Persistence of soil moisture changes resulting from artificially extended snowmelt
Title | Persistence of soil moisture changes resulting from artificially extended snowmelt |
Publication Type | Conference Proceedings |
Year of Conference | 1986 |
Authors | MacDonald, L. H. |
Conference Name | 54th Annual Western Snow Conference |
Series Title | Proceedings of the 54th Annual Western Snow Conference |
Date Published | April 1986 |
Publisher | Western Snow Conference |
Conference Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
Keywords | Artificial Snowmelt, Cloud Seeding, Soil Moisture |
Abstract | Snow redistribution due to forest harvest has been extensively studied in the Sierra Nevada, and several public utilities are conducting cloud-seeding programs. The effectiveness of such management actions in increasing summer runoff was investigated by simulating extended snowmelt on four 960 sq m plots using a gravity-flow irrigation system. Intensive groundwater and soil moisture monitoring was carried out on two of these treated plots, two adjacent control plots, and in the areas between the plots and the first-order stream. Shallow piezometers indicated a rapid response to the simulted snowmelt and a sharp decline in water levels after treatment ceased. Tensiometer and soil moisture block data indicated that soil moisture differences may persist for several weeks compared to the control plots, and that this effect may extend downslope under certain conditions. The persistence of this change in soil moisture suggests a physical basis for claiming an increase in mid- and late summer streamflow. |
URL | sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1986MacDonald.pdf |