Overview

MOSAIC (Modelling of snowmelt and its consequences) is a conceptual framework of research dealing with different aspects of snowmelt and it's consequences. In particular regions at high latitudes are to a great extend characterised by the existence of seasonal snow covers. Their spatial structure and course of development, metamorphism and depletion are consequences of climatic and terrain conditions, as well as their dependence on structure and state of the sublayer. Snow covers strongly modify not only the regional climate, but also geomorphic processes, soil development, vegetation and fauna, and finally life conditions and economic possibilities by influencing energy balance and water budget. At the end of the snowmelt period, energy balance and water budget have strongly changed, and mark a sharp contrast to the previous snow-covered situation.

The snowmelt period not only is a transitional season, but also possesses its own dynamics, which is of great importance, e.g. for nutrient and sediment budgets. The occurrence of so called slush streams, periodically or episodically observed in arctic and subpolar areas , can reach catastrophic dimensions under extreme meteorological conditions. During these events, an activation of geomorphic and hydrologic processes takes place, which would never be possible under so-called ‘normal’ conditions. Short-term sediment transports, caused by extremely high discharge values, can dominantly contribute to the total sediment yield of a drainage basin.

· Top of page · MOSAIC home · MOSAIC research

Last modification: 10/24/06 by Martin Arck (Martin.Arck@unibas.ch)
and Dieter Scherer (Dieter.Scherer@unibas.ch)