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651-1504-00L 4 Credits MSC , NDS D-USYS , D-ERDW , D-BAUG , D-PHYS
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Snowcover: Physics and Modelling

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Martin Schneebeli, Dr. Henning Löwe
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:23:09

Abstract

Snow is a fascinating high-temperature material and relevant for applications in glaciology, hydrology, atmospheric sciences, polar climatology, remote sensing and natural hazards. This course introduces key concepts and underlying physical principles of snow, ranging from individual crystals to polar ice sheets.

Objective

The course aims at a cross-disciplinary overview about the phenomenology of relevant processes in the snow cover, traditional and advanced experimental methods for snow measurements and theoretical foundations with key equations required for snow modeling. Tutorials and short presentations will also consider the bigger picture of snow physics with respect to climatology, hydrology and earth science.

Content

The lectures will treat snow formation, crystal growth, snow microstructure, metamorphism, ice physics, snow mechanics, heat and mass transport in the snowcover, surface energy balance, snow models, wind transport, snow chemistry, electromagnetic properties, experimental techniques. The tutorials include a demonstration/exercise part and a presentation part. The demonstration/exercise part consolidates key subjects of the lecture by means of small data sets, mathematical toy models, order of magnitude estimates, image analysis and visualization, small simulation examples, etc. The presentation part comprises short presentations (about 15 min) based on selected papers in the subject. First practical experience with modern methods measuring snow properties can be acquired in the field excursion.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Lecture notes, and selected publications.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC , NDS
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination
Mode
written 90 minutes
Aids
None
A bonus point (+0.25 grade) for the final grade can be acquired by solving 5 out of 12 exercises.A short presentation (10 min by the student ) or a 2-page summary (6000 characters) about a relevant snow publication in one of the tutorials is the pre-requisite to pass the course.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Snowcover: Physics and Modelling
  • Mon 16:15-19:00 (LEE D 101)
3 h weekly

Offered In