CIRES Graduates

University of Colorado at Boulder, 2003-2004

Andrew G. Slater, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Advisor: Konrad Steffen, Geography
Funding: NSF

Snow fractional cover in land surface schemes

Land surface scheme forcing data sets are constructed using observations from the Seward Peninsula in Alaska using non-parametric statistical techniques to full the gaps in precipitation. Extensive validation of NCAR and Land Surface (LS) models were undertaken using a variety of independent data such as turbulent fluxes. The models performed consistently compared to previous studies. Several weaknesses regarding parameter assignment in summer albedo, snow density and the lack of organic soil layers were identified. Using synthetic data generated from observations, a spatially implicit com-parison between the models and remotely sensed products was made. The models cannot emulate the observed vari-ability of the regions, even that within vegetation classes. Part of this stems from the uniform view of vegetation as well as the ever-problematic snow albedo parameterization.