scholarly journals Variability of Snowmelt Runoff and Soil Moisture Recharge

1998 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.E. Harms ◽  
D. S. Chanasyk
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Power Relationship ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Antecedent Conditions ◽  
Soil Temperatures

The spatial and temporal variability of snowmelt runoff and soil moisture recharge within small watersheds must be quantified for use in distributed parameter snowmelt models. Snowmelt runoff, over-winter changes in soil moisture and soil temperatures were monitored over three annual snowmelt periods on two reclaimed watersheds in central Alberta, Canada. Slope aspect had a major influence on fall soil antecedent conditions and soil temperature. The south-facing slopes produced snowmelt the earliest, cleared of snow the soonest, yielded the least amount of runoff and had the greatest gain in over-winter soil moisture. Over-winter change in soil moisture was minimal when fall soil moisture levels were greater than 75% relative saturation. The power relationship between infiltration and snow-water equivalent of Granger et al. (1984) was not verified in this study, likely due to mid-winter melts that altered near-surface soil moisture and subsequently enhanced snowmelt runoff.

scholarly journals Aspect and soil textural controls on snowmelt runoff on forested Boreal Plain hillslopes

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd Redding ◽  
Kevin Devito
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Spring Snowmelt

Plot studies were conducted on a jack pine forest with sandy soil and aspen forests with sandy and loam soils to examine the controls of slope aspect, soil texture and fall soil moisture content on near-surface snowmelt runoff and infiltration. It was hypothesized that near-surface runoff would be greater from north-facing slopes on loam soils with increased fall soil moisture content. Fall soil moisture had no measurable effect on spring snowmelt runoff. Infiltration of snowmelt dominated (drainage coefficients 53–100%, median 87%) over near-surface runoff (runoff coefficients 1–65%, median 7%) for most plots. Runoff was related to concrete frost at the mineral soil surface. In contrast to the processes hypothesized, south-facing hillslopes with sandy soils generated greater runoff than north-facing slopes or sites with finer-textured soils. These results were due to greater concrete frost development resulting from periodic spring snowmelt and re-freezing in the upper soil. South-facing hillslopes with sandy soils featured lower canopy cover, allowing greater solar radiation to reach the snow surface which led to the formation of concrete frost and faster melt rates resulting in near-surface runoff. Where hillslopes are connected to receiving surface waters by continuous concrete frost, snowmelt runoff at the watershed scale may be enhanced.

scholarly journals Hydrologic Flowpath Development Varies by Aspect during Spring Snowmelt in Complex Subalpine Terrain

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan W. Webb ◽  
Steven R. Fassnacht ◽  
Michael N. Gooseff
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Surface Soil Moisture ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
Spring Snowmelt ◽  
Preferential Flowpaths

Abstract. In many mountainous regions around the world, snow and soil moisture are key components of the hydrologic cycle. Preferential flowpaths of snowmelt water through snow have been known to occur for years with few studies observing the effect on soil moisture. In this study, statistical analysis of the topographical and hydrological controls on the spatio-temporal variability of snow water equivalent and soil moisture during snowmelt was undertaken at a subalpine forested setting with north, south, and flat aspects as a seasonally persistent snowpack melts. We investigated if preferential flowpaths in snow can be observed and the effect on soil moisture through measurements of snow water equivalent and near surface soil moisture in addition to observing how SWE and near surface soil moisture vary on hillslopes relative to the toes of hillslopes and flat areas. We then compared snowmelt infiltration beyond the near surface soil between flat and sloping terrain during the entire snowmelt season using soil moisture sensor profiles. This study was conducted during varying snowmelt seasons representing above normal, relatively normal, and below normal snow seasons in northern Colorado. Evidence is presented of preferential meltwater flowpaths at the snow-soil interface on the north facing slope with the effects observed in changes in SWE and infiltration into the soil at 20 cm depth; less association is observed in the near surface soil moisture (top 7 cm). We present a conceptualization of the meltwater flowpaths that develop based on slope aspect and soil properties. The resulting flowpaths are shown to increase the snow water equivalent by as much as 170 % at the base of a north facing hillslope. Results from this study show that snow acts as an extension of the vadose zone during spring snowmelt and future hydrologic investigations will benefit from studying the snow and soil together.

