TY - Generic T1 - An Analysis of the Timing of Snow Course Measurement and the Potential Error Compared to April 1 Measurement in Utah T2 - 73rd Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 2005 A1 - Julaner, R.P. KW - Utah, snowpack, snow survey, runoff forecasting, SNOTEL, climate change, SWE prediction, April 1 AB -

Snowpack data collection began in an organized fashion in Utah during the late 1920's. The April 1 measurement soon proved to be one of the most important surveys with regard to water supply forecasting. These snow survey data, used historically as April 1 data were seldom actual April 1 measurements rather they were normally sampled at some time prior to April 1, in the latter part of March. In the way that Snow Survey Data were being used, principally in linear regression applications versus accumulated streamflow, this presented little error in the forecasting scheme. However, with the advent of telemetered snowpack information, there exist now two sets of data - those manual sites still measured during the end of March and the SNOTEL or electronic data which are actual April 1 values. The snow course data would underestimate the actual April 1 snowpack compared to the SNOTEL data set, however the magnitude of the error has not been determined. Climate change is being characterized by impacts seen in snowpack. For this type of analysis, the longer the data set, typically the better and more substantial and conclusive the findings. SNOTEL has a relatively short record being installed in the late 70's and early 80's but the snow course data reach back into the 20's, making the analysis far more long term. SNOTEL replaced many of the long term snow courses, thus reducing the pool of available long term data for analysis. This analysis compares the potential error associated with actual measurement timing to April 1 and provides an average correction factor for adjusting long term snow course data to observed SNOTEL data in Utah.

JF - 73rd Annual Western Snow Conference T3 - Proceedings of the 73rd Annual Western Snow Conference PB - Western Snow Conference CY - Great Falls, MT UR - sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2005JulanderB.pdf ER - TY - Generic T1 - Soil Type and Site Location Impacts on Soil Moisture Data Collection at High-Elevation SNOTEL Sites T2 - 73rd Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 2005 A1 - Julaner, R.P. A1 - Holcombe, J. KW - NRCS, SNOTEL, soil moisture sensors, soil profile, topographic convergence, elevation AB -

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has recently begun the installation of soil moisture sensors at SNOTEL sites in the western United States in an effort to better characterize watershed hydrology pertaining to snowmelt runoff. Most research in the movement of water through a soil profile has been done in agricultural settings where topography is relatively flat, vegetation is relatively homogenous, and soils are typically fine textured and deep. This paper attempts to document some of the anomalies encountered in soil moisture data from mountainous sites and link them to potential site physical characteristics such as topographic convergence or divergence, distance to bedrock, and elevation, as well as soil type and texture.

JF - 73rd Annual Western Snow Conference T3 - Proceedings of the 73rd Annual Western Snow Conference PB - Western Snow Conference CY - Great Falls, MT UR - sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2005JulanderA.pdf ER -