Model:Alpine3D

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Alpine3D

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Summary Contact Technical specs In/Output Process Testing Other Component info Also known as Model type Modular Model part of larger framework Note on status model Date note status model Incorporated models or components: SNOWPACK, meteoio, Spatial dimensions 2D Spatial extent Regional-Scale, Landscape-Scale, Watershed-Scale, Reach-Scale Model domain Terrestrial, Cryosphere One-line model description 3D model of alpine surface processes Extended model description Alpine3D is a model for high resolution simulation of alpine surface processes, in particular snow processes. The model can be forced by measurements from automatic weather stations or by meteorological model outputs (this is handled by the MeteoIO pre-processing library). The core three-dimensional Alpine3D modules consist of a radiation balance model (which uses a view factor approach and includes shortwave scattering and longwave emission from terrain and tall vegetation) and a drifting snow model solving a diffusion equation for suspended snow and a saltation transport equation. The processes in the atmosphere are thus treated in three dimensions and coupled to a distributed one dimensional model of vegetation, snow and soil model (Snowpack) using the assumption that lateral exchange is small in these media. The model can be used to force a distributed catchment hydrology model (AlpineFlow). The model modules can be run in a parallel mode, using either OpenMP and/or MPI. Finally, the Inishell tool provides a GUI for configuring and running Alpine3D. Alpine3D is a valuable tool to investigate surface dynamics in mountains and is currently used to investigate snow cover dynamics for avalanche warning and permafrost development and vegetation changes under climate change scenarios. It could also be used to create accurate soil moisture assessments for meteorological and flood forecasting. Keywords: alpine surface processes, snow dynamics, Name Mathias Bavay Type of contact Project manager Institute / Organization WSL/SLF Postal address 1 Flüelastrasse 13 Postal address 2 Town / City Davos Dorf Postal code 7260 State Country Switzerland Email address bavay@slf.ch Phone 0814170265 Fax Name Michael Lehning Type of contact Model developer Institute / Organization Postal address 1 Postal address 2 Town / City Postal code State Country Switzerland Email address Phone Fax Name Nander Wever Type of contact Model developer Institute / Organization Postal address 1 Postal address 2 Town / City Postal code State Country United States Email address Phone Fax Name Adrien Michel Type of contact Model developer Institute / Organization Postal address 1 Postal address 2 Town / City Postal code State Country Switzerland Email address Phone Fax Supported platforms Unix, Linux, Mac OS Other platform Programming language C++ Other program language Code optimized Multiple Processors Multiple processors implemented Distributed memory, Shared memory Nr of distributed processors Nr of shared processors Start year development 2006 Does model development still take place? Yes If above answer is no, provide end year model development Code development status Active When did you indicate the 'code development status'? 2024 Model availability As code Source code availability (Or provide future intension) Through web repository Source web address https://alpine3d.slf.ch Source csdms web address Program license type GPL v3 Program license type other Memory requirements several Gbits (depends on the surface that is simulated) Typical run time hours to days Describe input parameters The area to be simulated has to be described (DEM, landuse). The meteorological input data (air temperature, relative humidity, precipitations...) have to be described (units, interpolations types). Some parameters about the model itself must be given (precision of the radiation ray tracing algorithms, characteristic lengths, parameters for a bucket model of runoff...) Input format ASCII Other input format Describe output parameters for every grid cell: air and surface temperature, relative humidity, short and long wave radiation, snow height, snow water content, albedo Global outputs: catchment discharge, surface and subsurface flow At user defined locations: full snow profiles (temperature profile, grain types, grain sizes, density, water content, liquid water content) Output format ASCII Other output format netCDF Pre-processing software needed? No Describe pre-processing software Post-processing software needed? No Describe post-processing software Visualization software needed? Yes If above answer is yes Other visualization software any software able to visualize data in a 2D grid Describe processes represented by the model Alpine3D is a model for high resolution simulation of alpine surface processes, in particular snow processes. The model can be driven by measurements from automatic weather stations or by meteorological model outputs. The core three-dimensional Alpine3D modules consist of a radiation balance model (which uses a view factor approach and includes shortwave scattering and longwave emission from terrain and tall vegetation) and a drifting snow model solving a diffusion equation for suspended snow and a saltation transport equation. The processes in the atmosphere are thus treated in three dimensions and coupled to a distributed one dimensional model of vegetation, snow and soil model (Snowpack) using the assumption that lateral exchange is small in these media. Describe key physical parameters and equations Snow settling, temperature diffusion, snow saltation and suspension, snow metamorphism, terrain radiation. Describe length scale and resolution constraints The model has been used with cells from 5 meters up to kilometers scale. Describe time scale and resolution constraints The time scale constraints usually comes from the input meteorological data: each time step must be provided with a set of input data. Describe any numerical limitations and issues Overall, the model is very computationally intensive. It is usually ran on a grid or a cluster. Describe available calibration data sets Upload calibration data sets if available: Describe available test data sets Upload test data sets if available: Describe ideal data for testing Do you have current or future plans for collaborating with other researchers? The underlying 1D model (SNOWPACK) is widely used by various collaborating researchers/institutions, both for research applications and for operational applications (avalanche warning services in multiple countries) Is there a manual available? Yes Upload manual if available: Model website if any https://alpine3d.slf.ch Model forum / discussion board Comments This part will be filled out by CSDMS staff OpenMI compliant No but possible BMI compliant No but possible WMT component No but possible PyMT component Is this a data component Can be coupled with:

Model info Authors Mathias Bavay Lehning, Wever, Michel Source code Go to external source code site Model citations Nr. of publications: 54 Total citations: 2547 h-index: 26 m-quotient: 1.3 QR-code Link to this page Other models by author Alpine3D

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Nr. of publications:	54
Total citations:	2547
h-index:	26
m-quotient:	1.3

Featured publication(s)	Year	Model described	Type of Reference	Citations
Lehning, M.; Völksch, I.; Gustafsson, D.; Nguyen, T.A.; Stähli, M.; Zappa, M. 2006. ALPINE3D: a detailed model of mountain surface processes and its application to snow hydrology. HydroLogical Processes, 20, 2111–2128. 10.1002/hyp.6204 (View/edit entry)	2006	Alpine3D	Model overview	425
Schlögl, S.; Marty, C.; Bavay, M.; Lehning, M.; 2016. Sensitivity of Alpine3D modeled snow cover to modifications in DEM resolution, station coverage and meteorological input quantities. Environmental Modelling & Software, 83, 387–396. 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.02.017 (View/edit entry)	2016	Alpine3D	Model overview	46
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