Air temperature observations and forecasts - their relationship to the prediction of spring snowmelt in the Eagle River Basin, Colorado

TitleAir temperature observations and forecasts - their relationship to the prediction of spring snowmelt in the Eagle River Basin, Colorado
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1972
AuthorsZimmerman, A. L.
Conference Name40th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 40th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1972
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationPhoenix, Arizona
KeywordsRunoff, Snowmelt, Temperature index, Water supply forecasts
Abstract

A simple temperature index to snowmelt based on daily maximum temperature, performs quite well in the Eagle River Basin In Colorado in the spring snowmelt season during clear-weather melt conditions. During weather situations where a significant change of air mass is occurring, air temperatures are likely to be a poorer index to snowmelt than during relatively stable, dry periods. Therefore, additional air temperature data for a given river basin might not significantly improve snowmelt prediction during such periods. The predictability of air temperatures in a time frame of the next several days is improving as the general circulation prognoses improve.

URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1972Zimmerman.pdf