Modeling of high-latitude spring freshet from AMSR-E passive microwave observations
Dates
Year
2009
Citation
Yan, Fenglin, Ramage, Joan, and McKenney, Rose, 2009, Modeling of high-latitude spring freshet from AMSR-E passive microwave observations: Water Resources Research, v. 45, no. 11, W11408 p.
Summary
Snowmelt runoff in high latitudes has significant impacts on global climatic and hydrologic systems. Snowmelt timing and snow water equivalent (SWE) from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) are inputs to the new flux-based SWEHydro model to simulate the spring streamflow without meteorological data for high-latitude, snow-dominated drainages. The model was developed for the Ross River (7250 km2) and tested on the Pelly River (49,000 km2), nested tributaries to the Yukon River. The model uses four parameters: snowmelt rate during and after the melt transition (as defined by passive microwave observations), and flow timing during and after the melt transition. A normalized mismatch function was used to calculate [...]
Summary
Snowmelt runoff in high latitudes has significant impacts on global climatic and hydrologic systems. Snowmelt timing and snow water equivalent (SWE) from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) are inputs to the new flux-based SWEHydro model to simulate the spring streamflow without meteorological data for high-latitude, snow-dominated drainages. The model was developed for the Ross River (7250 km2) and tested on the Pelly River (49,000 km2), nested tributaries to the Yukon River. The model uses four parameters: snowmelt rate during and after the melt transition (as defined by passive microwave observations), and flow timing during and after the melt transition. A normalized mismatch function was used to calculate the error compared with observed discharge. Curves were ranked by lowest error in freshet timing, peak timing, and magnitude. Melt timing is a good predictor of freshet timing across years and basins. The system is most sensitive to the flow timing after the transition.
