Development of a mathematical model for both solute transport in snow and isotopic evolution of snowmelt

The newly developed model includes a hydraulic exchange between mobile and immobile water (ω), and isotopic exchanges between both mobile water and ice (f1) and immobile water and ice (f2). Since the new model is based on the mobile-immobile water conceptualization, which is widely used for describing chemical tracer transport in snow, it allows simultaneous calculations of chemical as well as isotopic variations in snowpack discharge.

We compare the model results with a study of solute transport and isotopic evolution of snowmelt in snow, using artificial rain-on-snow experiments with conservative anion (Br-). These observations are used to test the newly developed model and to better understand physical processes in a seasonal snowpack where our model simulates the chemical and isotopic variations. To describe both chemical and isotopic transport of snowmelt