Swiss Alps
Weissfluhjoch
Snow sublimation is a major but poorly quantified loss in alpine water balance, with estimates ranging from 10 to 90% of winter snowfall. At Weissfluhjoch (2,536 meters above sea level) in the eastern Swiss Alps, researchers combined eddy covariance flux measurements with snowpack isotopes to estimate sublimation losses. This helps evaluate whether isotopes alone can provide reliable estimates of sublimation. With over 80 years of continuous snow and weather data, Weissfluhjoch offers a unique setting to improve sublimation quantification and refine our understanding of alpine snowpack dynamics under climate change.
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At the Weissfluhjoch Research Site, researchers are combining eddy covariance-based latent heat flux measurements with snowpack isotope profiles to estimate sublimation losses. The goal is to assess the accuracy and reliability of isotope-based approaches and to test whether snow surface isotopes alone can yield reliable, quantitative estimates of sublimation — potentially enabling more scalable and low-maintenance monitoring strategies in alpine environments.
Eddy covariance systems directly measure latent heat fluxes, providing the most direct and physically grounded method for estimating sublimation. However, these systems require high power availability and technical expertise, restricting their deployment in many remote alpine locations. Stable water isotopes in snowpack offer another complementary approach to quantify sublimation losses. Isotopic enrichment of surface snow resulting from sublimation provides direct evidence of vapour exchange processes. Yet, few studies have systematically applied isotopic methods to quantify sublimation or rigorously benchmark these results against eddy covariance-derived estimates.
Established in 1936, the Weissfluhjoch Research Site is among the longest-operating alpine snow research stations worldwide. Situated at 2,536 meters above sea level, the site is accessible via cable car, enabling regular sampling even under harsh winter conditions. The site receives approximately 1,200 mm of annual precipitation, of which about 75% falls as snow. These characteristics make it an ideal location for studying sublimation processes under well-documented conditions and refining the understanding of alpine snowpack dynamics and hydrology.
