HR: 0800h
AN: C31A-0289    [Abstracts]
TI: Catchment Scale Study of the Spatial Variability of Snow Depths: Implications for Broader Long Term Snow Monitoring and Measurement Designs
AU: * Rice, R
EM: rrice@ucmerced.edu
AF: University of California, Merced, 4225 N. Hospital Rd, Atwater, Ca 95301 United States
AU: Bales, R C
EM: rbales@ucmerced.edu
AF: University of California, Merced, 4225 N. Hospital Rd, Atwater, Ca 95301 United States
AB: In order to understand how the relation between snow depth and physiographic variables change over the accumulation and ablation periods a pilot study using ten continuous measurements was carried out at a mixed conifer 4-km$^{2}$ snow measurement site (Gin Flat) in the Upper Merced basin, California. Results from this winter/spring 2003/2004 study showed that despite differences in physiographic variables, the statistical distribution of the variability was consistent with that observed at nearby snow courses in the Upper Merced and Tuolumne basins; however the relative amount of snow water equivalent at individual snow-course points, which had similar physiographic characteristics, varied both seasonally and interannually. The results from this first season (2003/2004) provided motivation and guidance for a broader network design over a larger area that samples more physiographic variability. The new installation uses a sensor web to enhance the data recovery and analysis, and explore new methods for measuring seasonal snow cover. The specific aim is to use intensive point measurements to establish how physiographic variables interact to control SWE distribution, and define representative measurement areas based on the important physiographic variables.
DE: 1836 Hydrologic budget (1655)
DE: 1848 Networks
DE: 1854 Precipitation (3354)
DE: 1863 Snow and ice (1827)
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting