Snowfall events in the Cantabrian Mountains of northwestern Spain: WRF multiphysics ensemble assessment based on ground and multi-satellite observations

[EN] Snowfall in elevated areas of the mid-latitudes has a strong impact on infrastructure, freshwater availability, and the climate system. The Cantabrian Mountains of the northwestern Iberian Peninsula are very vulnerable to climate change because of their moderate altitudes, which limits their snowfall. Monitoring snow events is essential for the evaluation of weather and climate prediction models. However, measurement networks are scarce in mountainous areas and have great uncertainties because of blizzards. In this study, a multiphysics ensemble of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was designed using three microphysics and two planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes to simulate nine snowfall events in the Cantabrian Mountains during autumn and winter 2021–2022. The WRF was validated using several snow characteristics, such as liquid water equivalent, snow cover, and snow depth. Liquid water equivalent was evaluated using snow-gauge networks and satellite products in an assessment of snow cover. In addition, a monitoring network of webcams and snow poles was implemented, improving the low density of snow observations in the mountains. The results showed good model performance for detection of snow cover and slight overestimation of liquid water equivalent and snow thickness, which may have been caused by under-catchment that is generally an effect of wind on the measurement systems and by snow compaction, respectively. Morrison microphysics and Mellor-Yamada-Nakanishi-Niino (MYNN PBL) yielded better results for liquid water equivalent at higher altitudes and output greater snow cover. The results help determine the best configurations for snow modelling in the study area to develop future studies of the spatiotemporal patterns of snow distribution.S

Fire-related debris flows in the Iberian Range, Spain

38 páginas, 2 tablas, 11 figuras[EN] Debris flows occurred three weeks after a wildfire in August 1986 in the Najerilla River valley in the Iberian Range, northern Spain. The flows were triggered by a brief, intense rainstorm (approximately 25 mm h− 1 over 15 min) in a small area with steep slopes covered by a thick colluvium of quartzite clasts. This storm resulted in the development of several unconfined hillslope debris flows and the formation of an alluvial fan at the mouth of the Pítare stream, which partially blocked the Najerilla River. We analysed the conditions that led to the development of the debris flows, and estimated the rainfall threshold for the debris flows to occur as well as the total volume of mobilised sediment. Four factors contributed to the debris flows: (i) the occurrence of a rainstorm three weeks after a wildfire, which had removed the plant cover from the soil; (ii) the steep slopes in the area (> 30°), which were the most affected by debris flows; (iii) the presence of quartzite scarps on the hillslopes, which favoured the development of a ‘firehose effect’ involving channelised surface runoff; and (iv) the low plasticity index values of the fine material of the colluvium (indices of 7 to 8), which enabled rapid liquefaction. Estimates of rainfall intensity derived from the estimated peak flow in the Pítare stream suggests that around 80 mm of rainfall fell in approximately 15 min, although this is clearly an overestimated value given the high proportion of sediment load transported during the peak flow. Various equations estimated a rainfall-threshold of approximately 25 mm h− 1 considering a concentration time of 15 min. The total sediment transported by the debris flows was 10,500 m3 (15,750 Mg, 6800 Mg km− 2), and the Pítare stream alone transported a minimum of 4000 m3 (6000 Mg, 2500 Mg km− 2). These results suggest that the rainfall threshold for initiating debris flows decreases following a wildfire, such that an ordinary rainstorm is able to trigger a severe erosion and sediment transport event. Given the absence of fresh landslide scars on the hillslopes, the origin of the fire-related debris flows in the Najerilla River valley appears to have been directly linked to increased rates of overland flow having a greater effect than infiltration for triggering debris flows.Support for this research was provided by the projects PROBASE (CGL2006-11619/HID) and INDICA (CGL2011-27753-C02-01 and CGL2011-27753-C02-02), which was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, and ACQWA (FP7-ENV-2007-1-212250), which was financed by the European Commission. Noemí Lana-Renault was the recipient of a research contract (Programme “Juan de la Cierva”, Human Resources Mobility, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity). The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Susan Canon, Dr. Francisco Gutiérrez-Santolalla and an anonymous reviewer for their comments and suggestions, which significantly helped to improve this paper.Peer reviewe

Factors influencing the ground thermal regime in a mid-latitude glacial cirque (Hoyo Empedrado, Cantabrian Mountains, 2006–2020)

