Description
Multiply nonnegative rainMassKg by rainTemperatureC and positive waterSpecificHeat for sensibleHeatJ, divide by positive latentHeatFusion for potentialMeltKg, and cap by availableSnowKg.
A heat-budget component combines mass, temperature difference, heat capacity, and latent heat. Its result depends on coherent energy units and on which heat sources and storage terms the model includes.
Multiply nonnegative rainMassKg by rainTemperatureC and positive waterSpecificHeat for sensibleHeatJ, divide by positive latentHeatFusion for potentialMeltKg, and cap by availableSnowKg.
When to use this tool
Use Rain On Snow Heat Budget Term when you need one ideal heat or phase-change component from supplied values.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter rainMassKg, rainTemperatureC, waterSpecificHeat, latentHeatFusion, availableSnowKg. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read sensibleHeatJ, potentialMeltKg, boundedMeltKg. Use the output convention below.
Multiply nonnegative rainMassKg by rainTemperatureC and positive waterSpecificHeat for sensibleHeatJ, divide by positive latentHeatFusion for potentialMeltKg, and cap by availableSnowKg.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| rainMassKg | Rain Mass Kg | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| rainTemperatureC | Nonnegative rain temperature in °C above a 0°C melt reference. | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| waterSpecificHeat | Positive specific heat capacity in J/(kg·K). | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| latentHeatFusion | Positive fusion energy in J/kg. | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| availableSnowKg | Available Snow Kg | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| sensibleHeatJ | Sensible Heat J | Required. Finite number. |
| potentialMeltKg | Potential Melt Kg | Required. Finite number. |
| boundedMeltKg | Bounded Melt Kg | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"rainMassKg": 10,
"rainTemperatureC": 5,
"waterSpecificHeat": 4200,
"latentHeatFusion": 334000,
"availableSnowKg": 2
},
"output": {
"sensibleHeatJ": 210000,
"potentialMeltKg": 0.6287425149700598,
"boundedMeltKg": 0.6287425149700598
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Use J/(kg·K) heat capacity and J/kg latent heat, with rain temperature above a 0°C reference. The ideal sensible-heat term omits snow cold content, other energy fluxes, and melt kinetics.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use the complete energy balance and appropriate physical parameters when modeling actual snow or water behavior.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Snow Layer Refreeze Capacity Term
Multiply nonnegative snowMass and suppliedHeatCapacity by max(0, -temperatureBelowZero) for coldContent.
- Potential Snowmelt Degreehour Factor
Multiply nonnegative hours by max(0, temperature-threshold) for degreeHours.