Estimation of the intensity of the horizontal transfer of snow masses in the area of gravity anomaly

Abstract

A number of recent publications note the observed correlation of snow/ice thickness in some arctic regions with gravity field inhomogeneities. The physical mechanisms that could cause such a correlation are still unclear. In this paper, we consider a possible mechanism for the ordered horizontal transport of heavy admixtures (in particular, snow during low snowstorms) in the surface layer of the atmosphere under the influence of the mentioned inhomogeneities. In the area of gravity anomaly, in addition to variations of the vertical component, there are also components of this force that are tangential to the mean Earth ellipsoid. In flat mesoscale atmospheric models, these are additional horizontal forces, to which the dynamics of the atmosphere is quite sensitive. It seems appropriate to evaluate the possible systematic influence of such forces on the horizontal transport of heavy impurities in the atmosphere, which include, for example, snow coming from the surface into the surface layer of air at sufficiently strong winds (in situations such as low snowstorms). It is assumed that in the absence of a heavy admixture, the medium is in a static state, in which the horizontal component of gravity is compensated by the horizontal pressure gradient. When admixture enters the air, the average density of the medium changes, and in the presence of a horizontal component of gravity, an additional horizontal force appears. Its effect was studied within the framework of a simple linear analytical model. Estimates show that although the rate of additional horizontal transport is very low, the effect that accumulates over many years can be noticeable.

Keywords

• snow cover
• inhomogeneities of the gravity field
• horizontal transport of a heavy admixture
• analytical model