Sensitivity of snowmelt runoff modelling to the level of cloud coverage for snow cover extent from daily MODIS product collection 6

Abstract. A spatial filter (SF) is used to reduce cloud coverage in Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 8-day maximum snow cover extent products (MOD10A2) from 2000–2007, which are obtained from MODIS daily snow cover extent products (MOD10A1), to assess the topographic control on snow cover fraction (SCF) and snow cover duration (SCD) in the Quesnel River Basin (QRB) of British Columbia, Canada. Results show that the SF reduces cloud coverage and improves by 2% the accuracy of snow mapping in the QRB. The new product developed using the SF method shows larger SCF and longer SCD than MOD10A2, with higher altitudes experiencing longer snow cover and perennial snow above 2500 m. The gradient of SCF with elevation (d(SCF)/dz) during the snowmelt season is 8% (100 m)−1. The average ablation rates of SCF are similar for different 100 m elevation bands at about 5.5% (8 days)−1 for altitudes <1500 m with decreasing values with elevation to near 0% (8 days)−1 for altitudes >2500 m. Different combinations of slopes and aspects also affect the SCF with a maximum difference of 20.9% at a given time. Correlation coefficients between SCD and elevation attain 0.96 (p<0.001). Mean gradients of SCD with elevation are 3.8, 4.3, and 11.6 days (100 m)−1 for the snow onset season, snowmelt season, and entire year, respectively. The SF decreases the standard deviations of SCDs compared to MOD10A2 with a maximum difference near 0.6 day, 0.9 day, and 1.0 day for the snow onset season, snowmelt season, and entire year, respectively.

Download Full-text

Accuracy of Snowmelt Runoff Simulation

Hydrology Research ◽

10.2166/nh.1981.0021 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 12 (4-5) ◽

pp. 265-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

A. Rango ◽

J. Martinec

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Input Data ◽

Snowmelt Runoff ◽

Runoff Simulation ◽

Simulation Accuracy ◽

Temperature And Precipitation ◽

Recession Coefficient ◽

Snow Cover Extent ◽

Mountainous Basin

Results of runoff simulations from various basins using a snowmelt runoff model were analyzed in order to predict the accuracy of simulations in future applications of the model. It was found that the model can be applied to nearly any mountainous basin where snowmelt runoff is an important factor if input data on temperature, precipitation, and snow cover are available. The simulation accuracy will depend on the quality of the input data as well as on the density of observations, size of the basin, care in determination of the recession coefficient, and amount of precipitation during snowmelt. Most accurate simulations will result when: 1) temperature and precipitation are recorded at the basin mean elevation; 2) snow cover observations are available once per week; 3) several climatic stations are available for large basins; and 4) a few years of runoff records exist for determination of the recession coefficient. Decreases in simulation accuracy will be expected as these optimum conditions are compromised, however, acceptable simulations will result with the following minimum conditions: 1) temperature and precipitation data are available in the general vicinity of the basin; and 2) snow cover observations are available 2-3 times during the snowmelt season. The availability of satellite observations of snow cover extent has permitted successful application of the model to large basins.

Download Full-text

Interrelationships between MODIS/Terra remotely sensed snow cover and the hydrometeorology of the Quesnel River Basin, British Columbia, Canada

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-13-1439-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1439-1452 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

