Fractal Distribution of Snow Depth from Lidar Data

• DOI: 10.1175/jhm487.1
• Publication Date: 2006-04-27T18:54:18Z
• Authors: Jeffrey S. Deems; Steven R. Fassnacht; Kelly J. Elder
• Keywords: Variogram; Snowpack; Multifractal system; Elevation (ballistics)

Abstract Snowpack properties vary dramatically over a wide range of spatial scales, from crystal microstructure to regional snow climates. The driving forces wind, energy balance, and precipitation interact with topography vegetation dominate depth variability at horizontal scales 1 1000 m. This study uses land surface elevation, data measured using airborne lidar three sites in north-central Colorado. Fractal dimensions are estimated the slope log-transformed variogram demonstrate scale-invariant, fractal behavior vegetation, datasets. Snow each show two distinct distributions different scale ranges (multifractal behavior), short-range near 2.5 long-range around 2.9 all locations. These separated by break 15–40 m, depending on site, which indicates process change that scale. Terrain has distribution nearly entire available data. Directional differences for parameter also present multiple related wind direction frequency site. results indicate sampling resolutions may yield allow rescaling specific ranges. Resolutions 10 m finer consistently self-similar, as greater than 30 though coarser random distributions.