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5. Research Report

Title:	Deposition and erosion of snow by the wind
Authors:	University of Melbourne Radok, Uwe
Keywords:	Snow Drifting snow Snowdrift Saltation Snow surface Snow deposition Snow erosion Blowing snow Wind Wind factors Mass flow
Publisher:	Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	Research report (Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)) ; 230.
Description:	Research Report Abstract: The theories of uniform and non-uniform drifting snow are summarized with special emphasis on drift transport as a function of wind velocity. Using the work of Owen (1964) and the observations of the Byrd Station Snow Drift Project (Budd, Dingle and Radok, 1966) it is confirmed that the snow drift process involves a mobile surface layer of saltating particles, with a self-regulating thickness depending only on the surface stress and not on the snow concentration in the free airstream. It is shown to be a characteristic of snow (in contrast to sand or silt) that saltation and suspension drift occur side by side and that the latter reaches predominance as the wind velocity rises through the most common range of surface values. Theoretical reasons and observational evidence are produced for the view that deposition or erosion occurs on the snow surface during snow drift primarily as the result of mass flux convergence or divergence in the free air stream. This implies that the associated vertical mass flux penetrates the saltation layer which moves up or down with the snow surface. The survey concludes with suggestions for the experimental study of snow deposition and erosion in terms of the free air flow field and for a study of pneumatic particle transport in terms of saltation and of its electrical effects.
Rights:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/5964
Appears in Collections:	Research Report