Field study for the impact of rain-on-snow events on snow cover during snow accumulation period

The impact of rain-on-snow (ROS) events on snow cover is a key to uncovering disaster mechanisms of ROS events, but related research is currently lacking. Therefore, we conducted a field study to investigate the effects of ROS events on snow cover during snow accumulation period. The results showed that ROS events accelerated the decrease rate of snow albedo and altered the metamorphic processes of snow layer. Additionally, ROS events were more likely to form ice layers on snow surface during snow accumulation period, and once formed, these ice layers did not melt for several days, affecting the survival of foragers and hoofed animals. Changes in snow surface also altered heat transfer processes within snow cover, affecting the energy balance of permafrost. More interestingly, ROS events reduced the decrease rate of snow depth during snow accumulation period. These findings provided scientific basis for further understanding of ROS events and their disaster mechanisms.