.Air and near-surface ground temperatures were measured using dataloggers over 14 years (2006–2020) in 10 locations at 2262 to 2471 m.a.s.l. in a glacial cirque of the Cantabrian Mountains. These sites exhibit relevant differences in terms of substrate, solar radiation, orientation, and geomorphology. Basal temperature of snow (BTS) measurements and electrical resistivity tomography of the talus slope were also performed. The mean annual near-surface ground temperatures ranged from 5.1 °C on the sunny slope to 0.2 °C in the rock glacier furrow, while the mean annual air temperature was 2.5 °C. Snow cover was inferred from near-surface ground temperature (GST) data, estimating between 130 and 275 days per year and 0.5 to 7.1 m snow thickness. Temperature and BTS data show that the lowest part of the talus slope and the rock glacier furrow are the coldest places in this cirque, coinciding with a more persistent and thickest snow cover. The highest temperatures coincide with less snow cover, fine-grained soils, and higher solar radiation. Snow cover has a primary role in controlling GST, as the delayed appearance in autumn or delayed disappearance in spring have a cooling effect, but no correlation with mean annual near-surface ground temperatures exists. Heavy rain-over-snow events have an important influence on the GST. In the talus slope, air circulation during the snow-covered period produces a cooling effect in the lower part, especially during the summer. Significant inter-annual GST differences were observed that exhibited BTS limitations. A slight positive temperature trend was detected but without statistically significance and less prominent than nearby reference official meteorological stations, so topoclimatic conditions reduced the more global positive temperature trend. Probable existence of permafrost in the rock glacier furrow and the lowest part of the talus slope is claimed; however, future work is necessary to confirm this aspect.S

Rasgos morfométricos y morfodinámicos de los glaciares rocosos relictos de la Sierra de Gistredo (Montaña Cantábrica, León)

566 p.La constatación de glaciares rocosos relictos en el Noroeste de las Montañas Cantábricas se inicia al final de la década de los ochenta del siglo pasado con el trabajo de Alonso(1989) en la zona de Degaña-Leitariegos, existiendo nuevas aportaciones a lo largo de los noventa y principios de sigl

La catástrofe del barranco de Arás (Biescas, Pirineo Aragonés) y su contexto espacio-temporal

[ES] Se estudian las características de la precipitación y del pico de crecida durante la catástrofe ocurrida en el barranco de Arás en la tarde del 7 de agosto de 1996. Se ha podido comprobar que aunque la tormenta fue muy intensa en toda la cuenca, su violencia alcanzó mayor magnitud en un pequeño sector de la subcuenca de Betés, en el que se ha estimado una intensidad superior a 500 mm.hr-1 y una precipitación total algo superior a 250 mm. En el tramo final del barranco de Arás debieron registrarse unos 500 m³s-1 incluyendo los sedimentos transportados, para una cuenca de 18.8 km². Las evaluaciones realizadas permiten estimar que el 75 % del caudal procedió de la subcuenca de Betés, que representa sólo el 28.7 % de la superficie total de la cuenca. Se ha evaluado el volumen de sedimentos movilizados en el sector final del barranco de Arás. Finalmente, el evento tormentoso ha sido situado en un contexto espacial y temporal más amplio. La catástofe del barranco de Arás confirma las limitaciones de los actuales sistemas de análisis probabilístico de riesgos, dada su gran irregularidad espacial y temporal.[EN] The characteristics of precipitation and peak flow during the Arás catastrophe in the evening of August, 7, 1996, are studied. The storm was very intense over the whole basin, and especially in a small area of the Betés subbasin, in which intensities greater than 500 mm.hr-1 have been estimated, with a total amount of precipitation somewhat higher than 250 mm. In the final stretch of the Arás ravine a discharge of 500 m³s-1, including the sediments, have been estimated for a basin of 18.8 km².. Seventy five per cent of the discharge carne from the Betés subbasin, which represents only 28.7 per cent of the basin. The volume of sediments mobilized in the final stretch of the Arás ravine has also been evaluated. Finally, the rainstorm event has been placed in a larger spatial and temporal context. The catastrophe of the Arás ravine confirms the lirnitations of existing systems of probabilistic analysis, due to the spatial and temporal irregularity of storm events.Peer reviewe

Distribución y caracterización de bloques aradores en el noroeste de la península ibérica: el Alto Sil y el macizo de Vizcodillo