Silvicultural treatments, microclimatic conditions and seedling response in Southern Interior clearcuts

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Fleming ◽  
T. A. Black ◽  
R. S. Adams ◽  
R. J. Stathers
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Organic Horizons ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Microclimatic Conditions

Post-harvest levels of soil disturbance and vegetation regrowth strongly influence microclimate conditions, and this has important implications for seedling establishment. We examined the effects of blading (scalping), soil loosening (ripping) and vegetation control (herbicide), as well as no soil disturbance, on growing season microclimates and 3-yr seedling response on two grass-dominated clearcuts at different elevations in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. Warmer soil temperatures were obtained by removing surface organic horizons. Ripping produced somewhat higher soil temperatures than scalping at the drier, lower-elevation site, but slightly reduced soil temperatures at the wetter, higher-elevation site. Near-surface air temperatures were more extreme (higher daily maximums and lower daily minimums) over the control than over exposed mineral soil. Root zone soil moisture deficits largely reflected transpiration by competing vegetation; vegetation removal was effective in improving soil moisture availability at the lower elevation site, but unnecessary from this perspective at the higher elevation site. The exposed mineral surfaces self-mulched and conserved soil moisture after an initial period of high evaporation. Ripping and scalping resulted in somewhat lower near-surface available soil water storage capacities. Seedling establishment on both clearcuts was better following treatments which removed vegetation and surface organic horizons and thus enhanced microclimatic conditions, despite reducing nutrient supply. Such treatments may, however, compromise subsequent stand development through negative impacts on site nutrition. Temporal changes in the relative importance of different physical (microclimate) and chemical (soil nutrition) properties to soil processes and plant growth need to be considered when evaluating site productivity. Key words: Microclimate, soil temperature, air temperature, soil moisture, clearcut, seedling establishment

scholarly journals Soil Temperatures of the Transylvanian Plain, Romania

1970 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David WEINDORF ◽  
Beatrix HAGGARD ◽  
Teodor RUSU ◽  
Horea CACOVEAN ◽  
Stephanie JOHNSON
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Physicochemical Analysis ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Important Region ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
The Impact

The Transylvanian Plain, Romania is an important region for agronomic productivity. However, limited soils data and adoption of best management practices can hinder land productivity. Soil temperatures of the Transylvanian Plain were evaluated using a set of twenty datalogging stations positioned throughout the plain. Soil temperatures were monitored at the surface, 10 cm, 30 cm, and 50 cm, and soil moisture was monitored at 10 cm. Pedons were excavated, described, and sampled for physicochemical analysis. Preliminary results indicate that most soils of the Transylvanian Plain will have a mesic temperature regime. However, differences in seasonal warming and cooling trends across the plain were noted. These have important implications for planting recommendations. Some soils of the plain were noted to freeze at 50 cm, while others did not. Longer term study of temperatures of the Transylvanian Plain will average out annual variation in soil temperature and evaluate the impact of slope aspect, slope inclination, soil moisture, and physicochemical properties on soil temperatures.

scholarly journals Specifics of soil temperature under winter wheat canopy

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Krčmáŕová ◽  
Hana Stredová ◽  
Radovan Pokorný ◽  
Tomáš Stdŕeda
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Surface Air Temperature ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Experimental Plot ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Soil Temperatures

