Modeling the snow cover in climate studies: 2. The sensitivity to internal snow parameters and interface processes

In order to find an optimal complexity for snow‐cover models in climate studies, the influence of single snow processes on both the snow mass balance and the energy fluxes between snow surface and atmosphere has been investigated. Using a sophisticated model, experiments were performed under several different atmospheric and regional conditions (Arctic, midlatitudes, alpine regions). A high simulation quality can be achieved with a multilayered snow‐cover model resolving the internal snow processes (cf. part 1,[Loth and Graf, this issue]). Otherwise, large errors can occur, mostly in zones which are of paramount importance for the entire climate dynamics. Owing to simplifications of such a model, the mean energy balance of the snow cover, the turbulent heat fluxes, and the long‐wave radiation at the snow surface may alter by between 1 W/m2 and 8 W/m2. The snow‐surface temperatures can be systematically changed by about 10 K.