Physics and hydrology of snow

ENV-525

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ENV-525 Physics and hydrology of snow 2020

Lecture 13: Rain on Snow, Vegetation, Questions

10.12.2020, 17:46

Lecture13: Snow Melt, Water Transport and Rain on Snow

10.12.2020, 17:44

ENV-525 Week11 Part2/2 - SnowMechanics Avalanches

03.12.2020, 21:21

ENV-525 Week11 Part1/2 - SnowMechanics Avalanches

03.12.2020, 21:21

ENV-525 Week12 Part2/2 Snow and Climate

03.12.2020, 18:36

ENV-525 Week12 Part1/2 Snow and Climate

03.12.2020, 18:27

ENV-525 Week10 Part2/2 Snow Mechanics Avalanches

20.11.2020, 10:50

ENV-525 Week10 Part1/2 Snow Mechanics Avalanches

20.11.2020, 10:48

ENV-525 Week09 Part3/3

12.11.2020, 19:20

ENV-535 Week09 Part2/3

12.11.2020, 19:19

ENV-525 Week09 Part1/3

12.11.2020, 19:18

ENV-525 Week08 Part2/2

05.11.2020, 23:45

ENV-525 Week08 Part1/2

05.11.2020, 23:44

ENV-525 Week07 Part2/2

29.10.2020, 18:24

ENV-525 Week07 Part1/2

29.10.2020, 18:23

ENV-525 Week06 Part2/2

22.10.2020, 20:25

ENV-525 Week06 Part1/2

22.10.2020, 20:24

ENV-525 Week05 Part3/3

15.10.2020, 18:55

ENV-525 Week05 Part2/3

15.10.2020, 18:55

ENV-525 Week05 Part1/3

15.10.2020, 18:53

ENV-525 Week 04 - SNOWPACK Applications and Tutorial

11.10.2020, 12:08

ENV-525 Week03 Part2/2 - Snowpack model

06.10.2020, 22:10

ENV-525 Week03 Part1/2 - Snowpack model

06.10.2020, 22:09

ENV-525 Week02 Part2/2 - Energy balance

24.09.2020, 18:40

ENV-525 Week02 Part1/2 - Energy balance

24.09.2020, 18:35

ENV-525 Week01 Part3/3 - Snow Properties

18.09.2020, 18:01

Physical properties of snow (3)

ENV-525 Week01 Part2/3 - Snow Properties

18.09.2020, 17:59

ENV-525 Week01 Part1/3 - Introduction

18.09.2020, 17:55

Introduction and 

Physical properties of snow (1)

ENV-525 Physics and hydrology of snow 2021_1

Lecture13_Part2_SnowMechanics

17.12.2021, 11:11

Lecture13_Part1_SnowMechanics

17.12.2021, 11:11

Lecture12_Part2_SnowMechanics

09.12.2021, 16:46

Lecture12_Part1_SnowMechanics

09.12.2021, 16:45

Lecture11_Part2_SnowVegetation

07.12.2021, 21:08

Lecture11_Part1_IceLenses

07.12.2021, 21:07

Lecture10_ClimateChange

26.11.2021, 13:58

Lecture09_Transport_Snow_Water

21.11.2021, 22:09

Lecture08_Part2_SNOWPACK_Applications_SnowTransport

12.11.2021, 09:54

Lecture08_Part1_ThermalConductivity

12.11.2021, 09:51

Lecture07_Part2_Measurements

04.11.2021, 16:50

Lecture07_Part1_Measurements

04.11.2021, 16:49

Lecture06_Part2_Metamorphism

28.10.2021, 18:15

Lecture06_Part1_SnowFormation

28.10.2021, 18:14

Lecture05_Part2_Remote Sensing

22.10.2021, 14:10

Lecture05_Part1_Remote Sensing

22.10.2021, 14:10

Lecture04_Snowpack_Practical

18.10.2021, 12:09

Lecture03_Snowpack_Theory

07.10.2021, 16:50

Lecture02_Part2_EnergyBalance

30.09.2021, 17:57

Lecture02_Part1_EnergyBalance

30.09.2021, 17:56

Lecture01_Part2_SnowProperties

27.09.2021, 10:13

Lecture01_Part1_Introduction

27.09.2021, 10:11


This file is part of the content downloaded from Physics and hydrology of snow.
Course summary

Welcome to Physics and Hydrology of Snow - 2025
Thursdays, 14:15 - 16:00 Lectures (GR B3 30), 16:15 - 18:00 Exercises (GR B3 30 or GR C0 02).