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of soil temperature under the winter wheat canopy and to determine relationships between soil temperature, air temperature and partly soil moisture. In addition, the aim was to describe the dependence by means of regression equations usable for phytopathological prediction models, crop development, and yield models. The measurement of soil temperatures was performed at the experimental field station ˇZabˇcice (Europe, the Czech Republic, South Moravia). The soil in the first experimental plot is Gleyic Fluvisol with 49-58% of the content particles measuring < 0.01 mm, in the second experimental plot, the soil is Haplic Chernozem with 31-32% of the content particles measuring < 0.01 mm. The course of soil temperature and its specifics were determined under winter wheat canopy during the main growth season in the course of three years. Automatic soil temperature sensors were positioned at three depths (0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 m under soil surface), air temperature sensor in 0.05 m above soil surface. Results of the correlation analysis showed that the best interrelationships between these two variables were achieved after a 3-hour delay for the soil temperature at 0.05 m, 5-hour delay for 0.10 m, and 8-hour delay for 0.20 m. After the time correction, the determination coefficient reached values from 0.75 to 0.89 for the depth of 0.05 m, 0.61 to 0.82 for the depth of 0.10 m, and 0.33 to 0.70 for the depth of 0.20 m. When using multiple regression with quadratic spacing (modeling hourly soil temperature based on the hourly near surface air temperature and hourly soil moisture in the 0.10-0.40 m profile), the difference between the measured and the model soil temperatures at 0.05 m was −2.16 to 2.37 ◦ C. The regression equation paired with alternative agrometeorological instruments enables relatively accurate modeling of soil temperatures (R2 = 0.93).

scholarly journals An improved representation of physical permafrost dynamics in the JULES land surface model

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 715-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Chadburn ◽  
E. Burke ◽  
R. Essery ◽  
J. Boike ◽  
M. Langer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Active Layer Thickness ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Soil Temperatures

Abstract. It is important to correctly simulate permafrost in global climate models, since the stored carbon represents the source of a potentially important climate feedback. This carbon feedback depends on the physical state of the permafrost. We have therefore included improved physical permafrost processes in JULES, which is the land-surface scheme used in the Hadley Centre climate models. The thermal and hydraulic properties of the soil were modified to account for the presence of organic matter, and the insulating effects of a surface layer of moss were added, allowing for fractional moss cover. We also simulate a higher-resolution soil column and deeper soil, and include an additional thermal column at the base of the soil to represent bedrock. In addition, the snow scheme was improved to allow it to run with arbitrarily thin layers. Point-site simulations at Samoylov Island, Siberia, show that the model is now able to simulate soil temperatures and thaw depth much closer to the observations. The root mean square error for the near-surface soil temperatures reduces by approximately 30%, and the active layer thickness is reduced from being over 1 m too deep to within 0.1 m of the observed active layer thickness. All of the model improvements contribute to improving the simulations, with organic matter having the single greatest impact. A new method is used to estimate active layer depth more accurately using the fraction of unfrozen water. Soil hydrology and snow are investigated further by holding the soil moisture fixed and adjusting the parameters to make the soil moisture and snow density match better with observations. The root mean square error in near-surface soil temperatures is reduced by a further 20% as a result.

scholarly journals An improved representation of physical permafrost dynamics in the JULES land-surface model

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 1493-1508 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Chadburn ◽  
E. Burke ◽  
R. Essery ◽  
J. Boike ◽  
M. Langer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Active Layer Thickness ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Soil Temperatures

Abstract. It is important to correctly simulate permafrost in global climate models, since the stored carbon represents the source of a potentially important climate feedback. This carbon feedback depends on the physical state of the permafrost. We have therefore included improved physical permafrost processes in JULES (Joint UK Land Environment Simulator), which is the land-surface scheme used in the Hadley Centre climate models. The thermal and hydraulic properties of the soil were modified to account for the presence of organic matter, and the insulating effects of a surface layer of moss were added, allowing for fractional moss cover. These processes are particularly relevant in permafrost zones. We also simulate a higher-resolution soil column and deeper soil, and include an additional thermal column at the base of the soil to represent bedrock. In addition, the snow scheme was improved to allow it to run with arbitrarily thin layers. Point-site simulations at Samoylov Island, Siberia, show that the model is now able to simulate soil temperatures and thaw depth much closer to the observations. The root mean square error for the near-surface soil temperatures reduces by approximately 30%, and the active layer thickness is reduced from being over 1 m too deep to within 0.1 m of the observed active layer thickness. All of the model improvements contribute to improving the simulations, with organic matter having the single greatest impact. A new method is used to estimate active layer depth more accurately using the fraction of unfrozen water. Soil hydrology and snow are investigated further by holding the soil moisture fixed and adjusting the parameters to make the soil moisture and snow density match better with observations. The root mean square error in near-surface soil temperatures is reduced by a further 20% as a result.

