Effects of climate change on water resources and runoff in an alpine basin

Submitted by Armida on Mon, 02/11/2013 - 10:24
TitleEffects of climate change on water resources and runoff in an alpine basin
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1997
AuthorsSeidel, K., Ehrler C., and Martinec J.
Conference Name65th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 65th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedMay 1997
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationBanff, Alberta
KeywordsModel, Precipitation change, Runoff regime, Satellite, Seasonal snowcover, SRM-ETH, Temperature change
Abstract

The combined influence of increased temperatures and changed precipitation on the seasonal snow cover and runoff is evaluated for the upper Rhine basin at Felsberg (3250 km2, 560-3614 m a.s.l.). The runoff regime reflects the snow accumulation in the winter half year and snow-melt in the summer half year. The method of predicting future runoff regimes is based on high resolution periodical snow cover mapping by satellites in order to evaluate the climate-effected snow cover and runoff by the SRM-ETH model. Conditions of the present climate are represented by a nonnalised year. Snow conditions and yearly hydrographs are evaluated for the years 2030 and 2100 according to the given climate scenarios for this region. Quantitative results indicate the decrease of the snow accumulation on 1 April as well as the seasonal redistribution and changes of runoff.
URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1997Seidel.pdf