Lecturers:                    Teaching Assistants (TA):
Michael Lehning            Samuele Viaro
Hendrik Huwald             Elizaveta Sharaborova 
Grégoire Bobillier           Francesca Carletti
                                        Lola Pricam

Assignment upload:
Please upload assignments on Moodle before the due date in a single file. 
For all exercises, please provide typed digital solutions (.pdf) if possible.
If necessary, more information is given in each assignment separately.

Grading:
Graded assignments: 50%, written exam 50%. 
The semester grade is the weighted average of all assignments. 
Assignments may have a varying number of points, but are each given a percentage grade (0-100).
During the semester, points and solution are published normally 2 weeks after the deadline. 

TA support:
Please contact TAs using the forum on which you can check if your issue was already discussed or solved. You can also organise a meeting with TAs outside the exercise sessions via email (click on their name above to quickly find out address and office).

Former lecture recordings are available on Switch:
Recordings of FS2020: tube.switch.ch/channels/d5c52bfa      (Channel: "ENV-525 Physics and Hydrology of Snow 2020)
Recordings of FS2021: tube.switch.ch/channels/2iJ119RB0x   (Channel: "ENV-525 Physics and Hydrology of Snow 2021)

WEEK 01: Course overview, Introduction;  Physical Properties of Snow (HH)

WEEK 02: Snow energy balance, atmospheric boundary layer (HH)

WEEK 03: Introduction to the SNOWPACK model, heat and mass transfer (ML)

WEEK 04: lab sessions introduction to SNOWPACK (SV)


WEEK 05: Snow formation / Snow metamorphism (HH)


WEEK 06: Snow melt processes (HH)

WEEK OFF


WEEK 07:  Snow cover heterogeneity and transport of snow (ML)

WEEK 08: Lecture Snow Transport Part II (ML)

WEEK 09: Snow in canopies and vegetation (ML) and Permafrost (LS)


Zoom Link (on request): 


Meeting ID: 688 0767 7784
Passcode: 703877

WEEK 10: Stable water isotopes in snow (ML)

WEEK 11: Snow(-related) measurements, techniques and field methods (HH)

WEEK 12: Snow & avalanche mechanics #1 (GB)

WEEK 13: Snow & avalanche mechanics #2 (GB)

WEEK 14: Snow and climate (change) (HH)

Semester Grades

Points of each exercise are converted in a grade (1-6).

The semester grade is the mean grade of all 5 exercises.

The semester grade counts for 50% of the final grade. 

Final exam

Friday, 23.01.2026, 09:15 - 11:15, CM 1 105. The exam lasts 120 min. Please be there sufficiently in advance.

Open book exam - permitted resources and tools: course slides, personal notes, exercises and solutions, pocket calculator. Personal laptop exclusively for browsing the slides, your notes, and any other course material of this class. The use of smartphones is NOT authorized (also not as calculator). Any type of communication and exchange tools or apps (e.g., desktop-based SMS, email, chat, etc.) is NOT allowed and considered as intentional cheating. Rules are enforced according to the 'Internal directive concerning examinations at EPFL', LEX 2.6.1, Article 6.

Repartitioning:

Lehning   6weeks 42% 50min
Huwald 6 weeks 42% 50min
Bobillier 2 weeks 16% 20min
TOTAL 14 weeks  100%  120min 

There may be a question on the permafrost lecture. Sample exams are provided below.

Each question has a point value (indicated in red, “XP”) and an indicative time for answering (in blue, “Xmin”). The small red circles ° in the questions indicate the distribution of points. Please use black or blue ball-pen for writing. Provide the correct/appropriate units of your results where applicable. Document intermediate steps leading to your final answer. In case of questions, give a sign; exam supervisors will assist. Please write your SCIPER on all sheets you hand in. - Good luck !

Hendrik, Michi, Grégoire, Liza, Sam, Francesca, Lola

2026-01-02

Excursion