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Rain-On-Snow (ROS) Events: how their composiTion influences snow properTies in the high Arctic (ROSETTA)
Call year: 2024
Status: active
IADC_id: 789
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Project description:
RIS 12314 rnRainfall on an existing snowpack, called a Rain-on-snow (ROS), is an important effect of the climate change and it can impact on the environment altering the hydrological cycle and influencing the snow albedo. The snowpack is usually able to absorb some of thernrain initially and thus to reduce the quantity of runoff at first. As ROS events are due to cyclonic systems that transport air masses from low and middle latitude to the poles, they can deposit pollutants or light absorbing particles in the snowpack, modifying its chemical composition.rnThe majority of ROS events occur in the Arctic, where winters have become increasingly warmer and rainier. The Arctic ROS events can profoundly affect the physical and living environments of the North. The detection of these specific events plays a key role in the understanding of their characteristics, changes in their frequency and severity, and their varied impacts. Nowadays, therninvestigation of ROS events is based on meteorological station records, local and indigenous knowledge holders, satellite remote sensing and atmospheric reanalyses. The correlation between chemical species deposited through ROS events and the metamorphosis of snowpack is not yet defined. Little is known about the large-scale characteristics of ROS events and theirrnrelationship with large-scale climate modes.rnFor the first time, the ROSETTA project wants to understand how the chemical composition of ROS impacts surface snow. Ny-Alesund is identified as supersites for the study of the Arctic ROS events by applying a multi-integrated approach. The Arctic ROS events will be investigated to define the timing of their effect on the snowpack and their spatial distribution.rnIn particular, the ROSETTA project will be firstly focused on the study of aerosol and deposition to understand the composition of the air masses coming from middle latitudes. Aerosol characterization is a very important component to define the air-snow transferrnprocesses. Deposition will be investigated to really characterize for the first time the ROS composition. Then, physical and chemical characterization of the snowpack will be done to identify and understand which modifications are produced by ROS events on snow.rnThe novelty of the ROSETTA project is the application of multiple approaches, integrating microphysical, chemical and optical properties on the surface snow. Finally, the contribution of remote sensing will be targeted on detecting the occurrence of ROS events on the different snow surface types. The spatial distribution of the impact of such events will be a key piece of knowledge when assessing the link between deposition of light-absorbing particles, the occurrence of ROS, and snow dynamics.
National/International Cooperation:
ISP-CNR, IIA-CNR, University of Genoa
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