Seasonal Water Balance of an Alpine Catchment as Evaluated by Different Methods for Spatially Distributed Snowmelt Modelling

• DOI: 10.2166/nh.2003.0003
• Publication Date: 2018-05-18T11:23:37Z
• Authors: M. Zappa; F. Pos; U. Strasser; P. Warmerdam; J. Gurtz
• Keywords: Snowmelt; Snowpack; Water balance; Degree day

The application of three temperature-index based models and one energy balance snowmelt model was investigated. snow were integrated in the spatially distributed hydrological PREVAH. In this study simulations alpine catchment Dischmabach Switzerland period 1982-2000 have been analyzed. PREVAH driven by hourly interpolated meteorological data. All approaches allowed a good simulation discharge regime seasonal course snowpack. highest efficiency obtained radiation approach. A simplified approach combined with positive degree-day method showed very similar performance to classical ESCIMO high variability from year year. dependency water respect altitude is also discussed report. quality reproduction periods negative (snow accumulation snowmelt) crucial for correct runoff hydrograph. analysis shows that maximum caused superposition main season areas between 2,100-2,800 m a.s.l. rainfall.