Science and mathematics of modeling snow

Microscopic level, detailed modeling and analysis -- partial differential equations, continuum mechanics, simulation

• Phase changes, crystal growth and metamorphism
• Localize shear and shear banding
• Effective material properties of snow
• Fracture mechanics and propogation

System level phenomenological modeling, incorporating assumptions based on observations

• Incorporate microscopic concepts but without detail
• Build and tune model with observed data

The following pages develop a system level model incorporating

• Slab motion
• Crystal evolution
• Temperature dependence

Image and simulation by J. Warren