TY - Generic T1 - A comparison of melt rate methods used in forecasting runoff from an Alberta mountain environment T2 - 53rd Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 1985 A1 - Ferner, S. A1 - Wigham, J. KW - Melt rate, Snow pillow, Snowmelt, SSARR AB - A split watershed version of the Streamflow Synthesis and Reservoir Regulation (SSARR) model was calibrated and verified for a small forested research watershed located in the Rocky Mountains west of Calgary. Five different techniques used to estimate melt rate were applied to the model to determine which provides the best forecasting result. The melt rate in mm/degree day C was the only input parameter changed in the model, which was run for the months of April, May and June over an eight year period, 1973-1980. Model performance was best using melt rates calculated from snow pillow data. An average melt rate from the snow covered area, as determined by five snow pillows at sites of different elevation and exposure provided the best forecasting result. Measured melt rates from just one snow pillow located at the middle elevation of the basin (2155 m) in a heavily forested area provide a comparable result. Snow pillows located at lower elevations in either open or closed areas, and snow pillows located at higher elevations in open areas provide a poor result. JF - 53rd Annual Western Snow Conference T3 - Proceedings of the 53rd Annual Western Snow Conference PB - Western Snow Conference CY - Boulder, Colorado UR - sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1985Ferner.pdf ER -