J. Tong ◽

S. J. Déry ◽

P. L. Jackson

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Correlation Coefficient ◽

River Basin ◽

Time Lag ◽

Spatial Filter ◽

In Situ Observation ◽

Cloud Coverage ◽

Snow Cover Extent

Abstract. A spatial filter (SF) method is adopted to reduce the cloud coverage from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 8-day snow products (MOD10A2) between 2000–2007 in the Quesnel River Basin (QRB) of British Columbia, Canada. A threshold of k = 2 cm of snow depth measurements at four in-situ observation stations in the QRB are used to evaluate the accuracy of MODIS snow products MOD10A1, MOD10A2, and SF. Using the MOD10A2 and the SF, the relationships between snow ablation, snow cover extent (SCE), snow cover fraction (SCF), streamflow and climate variability are assessed. Based on our results we are able to draw several interesting conclusions. Firstly, the SF method reduces the average cloud coverage in the QRB from 15% for MOD10A2 to 9%. Secondly, the SF increases the overall accuracy (OA) based on the threshold k = 2 cm by about 2% compared to MOD10A2 and by about 10% compared to MOD10A1 at higher elevations. The OA for the four in-situ stations decreases with elevation with 93.1%, 87.9%, 84.0%, and 76.5% at 777 m, 1265 m, 1460 m, and 1670 m, respectively. Thirdly, an aggregated 1°C rise in average air temperature during spring leads to a 10-day advance in reaching 50% SCF (SCF50%) in the QRB. The correlation coefficient between normalized SCE of the SF and normalized streamflow is −0.84 (p<0.001) for snow ablation seasons. There is a 32-day time lag for snow ablation to impact the streamflow the strongest at the basin outlet. The linear correlation coefficient between SCF50% and 50% normalized accumulated runoff (R50%) attains 0.82 (p<0.01). This clearly demonstrates the strong links that exist between the SCF depletion and the hydrology of this sub-boreal, mountainous watershed.

Download Full-text

Snowmelt Runoff Estimation Using Snow-cover Extent Data And Its Optimum Control Of Dam Water Level

10.1109/igarss.1988.570162 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Y. Kawata ◽

T. Kusaka

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Water Level ◽

Optimum Control ◽

Snowmelt Runoff ◽

Snow Cover Extent

Download Full-text

The Response of Areal Snow Cover to Climate Change in a Snowmelt—Runoff Model

Annals of Glaciology ◽

10.1017/s0260305500014099 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 232-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Rango

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Snow Water Equivalent ◽

Major Influence ◽

Snowmelt Runoff ◽

Snow Cover Extent ◽

Physically Based ◽

Depletion Rate ◽

Snow Water ◽

Runoff Model

The cryosphere is represented in some hydrological models by the arcal extent of snow cover, a variable that has been operationally available in recent years through remote sensing. In particular, the snowmelt runoff model (SRM) requires the remotely sensed snow-cover extent as a major input variable. The SRM is well-suited for simulating the hydrological response of a basin to hypothetical climate change because it is a non-calibrated model. In order to run the SRM in a climate-change mode, the response of the areal snow cover to a change in climate is critical, and must be calculated as a function of elevation, precipitation, temperature, and snow-water equivalent. For the snowmelt-runoff season, the effect of climate change on conditions in the winter months has a major influence. In a warmer climate, winter may experience more rain vs snow events, and more periods of winter snowmelt that reduce the snow water equivalent present in the basin at the beginning of spring snow melt. As a result, the spring snowmelt runoff under conditions of climate warming will be affected not only by different temperatures and precipitation, but also by a different snow cover with a changed depletion rate. A new radiation-based version of the SRM is under development that will also take changes in cloudiness and humidity into account, making climate-change studies of the cryosphere even more physically based.

Download Full-text

Modis Snowline Elevation Changes During Snowmelt Runoff Events in Europe

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics ◽

10.2478/johh-2018-0011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 101-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Juraj Parajka ◽

