A comparison of four snow models using observations from an alpine site

Results from four snow models-two used in climate models, one being develop ed for hydrological forecasting and one used for avalanche forecasting-are compared with observations made during two contrasting winters at a site in the French Alps. The models are all driven with hourly measurements of air temperature, windspeed, humidity, snowfall and downward longwave and short wave radiation, but they differ greatly in complexity. Results from the mod els are compared with measurements of snowdepth, snow water equivalent, sur face temperature, runoff and albedo. The models all represent the duration of snow cover well, but differ in their predictions of peak accumulation an d timing of runoff. Experience gained in this study is used to make recomme ndations for a more ambitious intercomparison between a larger number of mo dels for a wide range of environments.