From snow to ice

“One of the unknowns in climate research concerns changes in the polar ice. In our project, we are analysing the impact of the snow cover on the sea ice and ice sheets in the Antarctic region. The measurement data comes from our international research partners, and we also collect some data ourselves. Based on the analy­ses, we can generate snow accumulation and ice for­mation models. Eventually, this should make it possible to calculate the overall ice mass also for the future.”

Michael Lehning, snow researcher, EPF Lausanne and Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)

Snow research, for example here on the Weissfluhjoch in Davos, relies on precipitation, wind, temperature and radiation measurements. Hendrik Huwald and Franziska Gerber, both members of Michael Lehning’s team, examine the snow cover with a laser scanner (left). Snow samples are also an important data source. They are CT-scanned and the structure is then replicated using a 3D printer (left).