How many days does it take for the snowpack to be ripe

Question

Problem

A snowpack has the following characteristics:

a) h_s = 250 cm
b) p_s = 390 kg/m³
c) Ts = -3.5^oC

• The net flux of energy during the melt period is 8.5 MJ/(m²*day). How many days does it take for the snowpack to be isothermal at 0°C? Assume the melt temperature to be 0^oC.

• How many days does it take for the snowpack to be ripe? Assume a liquid water holding capacity of 3% of SWE.

• How many days does it take for the snowpack to then completely melt?