Los bloques aradores son una de las formas periglaciares más características de las montañas ibéricas, pero los estudios específicos sobre los mismos son muy escasos. En este trabajo se presentan datos de medio centenar de bloques de dos enclaves del noroeste ibérico: el Alto Sil (Cordillera Cantábrica) y el macizo de Vizcodillo (Sierra de la Cabrera). En ambos lugares se han tomado medidas de las características de los bloques (dimensiones, orientación, litología), así como de los surcos (longitud) y los montones (altura) generados, y de las pendientes (orientación, pendiente) en las que se ubican. Se encuentran en zonas elevadas (1855-2116 m) con orientación entre norte y este, con pen-dientes más suaves (4 a 28º) en Vizcodillo que en el Alto Sil (16 y 40º), ya que en el primero de los lugares se encuentran en una superficie elevada por encima de los circos, mientras que en el Alto Sil están dentro de las laderas de los mismos. Su tamaño oscila entre 54 y los 440 cm de eje mayor, orientados preferentemente en el sentido de la ladera. Los surcos son relativamente cortos (menos de 1 m en varios casos), aunque algunos superan los 3 a 5 m, mientras que los montones presentan una altura modesta, entre 20 y 50 cm en la mayoría de los casos. Aunque la mayor parte parecen inactivos, hemos observado desplazamientos al menos en 2006 y 2015 en algunos de ellos, con movimientos de entre 10 y 35 cm, pudiendo ser movimientos relativamente rápidos. El movimiento ocasional de los bloques parece estar ligado a la existencia de unas condiciones térmicas adecuadas durante un año concreto, si bien aún se tienen pocos datos sobre esa relación. En todo caso, en uno de los bloques se observó que la congelación estacional del suelo superaba los 50 c

Evidencias de “permafrost” en el extremo sur de Los Andes (Tierra del Fuego) según el régimen térmico de los glaciares rocosos del Cerro Krund

Se presentan, por primera vez en Tierra del Fuego, los datos de temperatura del suelo y del aire de dos glaciares rocosos en el circo del Cerro Krund, en extremo sur de los Andes, a altitudes comprendidas entre 750 y 885 m durante los años 2009 y 2010. Los datos obtenidos, junto a las observaciones realizadas en la zona y la dinámica observada entre 2004 y 2010 evidencian que el más elevado es un glaciar rocoso activo, lo cual confirma la presencia de permafrost, para este sector de la Sierra de Alvear por encima de los 850 metros. Por debajo de esa cota, en la que se localiza el otro glaciar rocoso, no hay evidencias de permafrost, por lo cual lo consideramos relicto.We present air and ground thermal temperature data of some places located between 750 and 885 m.a.s.l. around two rock glaciers in the Cerro Krund cirque (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) at altitudes between 750 and 885 m during the years 2009 and 2010. The data obtained, together with geomorphological observations and the dynamics observed between 2004 and 2010 show that the highest is an active rock glacier, which confirms the presence of permafrost for this sector of the Sierra de Alvear above 850 meters. Bellow this altitude, in the lower rock glacier, we could not found any permafrost evidences.peerReviewe

Ejemplos de formas de relieve indicadoras de diferentes paleoclimas en la Cordillera Cantábrica

Las formas de relieve son el resultado de la acción de un conjunto de procesos que actúan bajo determinadas condiciones ambientales, es decir, bajo diferentes tipos de clima que configuran los sistemas morfoclimáticos. A lo largo del tiempo geológico se suceden sobre un mismo espacio diferentes sistemas climáticos cuyo resultado es la superposición de formas de relieve diversas y diferentes, lo que implica la existencia de formas heredadas que enriquecen los paisajes naturales e incrementan la geodiversidad. El estudio de varios ejemplos de herencias morfoclimáticas en la vertiente meridional de la Cordillera Cantábrica (formas de relieve kársticas, fluviales, glaciares, periglaciares) demuestra la sucesión de procesos y formas de relieve a escala del tiempo geológico en un espacio relativamente pequeño. Los ejemplos estudiados implican que el cambio climático es algo intrínsecamente unido a la sucesión de procesos geomorfológicos cuando la escala de análisis es el largo plazo, de miles o cientos de miles de año

Glaciokarst landforms in the Siera de los Grajos, Babia and Luna natural park (Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain)

