The infl uence of vegetation cover and microrelief on snow stratigraphy in the Moscow region
Abstract
Parameters of snow cover and its individual layers were measured through the winter of 2015–2016 in the north-east of the Moscow Oblast. The aim of the study was to reveal the influence of local conditions of the spatial pattern and evolution of snow cover. Three sites with distinctly different vegetation and microtopography (field, forest meadow and mixed forest) were selected for the study.
During the maximum accumulation of snow the depth of snow cover was the least under the mixed forest, as compared with two other sites. Water reserves in the forest were by 50% smaller than at the forest meadow and by 40% smaller than in the field. Canopy intercepted snow fall down during wind, thaw, etc., and disturbed ground snow structure under tree crowns and at 1–2 m around them. Some snow layers were full of organic matter, thus reducing the surface reflectivity and increasing the intensity of snow melting. Deeper and much more
About the Author
A. Yu. Komarov
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography, Research Laboratory of Snow Avalanches and Debris Flows
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Junior Scientifi c Researcher
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For citations:
Komarov A.Yu. The infl uence of vegetation cover and microrelief on snow stratigraphy in the Moscow region. Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 5, Geografiya. 2021;(6):87-98. (In Russ.)
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