Application of a snowmelt model to two drainage basins in Colorado

TitleApplication of a snowmelt model to two drainage basins in Colorado
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1981
AuthorsJones, E. B., Shafer B. A., Rango A., and Frick D. M.
Conference Name49th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 49th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1981
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationSt. George, Utah
KeywordsLandsat imagery, Runoff, Snowcovered area, Snowmelt runoff
Abstract

The Martinec-Rango Snowmelt Model has evolved over a period of years from one that was developed for a relatively small drainage to its current application on much larger areas. The input requirements for the model include the remotely sensed percentage of snow-covered areas within the limits of the watershed, daily temperature, and precipitation. All of these data can be input on a multi-zonal basis.The current project analyzed the use of this model on the South Fork of the Rio Grande River (559 km sq) and on the Conejos River above Magote (730 km sq). Both of these watersheds are larger than had previously been considered for use with this model. The simulated volume of runoff versus the actual runoff were within 1 to 12 percent for the 6-month snowmelt period. Nash-Sutcliffe `R squared' values for daily runoff simulations exceeded 0.88 in all years except the very dry year of 1977.

URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1981Jones.pdf