6. One paragraph description of your model (e.g. abstract from report or paper);

SNOWPACK is a one-dimensional snowcover model that is based on finite-element numerics and is used operationally by the Swiss Federal Insititute for Snow and Avalanche Research. It runs on the input data from approximately 50 automatic weather and snow stations in the Swiss Alps. One important characteristics is that the amount of new snow is determined from the measured total snow depth and the model-calculated settling rate together with an estimation of the new snow density. For the energy balance, Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions can be used. Using an improved formulation for snow metamorphism and linking the snow metamorphic rate to the viscosity and thermal conductivity, the mass and energy balance of the model compares well with independent measurements. It is shown that the model can be used to determine high Alpine snow precipitation rates. These estimations are more accurate than standard precipitation gauge measurements. Since in addition the ablation period in spring is modeled correctly, the model appears to be an appropriate tool for hydrologic applications in high Alpine environments. [from Lehning, M., P. Bartelt and R.L. Brown, 1998: The mass and energy balance of the SNOWPACK model, EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, Supplement, Vol. 79, No. 45, page F272.]

50. Please provide references relevant to the model description and use.

Lehning et al., 1998: A network of automatic weather and snow stations and supplementary model calculations providing SNOWPACK information for avalanche warning, ISSW 98 International Snow Science Workshop, Sunriver, Oregon.

Lehning, M., P. Bartelt and R.L. Brown, 1998: The mass and energy balance of the SNOWPACK model, EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, Supplement, Vol. 79, No. 45, page F272.