ABSTRACT: Spatial correlation of snow water equivalent and snow melt rates over an alpine ridge, Canadian Rocky Mountains.

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
Search Results

Author :

Date :

Title :

Publication :

Issue :

Page(s) :

Abstract

Several recent studies have highlighted the importance of the potential association between snow water equivalent (SWE) and melt rates in terms of the effects on areal snow cover depletion (SCD) and meltwater generation. Negative association between SWE and melt rates tends to initially accelerate overall SCD, as shallower snow is more rapidly ablated, while the reverseholds true for positive associations. Intensive snow surveys were conducted throughout the latewinter and spring in 2008 over an alpine ridge in the Marmot Creek Research Basin, Kananaskis, Alberta, in order to investigate the scale- and location-dependent correlations between SWE and melt rates. Point values of SWE were obtained at a 3 m interval along fixed transects, and meltrates were determined as the difference in point SWE between survey dates. Taken together, the results from all surveys revealed a positive correlation between melt rates and SWE earlier in the melt period, but the strength of this correlation was reduced significantly as the melt period progressed. These results are partly due to deeper snow accumulation from drifting snow on asouth-east facing slope, which is subject to greater incident solar radiation. When stratified according to features of the terrain such as slope and aspect, or wind exposure, the results indicated only weak, or no correlation between melt rates and SWE. Thus, parameterizations of areal SCD involving a covariance term (assumed constant) may not adequately represent the changing associations between melt rates and SWE. By stratifying the landscape according to dominant terrain features, this problem can largely be avoided.

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology