Research Branch Staff Publications

Modelling snowmelt in a forest and clearcut.

Citation:

Spittlehouse, D.L. and R. D. Winkler. 2002. Modelling snowmelt in a forest and clearcut. Proceedings 25th Conference on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 20-24 May 2002, Norfolk Virginia, American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA, pp. 121-122.

Abstract:

Daily energy balance and air temperature snowmelt models were evaluated at a high elevation site (Upper Penticton Creek Watershed Experiment) in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Bi-weekly snow water equivalent survey and daily weather data and snow depth were measured in a lodgepole pine forest and large opening. Snowmelt was measured in the opening using snowmelt lysimeters and calculated for the opening and forest from the daily change in snow depth and measured or estimated snow density. The temperature model calibrated with data for 1999 gave reasonable estimates of melt in 2000 and 2001 but tended to overestimate melt early in the season. The energy balance model performed well except for underestimating peak melt rates in the forest near the end of the season. Net radiation provides almost all the energy for melt in the forest and about 70% of the energy in the open.

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