Snow and Climate
Subtitle: Physical Processes, Surface Energy Exchange and Modeling
Contributors: Richard L. Armstrong (Editor); Eric Brun (Editor)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: April 30, 2008
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-13: 9780521854542
Subjects: Atmospheric physics; Meteorology; Earth Sciences - Meteorology & Climatology; Science / Meteorology; Science; Science/Mathematics
Description: The extent and variability of seasonal snow cover are important parameters in the climate system, due to their effects on energy and moisture budgets, and because surface temperature is highly dependent on snow cover. In turn, snow cover trends serve as key indicators of climate change. In the last two decades, many new techniques have become available to study snow-climate relationships. Satellites provided the first capability for monitoring snow cover extent at continental and hemispheric scales, and there have been rapid advances in snow modeling physics to represent snow cover and snow processes in Global Climate Models (GCMs). These advances have changed the way we look at snow cover. The main goal of this book is to provide an up-to-date synthesis of the current state of snow-climate science that reflects this new perspective. This volume provides an excellent synthesis for researchers and advanced students.