Home – Home – Jornals – Earth’s Cryosphere 2026 number 2

This paper presents an analysis of the relationship between snow cover density and snow depth across the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation over the modern climatic period (1991-2020). The study is based on snow survey data from various regions of the Russian Arctic. Due to substantial climatic, topographic, and meteorological differences, a single statistically significant correlation between snow density and depth could not be established for the entire Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. Instead, regional empirical relationships were developed. The results are compared with formulas commonly used in engineering practice and with foreign empirical models. The study highlights the significant influence of factors, such as wind speed, air temperature, snow metamorphism type, and snow stratigraphy on snow density formation. The obtained dependences can be used to estimate snow water equivalent, model ground thermal regimes, and calculate snow loads in regions where snow density data are scarce or unavailable.