scholarly journals The Response of Areal Snow Cover to Climate Change in a Snowmelt—Runoff Model

1997 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 232-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rango
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Snow Cover Extent ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Depletion Rate ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
Runoff Model

The cryosphere is represented in some hydrological models by the arcal extent of snow cover, a variable that has been operationally available in recent years through remote sensing. In particular, the snowmelt runoff model (SRM) requires the remotely sensed snow-cover extent as a major input variable. The SRM is well-suited for simulating the hydrological response of a basin to hypothetical climate change because it is a non-calibrated model. In order to run the SRM in a climate-change mode, the response of the areal snow cover to a change in climate is critical, and must be calculated as a function of elevation, precipitation, temperature, and snow-water equivalent. For the snowmelt-runoff season, the effect of climate change on conditions in the winter months has a major influence. In a warmer climate, winter may experience more rain vs snow events, and more periods of winter snowmelt that reduce the snow water equivalent present in the basin at the beginning of spring snow melt. As a result, the spring snowmelt runoff under conditions of climate warming will be affected not only by different temperatures and precipitation, but also by a different snow cover with a changed depletion rate. A new radiation-based version of the SRM is under development that will also take changes in cloudiness and humidity into account, making climate-change studies of the cryosphere even more physically based.

scholarly journals Influence of snow ablation and frozen ground on spring runoff generation in the Mogot Experimental Watershed, southern mountainous taiga of eastern Siberia

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuyoshi Suzuki ◽  
Jumpei Kubota ◽  
Tetsuo Ohata ◽  
Valery Vuglinsky
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Eastern Siberia ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Runoff Generation ◽  
Frozen Ground ◽  
Spring Runoff ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
The Difference

Snowmelt runoff is one of the most important discharge events in the southern mountainous taiga of eastern Siberia. The present study was conducted in order to understand the interannual variations in snowmelt infiltration into the frozen ground and in snowmelt runoff generation during the snowmelt period in the southern mountainous taiga in eastern Siberia. Analysis of the obtained data revealed the following: (1) snowmelt infiltration into the top 20 cm of frozen ground is important for evaluating snowmelt runoff generation because frozen ground absorbed from 22.9% (WY1983) to 61.5% (WY1981) of the maximum snow water equivalent. The difference in snowmelt infiltration for the two years appears to have been caused by the difference in snowmelt runoff generation; (2) the snowmelt runoff ratio increased with (i) increase in the fall soil moisture just before the soil surface froze and (ii) increase in the maximum snow water equivalent. The above results imply that the parameters governing snowmelt infiltration in the boreal taiga region in eastern Siberia are fall soil moisture and the maximum snow water equivalent, as is the case in the simple model presented by Gray et al.

scholarly journals The response of areal snow cover to climate change in a snowmelt–runoff model

1997 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 232-236
Author(s):  
A. Rango
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Snow Cover Extent ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
Runoff Model ◽  
Spring Snowmelt

The cryosphere is represented in some hydrological models by the areal extent of snow cover, a variable that has been operationally available in recent years through remote sensing. In particular, the snowmelt–runoff model (SRM) requires the remotely sensed snow-cover extent as a major input variable. The SRM is well-suited for simulating the hydrological response of a basin to hypothetical climate change because it is a non-calibrated model. In order to run the SRM in a climate-change mode, the response of the areal snow cover to a change in climate is critical, and must be calculated as a function of elevation, precipitation, temperature, and snow-water equivalent. For the snowmelt-runoff season, the effect of climate change on conditions in the winter months has a major influence. In a warmer climate, winter may experience more rain vs snow events, and more periods of winter snowmelt that reduce the snow water equivalent present in the basin at the beginning of spring snowmelt. As a result, the spring snowmelt runoff under conditions of climate warming will be affected not only by different temperatures and precipitation, but also by a different snow cover with a changed depletion rate. A new radiation-based version of the SRM is under development that will also take changes in cloudiness and humidity into account, making climate-change studies of the cryosphere even more physically based.

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