kg m−1 and 151 509 kg m−1 respectively). It will conduct the MAR, with this parametrisation, to underestimate the effect of the aeolian snow transport on the Antarctic surface mass balance.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Amory, Charles ; Université de Liège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie
Trouvillez, A.
Gallée, H.
Favier, V.
Naaim-Bouvet, F.
Genthon, C.
Agosta, Cécile ; Université de Liège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie
Piard, L.
Bellot, H.
Language :
English
Title :
Comparison between observed and simulated aeolian snow mass fluxes in Adélie Land, East Antarctica
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