Modeled sensitivity of two alpine permafrost sites to RCM-based climate scenarios

(1)

Auxiliary Material Submission for Paper#2012JF002516R

Modeled sensitivity of two alpine permafrost sites to RCM-based climate scenarios. Martin Scherler (Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland) Christian Hauck (Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland) Martin Hoelzle (Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland) Nadine Salzmann (Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland) J. Geophys. Res., Paper#2012JF002516R

This data set contains an appendix describing the mathematical treatment of the physical processes of heat transfer, soil freezing and snow cover in the CoupModel (currently attached at the end of the manuscript). Figure 1 "Figure1supporting.eps" shows the temperatures and the snow cover as simulated with the CoupModel using a different soil parametrization with an ice content of 40% in the permafrost. Figure 2 "Figure2supporting.eps" shows the

evolution of the hydrothermal regime at Schilthorn and Murtèl as simulated with the CoupModel using climate forcing of one regional climate model (ETH) for a situation with and without geothermal heat flow of 0.03W/m^2. Figure 3 "Figure3supporting.eps" shows the soil temperature (T) as a function of heat content (E) for different degrees of freezing-point depression in the CoupModel. Figure 4 “Figure4supporting.eps” shows the unfrozen water contents at the two study sites during the late 20th and the 21st century.

1. Figure1supporting.eps (Figure 1) Simulated and measured snow heights and ground temperatures

for two different depths at rock glacier Murtel for the calibration period from 1997 to 2008 using lower ice content (40%) in the permafrost.

2. Figure2supporting.eps (Figure 2) Simulated thermal regime at Schilthorn and Murtel during the late 20th and the entire 21st century without (top) and with (bottom) a geotherrmal heat flux

of 30 mW/m^2.

3. Figure3supporting.eps (Figure 3) Soil temperature (T) as a function of heat content (E) for different degrees of freezing-point depression. The soil is considered to be completely frozen below Tf.

4. Figure4supporting.eps (Figure 4) Unfrozen water content at the Schilthorn and at rock glacier Murtèl-Corvatsch during the late 20th and the entire 21st century based on RCM output driven permafrost model simulations.

(2)

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 7 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Sno w height [cm] T emper ature [°C] 11.56m obs 11.50m sim 5.65m sim 5.55m obs

Simulated and measured snow heights and ground temperatures for two different depths at rock glacier Murtèl for the calibration period from 1997 to 2008 using lower ice content (40%) in the permafrost.

(3)

1991 2001 2011 2021 2031 2041 2051 2061 2071 2081 2091 0 −60 −50 −40 −30 −20 −10

Murtèl ETH (no geothermal heat flux)

0 −60 −50 −40 −30 −20 −10 1991 2001 2011 2021 2031 2041 2051 2061 2071 2081 2091 −10 −5 0 5 10 Temperature [°C] 1991 2001 2011 2021 2031 2041 2051 2061 2071 2081 2091 −80 −70 −60 −50 −40 −30 −20 −10 0 Depth [m] −80 −70 −60 −50 −40 −30 −20 −10 0 Depth [m] 1991 2001 2011 2021 2031 2041 2051 2061 2071 2081 2091

Schilthorn ETH (no geothermal heat flux)

Depth [m]

Murtèl ETH (geothermal heat flux = 30 mW/m2₎

Schilthorn ETH (geothermal heat flux = 30 mW/m2₎

Simulated thermal regime at Schilthorn and Murtèl during the late 20th and the entire 21st century without (top) and with (bottom) a geotherrmal heat flux

(4)

Sensible heat

Latent heat of freezing

T

E

T_f

Soil temperature (T) as a function of heat content (E) for different degrees of freezing-point depression. The soil is considered to be completely frozen below T_f.

(5)

−60 −50 −40 −30 −20 −10 −80 −70 −60 −50 −40 −30 −20 −10 0

Unfrozen water content at the Schilthorn and at rock glacier Murtèl-Corvatsch during the late 20th and the entire 21st century based on RCM output driven permafrost model simulations.

1991 2001 2011 2021 2031 2041 2051 2061 2071 2081 2091 Depth [m] 0 Depth [m] Murtèl ETH Schilthorn ETH 0 20 40 60 80 100 1991 2001 2011 2021 2031 2041 2051 2061 2071 2081 2091