Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Transfer Of Snow Information Across The Macro-To-Hillslope-Scale Gap Using A Physiographic Downscaling Approach: Implications For Hydrologic Modeling In Semiarid, Seasonally Snow-Dominated Watersheds, Reggie D. Walters

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Snow and ice are substantial components of the global energy balance and hydrologic cycle. Seasonal snow covers an area of 47 million km² at its average maximum extent, 98% of which occurs across the Northern Hemisphere. The earth’s radiation budget is largely controlled by the fraction of absorbed solar energy, a parameter that is dependent upon snow surface albedo. Mountain snowpacks act as natural reservoirs, storing large quantities of water throughout the winter until eventual release during the melting phase. Accurate characterization of snow-covered area (SCA) and snow water equivalent (SWE) in such terrain could substantially improve the estimation …