Spatial Variability of Snow Properties

This lecture explores the spatial variability of snow properties, including snow water equivalent, density, and depth, and discusses the motivation behind studying snow heterogeneity, the physical processes creating it, and the measurement techniques used to capture it. Real-world examples from Davos and Calgary are presented, highlighting the impact of heterogeneous snow cover on melt timing and volume. The lecture also covers the external drivers and scales influencing snow variability, as well as the processes at the snow-atmosphere interface. Various methods of quantifying snow, such as remote sensing and point measurements, are discussed, along with the challenges in capturing spatio-temporal variability in snow properties.