Nejc Bezak ◽

John Burkhart ◽

Bjarki Hauksson ◽

Ladislav Holko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Base Flow ◽

Snowmelt Runoff ◽

Regional Variability ◽

Snow Cover Area ◽

Cloud Coverage ◽

Maximum Elevation ◽

Elevation Changes ◽

The Mean ◽

Runoff Events

Abstract This study evaluates MODIS snow cover characteristics for large number of snowmelt runoff events in 145 catchments from 9 countries in Europe. The analysis is based on open discharge daily time series from the Global Runoff Data Center database and daily MODIS snow cover data. Runoff events are identified by a base flow separation approach. The MODIS snow cover characteristics are derived from Terra 500 m observations (MOD10A1 dataset, V005) in the period 2000-2015 and include snow cover area, cloud coverage, regional snowline elevation (RSLE) and its changes during the snowmelt runoff events. The snowmelt events are identified by using estimated RSLE changes during a runoff event. The results indicate that in the majority of catchments there are between 3 and 6 snowmelt runoff events per year. The mean duration between the start and peak of snowmelt runoff events is about 3 days and the proportion of snowmelt events in all runoff events tends to increase with the maximum elevation of catchments. Clouds limit the estimation of snow cover area and RSLE, particularly for dates of runoff peaks. In most of the catchments, the median of cloud coverage during runoff peaks is larger than 80%. The mean minimum RSLE, which represents the conditions at the beginning of snowmelt events, is situated approximately at the mean catchment elevation. It means that snowmelt events do not start only during maximum snow cover conditions, but also after this maximum. The mean RSLE during snowmelt peaks is on average 170 m lower than at the start of the snowmelt events, but there is a large regional variability.

Download Full-text

Interrelationships between MODIS/Terra remotely sensed snow cover and the hydrometeorology of the Quesnel River Basin, British Columbia, Canada

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/hessd-6-3687-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 3687-3723 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Tong ◽

S. J. Déry ◽

P. L. Jackson

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Correlation Coefficient ◽

River Basin ◽

Time Lag ◽

Spatial Filter ◽

In Situ Observation ◽

Cloud Coverage ◽

Snow Cover Extent

Abstract. A spatial filter (SF) method is adopted to reduce the cloud coverage from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 8-day snow products (MOD10A2) between 2000–2007 in the Quesnel River Basin (QRB) of British Columbia, Canada. A threshold of k=2 cm of snow depth measurements at four in-situ observation stations in the QRB are used to evaluate the accuracy of MODIS snow products MOD10A1, MOD10A2, and SF. Based on the MOD10A2 and the SF, the relationships between snow ablation, snow cover extent (SCE), snow cover fraction (SCF), streamflow and climate variability are assessed. Based on our results we are able to draw several interesting conclusions. Firstly, the SF method reduces the average cloud coverage in the QRB from 15% for MOD10A2 to 9%. Secondly, the SF increases the overall accuracy (OA) based on the threshold k=2 cm by about 2% compared to MOD10A2 and by about 10% compared to MOD10A1 at higher elevations. The OA for the four in-situ stations decreases with elevation with 93.1%, 87.9%, 84.0%, and 76.5% at 777 m, 1265 m, 1460 m, and 1670 m, respectively. Thirdly, an aggregated 1°C rise in average air temperature during spring leads to a 10-day advance in reaching 50% SCF (SCF50%) in the QRB. The correlation coefficient between normalized SCE of the SF and normalized streamflow is −0.84 (p<0.001) for snow ablation seasons. There is a 32-day time lag for snow ablation to impact the streamflow the strongest at the basin outlet. The linear correlation coefficient between SCF50% and 50% normalized accumulated runoff (R50%) attains 0.82 (p<0.01). This clearly demonstrates the strong links that exist between the SCF depletion and the hydrology of this sub-boreal, mountainous watershed.

Download Full-text

The response of areal snow cover to climate change in a snowmelt–runoff model

Annals of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/s0260305500014099 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 232-236

Author(s):

A. Rango

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Snow Water Equivalent ◽

Major Influence ◽

Snowmelt Runoff ◽

Snow Cover Extent ◽

Physically Based ◽

Snow Water ◽

Runoff Model ◽

Spring Snowmelt

The cryosphere is represented in some hydrological models by the areal extent of snow cover, a variable that has been operationally available in recent years through remote sensing. In particular, the snowmelt–runoff model (SRM) requires the remotely sensed snow-cover extent as a major input variable. The SRM is well-suited for simulating the hydrological response of a basin to hypothetical climate change because it is a non-calibrated model. In order to run the SRM in a climate-change mode, the response of the areal snow cover to a change in climate is critical, and must be calculated as a function of elevation, precipitation, temperature, and snow-water equivalent. For the snowmelt-runoff season, the effect of climate change on conditions in the winter months has a major influence. In a warmer climate, winter may experience more rain vs snow events, and more periods of winter snowmelt that reduce the snow water equivalent present in the basin at the beginning of spring snowmelt. As a result, the spring snowmelt runoff under conditions of climate warming will be affected not only by different temperatures and precipitation, but also by a different snow cover with a changed depletion rate. A new radiation-based version of the SRM is under development that will also take changes in cloudiness and humidity into account, making climate-change studies of the cryosphere even more physically based.

