One-dimensional snow water and energy balance model for vegetated surfaces

We developed and evaluated a three-layer snow model for application in general circulation models. This one-dimensional snow model has many features of the detailed physically based model SNTHERM, yet is computationally much simpler. We have also extended the point model to vegetated areas using the parameterization concepts of the Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS). Results of model applications for two types of vegetated fields—a short grassland in the French Alps and an old aspen forest in the southern study area of BOREAS—were presented. The results, on one hand, indicate the suitability of the model structure and parameter setting; on the other hand, the results explore the limitation of using ‘point’ field observations to evaluate an area model.