A fast, physically based point snowmelt model for use in distributed applications

✍ Scribed by Mary Albert; Greg Krajeski

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 243 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6087
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1085(199808/09)12:10/11<1809::aid-hyp696>3.0.co;2-5

✦ Synopsis

A new mathematical solution to the problem of water ¯ow through snow is presented and its implementation in a snowmelt model, SNAP, is discussed. An analytical solution for vertical water ¯ow through homogeneous snow is developed and formulae that allow the solution to accommodate time-varying surface input from rain or snowmelt are derived. This facilitates use of the technique in a computer snowmelt model. Because the new technique requires no matrix computation, it is suciently computationally ecient to be a candidate for use in watershed-scale, distributed forecasting systems. Because it is a physically based model that takes into account the eect of the snow itself on the timing and magnitude of out¯ow, the model allows more accurate prediction of the magnitude and timing of snowmelt than in currently employed operational models. Results of the new model agree well with previous theoretical solutions and with ®eld measurements of melt and rain-on-snow events in a seasonal snow pack.