Snowfall Events as a Factor of Snow Cover Stratigraphy Formation

Snowfall events are considered as a factor of spatial distribution of snow cover thickness, its snow water equivalent and stratigraphy formation. Under the term of snowfall it is understood an event of solid atmospheric precipitation (snow) with duration of certain period of time (up to one or several days) with intensity of not less than 0.1 mm per day and the temperature below zero, i.e. under condition of snow cover presence. Snowfalls’ intensity is characterized as a sum of precipitation (its snow water equivalent) during this snowfall. For the time period of 1960–2016 on the basis of meteorological data for 45 stations situated on the territory of Russia (not less than two in each of 19 climatic regions) the events of snowfalls are determined, as well as their frequency and averaged intensity for each winter season. Snowfalls’ spatial and temporal distribution is analyzed on the basis of the compiled maps of averaged frequency (number per season) of all snowfalls and snowfalls of defined intensity (0.1–2.5, 2.5–5, 5–10, 10–20 and more than 20 mm). The materials of obtained distribution allow revealing the features in distribution of snowfalls of different intensity for the various regions and the possibility to model generalized regional stratigraphy of snow cover.