Modelling snow accumulation and snowmelt runoff :present approaches and results

Abstract

The aim of the article is to give a review of methods applied for modelling the snow accumulation and snowmelt and to give a description of main processes governing the runoff from the snowpack. The progress in the understanding of processes running in the snowpack is documented both by worldwide results presented in many studies and by the results achieved by the authors in the selected small experimental catchments in the Czech Republic. The research is focused on 1) measuring the snowpack and analysing its spatial and temporal distribution, 2) assessing the role of different physical-geographical factors on snow accumulation and melting, 3) testing methods for interpolation of measured point data into area, and 4) modelling the snow accumulation and snowmelt in the local and regional scale. The main findings of the research show various ways of behaviour of snowpack accumulated in the forest and open areas in experimental catchments and show the most suitable interpolation methods taking into account one or more independent variables (slope, aspect, altitude, vegetation) for calculating the dependent variable (snow water equivalent, snow depth). The presented results also confirm the known problems with applying temperature-index snowmelt model, mainly for modelling the situations when the air temperature fluctuates near zero and for modelling the diurnal fluctuation of the snowmelt runoff.