satoh_2006.htm
Bulletin of Glaciological Research 23 (2006)
13-21
©Japanese Society of Snow and Ice
Threshold wind velocity for snow drifting as a function of terminal fall velocity
of snow particles
Kengo SATOH, Shuhei TAKAHASHI
Kitami Institute of Technology, Kitami 090-8507, Japan
Abstract
The threshold wind velocity VT for snow drifting depends on the snow particle shape and its surface condition. To explain the effect of particle shape on VT, we employ the terminal fall velocity of snow particles, which, similar to VT, depends on the aero resistance coeffcient. For snow samples obtained from a natural snow surface, VT was measured by a wind tunnel experiment, and the terminal wind velocity w was measured in a cylinder. In addition, the repose angle was also observed. For estimating the friction between the particles, VT and w were considered to be dependent on particle shape. For a dendrite crystal, VT and w were determined to be 3-7 m/s and 0.4-0.9 m/s, respectively; further, VT tended to be proportional to w. The VT/w ratio of other particles was larger than that of the dendrite crystals; this is explained by the existence of a bonding force.
