Abstract Accurately simulating the spatiotemporal distribution of mountain snow water equivalent improves estimates available meltwater and benefits resource management community. In this paper we present first integration lidar‐derived distributed depth data into a physics‐based model using direct insertion. Over four winter seasons (2013–2016) National Aeronautics Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL) Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) performed near‐weekly lidar surveys...

Current physically based overland flow erosion models for rangeland application do not separate disturbed and undisturbed conditions in modeling concentrated erosion. In this study, simulations on rangelands were used to estimate the erodibility evaluate performance of linear power law equations that describe relationship between rate several hydraulic parameters. None parameters consistently predicted detachment capacity well all sites, however, stream performed better than most other Using...

Abstract Path analyses of historical streamflow data from the Pacific Northwest indicate that precipitation amount has been dominant control on magnitude low extremes compared to air temperature‐affected timing snowmelt runoff. The relative sensitivities and temperature changes have important implications for adaptation planning because global circulation models produce relatively robust estimates but large uncertainties in projected amounts U.S. Quantile regression majority catchments this...

Abstract Use of stable water isotopes has become increasingly popular in quantifying flow paths and travel times hydrological systems using tracer‐aided modeling. In snow‐influenced catchments, snowmelt produces a traceable isotopic signal, which differs from original snowfall composition because fractionation the snowpack. These processes snow are relatively well understood, but representing their spatiotemporal variability studies remains challenge. We present novel, parsimonious modeling...

Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) has greatly expanded in the past 150 + years and now dominates over 3.6 million ha of rangeland Intermountain United States. The impacts juniper encroachment on critical ecohydrological relationships among snow distribution, water budgets, plant community transitions, habitat requirements for wildlife, such as greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), remain poorly understood. goal this study is to better understand how affects...

ABSTRACT Woody plant encroachment on water‐limited lands can induce a shift from biotic (plant)‐controlled resource retention to abiotic (physical)‐driven losses of critical soil resources. The biotic‐to‐abiotic occurs where propagates connectivity runoff processes and amplified cross‐scale erosion that, in‐turn, promote ecohydrologic resilience the post‐encroachment community. We investigated these relationships for woodland‐encroached sagebrush steppe in Great Basin, USA, evaluated...

<abstract><title><italic>Abstract.</italic></title> Erosion rates of overland flow on rangelands tend to be relatively low, but under certain conditions where is concentrated, soil loss can significant. Therefore, a rangeland site highly vulnerable erosion likely concentrate and exert high shear stress grains. This concept commonly applied in cropland wildland modeling using predictions effective (shear grains). However, historical approaches partition models are computationally complex...

Land owners and managers across the western United States are increasingly searching for methods to evaluate mitigate effects of woodland encroachment on sagebrush steppe ecosystems. We used small-plot scale (0.5 m2) rainfall simulations measures vegetation, ground cover, soils investigate response tree removal (prescribed fire mastication) at two late-succession woodlands. also evaluated burning soil water repellency effectiveness aggregate stability indices detect changes in erosion...

ABSTRACT Concentrated flow is often the dominant source of water erosion following disturbance on rangelands. Because lack studies that explain hydraulics concentrated rangelands, cropland‐based equations have typically been used for rangeland hydrology and modeling, leading to less accurate predictions due different soil vegetation cover characteristics. This study investigates using unconfined field experimental data over diverse landscapes within Great Basin Region, United States. The...

Abstract Forecasting the timing and magnitude of snowmelt runoff is critical to managing mountain water resources. Warming temperatures are increasing rain–snow transition elevation limiting forecasting skill statistical models relating historical snow equivalent streamflow. While physically based methods available, they require accurate estimations spatial temporal distribution meteorological variables in complex terrain. Across many mountainous areas, measurements precipitation other...

Abstract. Detailed hydrometeorological data from the rain-to-snow transition zone in mountain regions are limited. As climate warms, rain to snow is moving higher elevations, and these changes altering timing of downslope water delivery. To understand how impact hydrological biological processes this climatologically sensitive region, detailed observations required. We present a complete dataset for years 2004 through 2014 watershed that spans (https://doi.org/10.15482/usda.adc/1402076). The...

Abstract The transition of sagebrush‐dominated ( Artemisia spp.) shrublands to pinyon Pinus and juniper Juniperus woodlands markedly alters resource‐conserving vegetation structure typical these landscapes. Land managers scientists in the western United States need knowledge predictive tools for assessment effective targeting tree‐removal treatments conserve or restore sagebrush associated hydrologic function. This study developed modeling approaches quantify vulnerability erosion potential...

Pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus woodland encroachment has imperiled a broad ecological domain of the sagebrush steppe (Artemisia ecosystem in Great Basin Region, USA. As these conifers increase dominance on rangelands, understory vegetation declines ecohydrologic function can shift from biotic (vegetation) controlled retention soil resources to abiotic (runoff) driven loss long-term site degradation. Scientists, public land management agencies, private owners are challenged with...

Abstract Hydrological processes in mountainous settings depend on snow distribution, whose prediction accuracy is a function of model spatial scale. Although expected to improve with finer resolution, an increase resolution comes modelling costs related increased computational time and greater input data parameter information. This collection expense still limiting factor for many large watersheds. Thus, this work's main objective question which physical lead loss regard under different...

Abstract. Operational water-resource forecasters, such as the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC) in Western United States, currently rely on historical records to calibrate temperature-index models used for snowmelt runoff predictions. This data dependence is increasingly challenged, with global and regional climatological factors changing seasonal snowpack dynamics mountain watersheds. To evaluate improve CBRFC modeling options, this work ran physically based snow energy balance...

Abstract. A comprehensive hydroclimatic data set is presented for the 2011 water year to improve understanding of hydrologic processes in rain–snow transition zone. This type extremely rare scientific literature because quality and quantity soil depth, texture, moisture, temperature data. Standard meteorological snow cover entire are included, which include several rain-on-snow (ROS) events. Surface textures depths from 57 points as well texture profiles 14 points. Meteorological continuous...