Download Full-text

Topographic control of snow distribution in an alpine watershed of western Canada inferred from spatially-filtered MODIS snow products

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/hessd-5-2347-2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 2347-2371

Author(s):

J. Tong ◽

S. J. Déry ◽

P. L. Jackson

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Time Correlation ◽

Spatial Filter ◽

Maximum Difference ◽

Cloud Coverage ◽

Snow Cover Extent ◽

Snow Distribution ◽

Alpine Watershed ◽

Snow Cover Duration

Abstract. A spatial filter (SF) is used to reduce cloud coverage in MODIS 8-day maximum snow cover extent products (MOD10A2) from 2000–2007 to assess the topographic control on snow cover fraction (SCF) and snow cover duration (SCD) in the Quesnel River Basin (QRB) of British Columbia, Canada. Results show that the SF reduces cloud coverage and improves by 2% the accuracy of snow mapping in the QRB. The SF shows larger SCF and longer SCD than MOD10A2, with higher altitudes experiencing longer snow cover and perennial snow above 2500 m. The gradient of SCF with elevation (d(SCF)/d(elevation)) during the snowmelt season is 8% (100 m)−1. The average melt rates of SCF are similar for different 100 m elevation bands at about 5.5% (8 days)−1 for altitudes <1500 m with decreasing values with elevation to near 0% (8 days)−1 for altitudes >2500 m. Different combinations of slopes and aspects also affect the SCF with a maximum difference of 20.9% at a given time. Correlation coefficients between SCD and elevation attain 0.96 (p<0.001). Mean gradients of SCD with elevation are 3.8, 4.3, and 11.6 days (100 m)−1 for the snow onset, snowmelt, and entire year, respectively. The SF decreases the standard deviations of SCDs compared to MOD10A2 with a maximum difference near 0.63 days, 0.89 days, and 1.04 days for the snow onset, snowmelt and entire year, respectively.

Download Full-text

Remote Sensing of Snow Cover Variability and Its Influence on the Runoff of Sápmi’s Rivers

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences11030130 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 130

Author(s):

Sebastian Rößler ◽

Marius S. Witt ◽

Jaakko Ikonen ◽

Ian A. Brown ◽

Andreas J. Dietz

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Kendall Test ◽

The Arctic ◽

Boreal Winter ◽

Snowmelt Runoff ◽

River Catchment ◽

Catchment Areas ◽

Runoff Model

The boreal winter 2019/2020 was very irregular in Europe. While there was very little snow in Central Europe, the opposite was the case in northern Fenno-Scandia, particularly in the Arctic. The snow cover was more persistent here and its rapid melting led to flooding in many places. Since the last severe spring floods occurred in the region in 2018, this raises the question of whether more frequent occurrences can be expected in the future. To assess the variability of snowmelt related flooding we used snow cover maps (derived from the DLR’s Global SnowPack MODIS snow product) and freely available data on runoff, precipitation, and air temperature in eight unregulated river catchment areas. A trend analysis (Mann-Kendall test) was carried out to assess the development of the parameters, and the interdependencies of the parameters were examined with a correlation analysis. Finally, a simple snowmelt runoff model was tested for its applicability to this region. We noticed an extraordinary variability in the duration of snow cover. If this extends well into spring, rapid air temperature increases leads to enhanced thawing. According to the last flood years 2005, 2010, 2018, and 2020, we were able to differentiate between four synoptic flood types based on their special hydrometeorological and snow situation and simulate them with the snowmelt runoff model (SRM).

Download Full-text