Implications of Storm Size on Baroclinicity Generation by Snow Cover

It is understood that snow cover has the potential to influence synoptic dynamics through latent heating and surface albedo effects. Gaining a deeper understanding of these interactions is important in order to predict how a changing climate will affect these feedback mechanisms. Previous work has shown that a temperature gradient can be set up across the snow pack boundary, generating baroclinicity, and influencing mid-latitude storm tracks. In this work, we will discuss if the previously found relationship has a storm size dependency such that enhanced baroclinicity generation only holds for small mid-latitude cyclones. This will be determined by statistical analysis of case studies and further investigation using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). Preliminary outputs of the WRF simulations will be discussed along with the conclusions from the case study analyses.