Mountain and Forest Snow Cover: Climatology, Interactions and Processes

The unique physical properties of snow have a profound and rapidly varying influence on the seasonal snow cover in mountain and forest areas. Heterogeneity by vegetation canopies and the complexity of alpine landscapes interact with present challenges for both monitoring and modelling of snow in many areas where the snow cover is an important phenomenon of the natural environment. The amount of snow in alpine and forest areas is also key factor for winter tourism. Its quantification, trend and modelling in a changing climate are thus important for ecological and economical assessments. Models of snow processes are required for a wide range of applications in hydrological forecasting, avalanche risk assessment and climate modelling. The scientific background of this session is defined by the role of alpine snow as a water resource and touristic necessity and its interaction with mountain forest as an important part of the landscape and protection from snow avalanches. The session will focus on monitoring, processes and modelling of spatial and temporal variations in the accumulation and melting of alpine- and forest snow cover.