Problems in Developing a Physically Based Snowmelt Model

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Over the past few years several snowmelt simulation models have been developed as an aid to streamflow forecasting in mountainous regions. This paper describes the major difficulties encountered when simulation of Prairie snowmelt conditions is attempted, not only for the purpose of forecasting streamflow, but also soil moisture, evaporation, and snow distribution patterns. Simulation is discussed in terms of the energy equation for the snowpack and it is shown that the improvement of the model depends on the following factors: (i) the adjustment of the radiation flux at the snow surface for slope and aspect, (ii) the development of procedures which will allow estimates of the areal distribution of sensible heat, (iii) successful modelling of the diurnal freeze–thaw cycle common to Prairie snowpacks, (iv) an investigation of the energy exchange processes during the period when the snow cover is discontinuous or patchy, (v) knowledge of the coupling of heat and mass transfer processes in frozen soils, and (vi) the extrapolation of point estimates of significant parameters to an areal basis.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: