| Issue |
EPL
Volume 89, Number 2, January 2010
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | 26001 | |
| Number of page(s) | 6 | |
| Section | Condensed Matter: Structural, Mechanical and Thermal Properties | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/89/26001 | |
| Published online | 01 February 2010 | |
Simulating isothermal aging of snow
1
IfB, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH
Zurich - 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
2
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
SLF - Davos, Switzerland
Corresponding author: dkadau@ethz.ch
Received:
22
October
2009
Accepted:
21
December
2009
A Monte Carlo algorithm to simulate the isothermal recrystallization process of snow is presented. The snow metamorphism is approximated by two mass redistribution processes: surface diffusion and sublimation-deposition. The algorithm is justified and its parametrization is determined. The simulation results are compared to experimental data, in particular, the temporal evolution of the specific surface area and the ice thickness. We find that the two effects of surface diffusion and sublimation-deposition can accurately model many aspects of the isothermal metamorphism of snow. Furthermore, it is shown that sublimation-deposition is the dominant contribution for temperatures close to the melting point, whereas surface diffusion dominates at temperatures far below the melting point. A simple approximation of gravitational compaction is implemented to simulate density change.
PACS: 64.60.A – Specific approaches applied to studies of phase transitions / 64.70.Hz – Solid-vapor transitions / 92.40.ed – Snow
© EPLA, 2010
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