Application of Environmental Analysis to Watershed Snowmelt

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Abstract
The role of environmental characteristics of elevation, slope-aspect and forest cover in spatially differ-entiating rates of snowmelt is examined over a 43-mi2 northern Vermont watershed. Both energy balance considerations and selected melt observations indicate the operation of an effective natural snowmelt runoff control mechanism. The more spatially diverse the watershed combinations of elevation slope-aspect and forest cover are, the more effective the natural snowmelt control mechanism is apt to be. Previous snowmelt models developed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers are modified to fit topographic and forest conditions in New England. The modified model is used to compare average snowmelt rates over a typical upland Vermont watershed, a highly diverse watershed in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and a watershed of maximum homogeneity in the open flat Champlain Valley of Vermont. The profound role of environment in regulating snow-water release is apparent. Simulated weather sequences of ... Abstract The role of environmental characteristics of elevation, slope-aspect and forest cover in spatially differ-entiating rates of snowmelt is examined over a 43-mi2 northern Vermont watershed. Both energy balance considerations and selected melt observations indicate the operation of an effective natural snowmelt runoff control mechanism. The more spatially diverse the watershed combinations of elevation slope-aspect and forest cover are, the more effective the natural snowmelt control mechanism is apt to be. Previous snowmelt models developed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers are modified to fit topographic and forest conditions in New England. The modified model is used to compare average snowmelt rates over a typical upland Vermont watershed, a highly diverse watershed in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and a watershed of maximum homogeneity in the open flat Champlain Valley of Vermont. The profound role of environment in regulating snow-water release is apparent. Simulated weather sequences of ...

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