An energy budget approach to urban snow deposit melt

Abstract

In urban areas in cold regions snow handling is a significant part of municipal activity. The snow is usually ploughed off the streets and then transported to a snow deposit. As a consequence the snow is mechanically blended, packed, polluted and piled up, giving it a characteristic texture, shape, and size. To predict snow deposit melt an energy budget model that uses general meteorological data has been derived. The model is a synthesis of available energy balance terms developed for natural snow covers, and general mass and heat transfer considerations. This approach was found applicable for estimating snow deposit melt. Only geometry, radiation, sensible and latent heat are included to the model. Radiation was found to be the major source of snow deposit melt. Very little difference was found between top and side energy fluxes. Model predictions were compared with measurements of two pilot snow deposits which were constructed with snow collected from the streets of Lulea, Sweden. The degree day approach also seems to be an applicable method to estimate snow deposit melt.