Inter-Comparison of two Snow Models with Different Complexity using Data from an Alpine Site: Selected paper from EGS General Assembly, Nice, April-2000 (Symposium OA36)

This contribution describes the modelization of the snow cover evolution with the two physically based snow models CROCUS and ESCIMO at the Col de Porte station (1,325 m a.s.l., French Alps) for the three subsequent seasons 1994/95–1996/97. CROCUS is a detailed, multi-layer snow model developed for the operational avalanche forecasting system of METEO France, whereas ESCIMO is a one-layer energy and mass balance snow model for hydrological applications. The snow albedo function parameters for ESCIMO are calibrated in 1994/95. In the first verification season (1995/96), the results of the two models show a good correspondence, whereas in the second (1996/97) they differ significantly. For this season a considerable gain in performance of ESCIMO is achieved by recalibration of the snow albedo function parameters.