5.1.2 Scenario description
Assume that a similar sequence of meteorological events occurs in this scenario as in the first one.
- Snow falls on bare ground on November 15, followed by several clear, calm nights. Like Scenario 1, this initial snowfall brings 16 in (40 cm) of new snow, with the surface temperature at -3°C (27°F) at the end of the storm. The SWE is 1.3 in (3.3 cm equivalent) and the SLR is 12:1. This scenario is also at 45°N latitude.
- Then four more weather events occur, followed by springtime melting. As in scenario 1, we will treat the four events as if they occur independently of each other, not in consecutive order.
We are going to focus on a ridge line whose slopes are 30 and 40 degrees respectively. Because of the slopes, we have to consider snowpack movement, which involves several important factors. These include gravity, friction, and deformation, which we'll explore on the following pages (before the additional weather events occur).