 | Aggarwal, R.K. |
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 | New Density-based Thermal Conductivity Equation for Snow
Author : Aggarwal, R.K. ;Negi, P.S.;Satyawali, P.K.
Source : Defence Science Journal ; Vol:59(2) ; 2009 ; pp 126-130
Subject : 53 Applied Physics;551.46 Oceanography;551.578.48 Avalanche
Keywords : Empirical;Snow microstructure;Snowpack;Temperature;Thermal conductivity
Abstract : More than two hundred thermal conductivity measurements for different snow densities and snow types were carried out in-situ at a field research station located in greater Himalayan range of India. These measurements were carried out using a commercially available portable thermal conductivity meter. Thermal conductivity measurements were carried out on the fresh snow, equi-temperature snow, and surface hoar and temperaturegradient snow. Average thermal conductivity of snow varied from 0.08 W/mK (Fresh snow of 120 kg/m3 density) to 0.32 W/m K (Equi-temperature snow of 420 kg/m3 density). Based on these measurements, a new density-based thermal conductivity equation is proposed. Using this proposed equation, modeled snowpack temperatures showed closer agreement with the observed data as compared to the predictions based on other well-known empirical and theoretical thermal conductivity equations for snow. This study highlights the advantages and limitations of empirical based thermal conductivity equations over the complex models based on snow microstructure. |
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