Landforms resulting from the interaction between paleo-glaciers and karst are studied by using the Sierra de los Grajos (Cantabrian Mountains) as a model. This area contains glacial landforms that have not interested geomorphologists due to their low altitude (Peña Castillo is about 1857 m a.s.l.), the absence of glacial cirques and the scarcity of large moraines. However, the prevalence of groundwater flow and chemical dissolution has favoured the preservation of glacial landforms. Lateral and frontal moraines show three main glacial stages and other minor glacier stabilization phases, with the paleo-ELA oscillating between 1650 and 1760 m. Moraines are combined with depressions and sinks resulting from subglacial karstic drainage. This convergence of forms and processes is an exception in the Cantabrian Mountains, where postglacial erosion has usually eroded the frontal moraines and the proglacial sediments. In the case of the Sierra de los Grajos, despite the underground drainage and preservation of many glacial deposits on karstic landforms, an outwash-plain was formed. These proglacial sediments and others from non-karstified areas filled the depressions of the preglacial terrain located at their edges. The main glaciokarstic landforms have been mapped and a sedimentological analysis of the outwash plain was made in order to reconstruct the glacial dynamics of this area.Key words: glaciokarst landforms, glacial geomorphology, karst geomorphology, geomorphological mapping, Cantabrian Mountains. Glaciokraški relief na območju Sierra de los Grajos v parku Babia in luna (Kantabrijsko gorovje, SZ Španija)Na območju Sierra de los Grajos (Kantabrijsko gorovje) smo raziskovali relief, ki je v preteklosti nastal z medsebojnim vplivanjem kraških in ledeniških procesov. Zaradi nizke nadmorske višine (Peña Castillo je le 1857 m nad morjem) ter odsotnosti velikih moren in krnic to območje geomorfologov do sedaj ni posebej zanimalo. Prav kraški procesi in z njimi povezano podzemno odtekanje so tu omogočili ohranitev ledeniških oblik. Bočne in čelne morene kažejo na tri glavne faze poledenitev in več manjših faz stabilizacije ledenikov z ravnovesno mejo (ELA) med 1650 in 1760 m.n.m. Morene so pogosto vezane na kraške globeli. Glaciokraške pojave najdemo le na tem območju Kantabrijskega gorovja, kjer je sicer poledeniška erozija odstranila čelne morene in proglacialne sedimente. Kljub podzemnemu odtoku in ohranitvi številnih ledeniških sedimentov na kraškem reliefu se je na Sierra de los Grajos oblikoval predledeniški vršaj (sander). Proglacialni sedimenti in sedimenti iz nekraških območij so zapolnili globeli v predledeniškem kraškem terenu. Kartiranje glaciokraških reliefnih in analiza sedimentov predledeniških vršajev sta nam omogočila rekonstrukcijo dinamike ledenika na obravnavanem območju.Ključne besede: glaciokraške reliefne oblike, ledeniška geomorfologija, kraška geomorfologija, geomorfološko kartiranje, Kantabrijsko gorovje, Španija.

Glaciokarst landforms in the Sierra de los Grajos, Babia and Luna natural park (Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain)

Producción CientíficaLandforms resulting from the interaction between paleo-glaciers and karst are studied by using the Sierra de los Grajos (Cantabrian Mountains) as a model. This area contains glacial landforms that have not interested geomorphologists due to their low altitude (Peña Castillo is about 1857 m a.s.l.), the absence of glacial cirques and the scarcity of large moraines. However, the prevalence of groundwater flow and chemical dissolution has favoured the preservation of glacial landforms. Lateral and frontal moraines show three main glacial stages and other minor glacier stabilization phases, with the paleo-ELA oscillating between 1650 and 1760 m. Moraines are combined with depressions and sinks resulting from subglacial karstic drainage. This convergence of forms and processes is an exception in the Cantabrian Mountains, where postglacial erosion has usually eroded the frontal moraines and the proglacial sediments. In the case of the Sierra de los Grajos, despite the underground drainage and preservation of many glacial deposits on karstic landforms, an outwash-plain was formed. These proglacial sediments and others from non-karstified areas filled the depressions of the preglacial terrain located at their edges. The main glaciokarstic landforms have been mapped and a sedimentological analysis of the outwash plain was made in order to reconstruct the glacial dynamics of this area.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (projects CGL2016-76215-R and CGL2015-65569-R