HR: 1340h
AN: H43G-1703    [Abstracts]
TI: Overland Flow Induced by Snowmelt and Partially Frozen Conditions
AU: * stolte, j
EM: jannes.stolte@bioforsk.no
AU: French, H
EM: helen.french@bioforsk.no
AB: The transport infrastructure is a vital part of the society, with high capital investments. Design of this system is therefore very important. Climate changes will increase the frequency of extreme precipitation events, floods and snow melt periods experienced by the infrastructure. According to initial analysis by the Norwegian transport sector these changes will affect road maintenance, emergency planning, design of new roads and infrastructure. Increased frequency of floods is expected to cause more closed roads because of insufficient and badly maintained drainage systems. Increased ground frost and ice formation on ground surface cause large increases in surface runoff during snowmelt. Recently, in Norway the ClimRunoff project has started with the focus on quantifying discharge of catchment areas draining towards roads. The first priority of the project is to create a model that can evaluate the run-off situations under spring situation (i.e. overland flow due to snowmelt and partially frozen soils). The model is tested on a well-defined catchment under autumn situation. Preliminary results of the model calculations will be presented, together with the challenges to alter the model to be able to calculate snowmelt and frozen soil conditions. In close cooperation with the Norwegian road authorities, areas with historical flooding events are selected, and current and future climate data will be used to analyse the infrastructure of the road construction. Together with a risk analysis of the vulnerability of the transport infrastructure the model will be used to create guidelines for road construction with respect to run-off and drainage that can account for changes in climate.
DE: 1806 Chemistry of fresh water
DE: 1815 Erosion
DE: 1826 Geomorphology: hillslope (1625)
DE: 1850 Overland flow
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting