Net solar radiation often dominates the snow surface energy exchange during
ablation in many conifer forests. Reflection of solar radiation from the s
now surface depends not only on snow properties, but also on forest litter
lying on and within the snowpack. We know of no validated model reported in
the literature that accounts for the influence of forest litter on snow su
rface energy exchanges. The purpose of this work is to test an existing alg
orithm's ability to accumulate forest litter in snow layers and to predict
the subsequent effect of litter on the snow surface albedo. Field studies i
n a conifer stand of red spruce-balsam fir in northern Vermont, USA, provid
ed key data for validation, including subcanopy radiation, meteorology, sno
w depth, and images of litter accumulation. We ran the litter algorithm cou
pled with the snow model SNTHERM for the ablation season, and predictions c
ompared well with measurements of snow depth, snow surface litter coverage,
and snow surface albedo beneath the conifer canopy. Model results suggest
that for this forest and ablation season, the current litter algorithm real
istically distributes litter in the snowpack through time with validated ef
fects on snow surface litter concentration and albedo. The poor relationshi
p between mean wind speed and change in litter coverage on the snow surface
suggest that, for this forest and ablation season, incorporating wind even
ts into the algorithm will not improve the results.