3.6 Convection

In the lower portion of the snowpack, convective processes, albeit weak ones, can be important if the snowpack is relatively porous. We see this with Arctic snowpack that has evolved over days and weeks into very porous layers of snow grains. The convection is caused by warm air at the bottom of the snowpack rising into the porous layers above. The rising motion can extend over a meter upward depending on the depth of the pack and the porosity of the layers. The primary effect of convection is to transport small amounts of heat upwards.

Illustration of convection in snowpack