Soil-absorption and its effect on streamflow forecasts in Utah

Basic factors affecting relationships of snow cover to runoff, and in particular, results of quantitative measurements of the moisture absorption from the snow cover are discussed. The annual absorption loss is neither a constant quantity nor a percentage, but a function of the permeability of and the percentage of moisture in, the soil at the start of the melting season, of the water-holding capacity of the soil, and the melting rate of the snow cover. The percentage absorption is higher during years of light snow cover. Soil-moisture determinations under the snow cover at the beginning of the melt period may furnish an absorption correlation factor valuable for use in making streamflow forecasts. Theories advanced are illustrated by data within text analysis.