HR: 0830h
AN: C41B-0948    [PDF]
TI: Estimation of snow water equivalent from sparse field measurements in Italian Alps
AU: * Bocchiola, D
EM: daniele.bocchiola@polimi.it
AF: Politecnico di Milano, L. da Vinci 32, Milano, 20138 Italy
AU: De Michele, C
EM: carlo.demichele@polimi.it
AF: Politecnico di Milano, L. da Vinci 32, Milano, 20138 Italy
AU: Rosso, R
EM: renzo.rosso@polimi.it
AF: Politecnico di Milano, L. da Vinci 32, Milano, 20138 Italy
AB: The estimation of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) is a far reaching matter in the hydrology of alpine rivers. SWE at the beginning of the melting season is often adopted as a boundary condition for snow melt models, low flows simulation and spring floods. Here, SWE snow measurements from alpine areas in central-northern Italy are analysed. Using 10-years snow depth registrations from a network of 28 stations, SWE is estimated and mapped on the observed area at the beginning of the melting season, set at April 1th. Because no systematic snow density measurements are provided at the given stations, sparse density measurements (about 200 over 5 years of observation) are used to find a relation between snow density, geo-morphologic features and the season, so as to provide SWE estimation at sites where only depth measurements are available. To enlighten regional features in SWE distribution, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is carried and two different regions are found. The covariance structure of the SWE field is assessed and an analysis is carried, to incorporate spatial and geomorphic attributes. A Kriging procedure is then carried and validated, showing proper estimation of SWE at ungauged sites. The Kriging methodology is then compared to other different, straightforward approaches used in the related bibliography, showing interesting performances. Then, areal estimation of SWE is provided, showing the Kriging procedure enhances systematic error in estimation from the other methodologies and also provides remedies for their correct application.
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
DE: 1863 Snow and ice (1827)
DE: 1878 Water/energy interactions
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting