Version 3.0.2 of the Crocus snowpack model
5 affiliations
- 1Météo-France, CNRS, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Toulouse, CNRM, Centre d’Études de la Neige, Grenoble, France
- 2Météo-France, CNRS, Univ. Toulouse, CNRM, Toulouse, France
- 3now at: Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement (IGE), CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- 4now at: WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), Davos, Switzerland
- 5Meteorological Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dorval, QC, Canada
Abstract
This article presents a comprehensive description of the 3.0 stable release of the Crocus snowpack model in the SURFEX modelling platform. It synthesizes and harmonizes a number of equations disseminated in various previous publications, introduces a number of unpublished parameterizations and includes new developments implemented since 2012. Among the novelties, an explicit representation of the evolution of impurity mass in snow (e.g. black carbon, mineral dust) allows representing their impact on solar radiation absorption in the snowpack at different wavelengths and their feedback on all snowpack properties. The model also allows the formation of surface ice layers due to freezing rain. In addition, Crocus is coupled to the MEB "big-leaf" vegetation scheme and can therefore be applied in forested areas. A module for snow management can also be optionally activated to simulate the snowpack on ski slopes in ski resorts. The model can be coupled with various blowing snow schemes. The MEPRA expert system which analyses the mechanical stability of the simulated snowpack has been implemented directly within SURFEX. A multiphysics version of the model (ESCROC) was also developed by implementing from 2 to 4 parameterizations from the literature for each physical process represented by empirical parameterizations. The different combinations allow the quantification of simulations uncertainty for various applications. Finally, a technical solution was proposed for externalized applications allowing the use of the scheme in other Land Surface Models. The paper also reviews the available scientific evaluations and applications of the model. It describes its numerical efficiency and the main scientific and technical challenges providing guidance for the future of snow modelling.
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BibTeX
@article{lafaysse2026version,
title = {{Version 3.0.2 of the Crocus snowpack model}},
author = {Matthieu Lafaysse and Marie Dumont and Basile de Fleurian and Mathieu Fructus and Rafife Nheili and Léo Viallon-Galinier and Matthieu Baron and Aaron Anthony Boone and Axel Bouchet and Julien Brondex and Carlo Maria Carmagnola and Bertrand Cluzet and Kévin Fourteau and Ange Haddjeri and Pascal Hagenmuller and Giulia Mazzotti and Marie Minvielle and Samuel Morin and Louis Quéno and Léon Roussel and Pierre Spandre and François Tuzet and Vincent Vionnet},
journal = {Geoscientific model development},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.5194/gmd-19-6273-2026},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6273-2026},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Version 3.0.2 of the Crocus snowpack model
AU - Matthieu Lafaysse
AU - Marie Dumont
AU - Basile de Fleurian
AU - Mathieu Fructus
AU - Rafife Nheili
AU - Léo Viallon-Galinier
AU - Matthieu Baron
AU - Aaron Anthony Boone
AU - Axel Bouchet
AU - Julien Brondex
AU - Carlo Maria Carmagnola
AU - Bertrand Cluzet
AU - Kévin Fourteau
AU - Ange Haddjeri
AU - Pascal Hagenmuller
AU - Giulia Mazzotti
AU - Marie Minvielle
AU - Samuel Morin
AU - Louis Quéno
AU - Léon Roussel
AU - Pierre Spandre
AU - François Tuzet
AU - Vincent Vionnet
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/14
JO - Geoscientific model development
DO - 10.5194/gmd-19-6273-2026
UR - https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6273-2026
AB - This article presents a comprehensive description of the 3.0 stable release of the Crocus snowpack model in the SURFEX modelling platform. It synthesizes and harmonizes a number of equations disseminated in various previous publications, introduces a number of unpublished parameterizations and includes new developments implemented since 2012. Among the novelties, an explicit representation of the evolution of impurity mass in snow (e.g. black carbon, mineral dust) allows representing their impact on solar radiation absorption in the snowpack at different wavelengths and their feedback on all snowpack properties. The model also allows the formation of surface ice layers due to freezing rain. In addition, Crocus is coupled to the MEB "big-leaf" vegetation scheme and can therefore be applied in forested areas. A module for snow management can also be optionally activated to simulate the snowpack on ski slopes in ski resorts. The model can be coupled with various blowing snow schemes. The MEPRA expert system which analyses the mechanical stability of the simulated snowpack has been implemented directly within SURFEX. A multiphysics version of the model (ESCROC) was also developed by implementing from 2 to 4 parameterizations from the literature for each physical process represented by empirical parameterizations. The different combinations allow the quantification of simulations uncertainty for various applications. Finally, a technical solution was proposed for externalized applications allowing the use of the scheme in other Land Surface Models. The paper also reviews the available scientific evaluations and applications of the model. It describes its numerical efficiency and the main scientific and technical challenges providing guidance for the future of snow modelling.
SN - 1991-959X
SN - 1991-9603
ER -