Calculation of normals for use with snow survey data

Submitted by Armida on Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:43
TitleCalculation of normals for use with snow survey data
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1936
AuthorsLee, C. H.
Conference Name4th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 4th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Date PublishedJanuary 1936
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union, Transactions, Part II:
Conference LocationPasadena, California
KeywordsStatistical analysis, Water supply forecasting
Abstract

Two principal methods are used to forecast summer run-off from snow survey data: the area method, which gives quantitative results but requires gathering field information and is seldom practical for use at present; and the percentage method, which expresses snow cover for any given time as a percent of the normal and requires stable normal values. A 25-year record is sufficient for stable values in humid regions and a 40- to 5--year record is sufficient for semi-arid and dry regions. It is now generally impractical to compute snow normals for snow-cover data alone.