A simple method to combine snow height and meteorological observations to estimate winter precipitation at sub-daily resolution

Mair, E.; Leitinger, Georg; Chiesa, Stefano Della; Niedrist, Georg; Tappeiner, Ulrike; Bertoldi, Giacomo

doi:10.1080/02626667.2015.1081203

Cited by 18 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Three of the rain gauge stations also provided snow depth data. Since most of the rain gauges are in high altitudes and none of them are heated, liquid precipitation is distinguished from snow using air temperature and snow-depth observations in order to avoid rainfall underestimations [56].…”

Section: Instruments and Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing Precipitation Estimation and Streamflow Simulations in Complex Terrain with X-Band Dual-Polarization Radar Observations

et al. 2018

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Abstract:In mountain basins, the use of long-range operational weather radars is often associated with poor quantitative precipitation estimation due to a number of challenges posed by the complexity of terrain. As a result, the applicability of radar-based precipitation estimates for hydrological studies is often limited over areas that are in close proximity to the radar. This study evaluates the advantages of using X-band polarimetric (XPOL) radar as a means to fill the coverage gaps and improve complex terrain precipitation estimation and associated hydrological applications based on a field experiment conducted in an area of Northeast Italian Alps characterized by large elevation differences. The corresponding rainfall estimates from two operational C-band weather radar observations are compared to the XPOL rainfall estimates for a near-range (10-35 km) mountainous basin (64 km 2 ). In situ rainfall observations from a dense rain gauge network and two disdrometers (a 2D-video and a Parsivel) are used for ground validation of the radar-rainfall estimates. Ten storm events over a period of two years are used to explore the differences between the locally deployed XPOL vs. longer-range operational radar-rainfall error statistics. Hourly aggregate rainfall estimates by XPOL, corrected for rain-path attenuation and vertical reflectivity profile, exhibited correlations between 0.70 and 0.99 against reference rainfall data and 21% mean relative error for rainfall rates above 0.2 mm h −1 . The corresponding metrics from the operational radar-network rainfall products gave a strong underestimation (50-70%) and lower correlations (0.48-0.81). For the two highest flow-peak events, a hydrological model (Kinematic Local Excess Model) was forced with the different radar-rainfall estimations and in situ rain gauge precipitation data at hourly resolution, exhibiting close agreement between the XPOL and gauge-based driven runoff simulations, while the simulations obtained by the operational radar rainfall products resulted in a greatly underestimated runoff response.

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Section: Instruments and Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing Precipitation Estimation and Streamflow Simulations in Complex Terrain with X-Band Dual-Polarization Radar Observations

et al. 2018

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“…), likely increasing up to 800-1000 mm yr −1 in the upper parts of the catchment. At 3000 m a.s.l., the total precipitation can be estimated, using the approach of Mair et al (2016), to be about 1500 mm, 80 % of which falls as snow. The hydrological regime is typically nivo-glacial with Figure 1.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a tracer-based conceptualization of meltwater dynamics and streamflow response in a glacierized catchment

Penna

Engel

Bertoldi

et al. 2017

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Multiple water sources and the physiographic heterogeneity of glacierized catchments hamper a complete conceptualization of runoff response to meltwater dynamics. In this study, we used environmental tracers (stable isotopes of water and electrical conductivity) to obtain new insight into the hydrology of glacierized catchments, using the Saldur River catchment, Italian Alps, as a pilot site. We analysed the controls on the spatial and temporal patterns of the tracer signature in the main stream, its selected tributaries, shallow groundwater, snowmelt and glacier melt over a 3-year period. We found that stream water electrical conductivity and isotopic composition showed consistent patterns in snowmelt-dominated periods, whereas the streamflow contribution of glacier melt altered the correlations between the two tracers. By applying two-and three-component mixing models, we quantified the seasonally variable proportion of groundwater, snowmelt and glacier melt at different locations along the stream. We provided four model scenarios based on different tracer signatures of the end-members; the highest contributions of snowmelt to streamflow occurred in late spring-early summer and ranged between 70 and 79 %, according to different scenarios, whereas the largest inputs by glacier melt were observed in mid-summer, and ranged between 57 and 69 %. In addition to the identification of the main sources of uncertainty, we demonstrated how a careful sampling design is critical in order to avoid underestimation of the meltwater component in streamflow. The results of this study supported the development of a conceptual model of streamflow response to meltwater dynamics in the Saldur catchment, which is likely valid for other glacierized catchments worldwide.

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“…In addition to the regressions presented in Table 3, this shows again the identifiable relation between snow density and temperature. Mair et al (2016) evaluated some of the parameterizations also considered in this study. Using a distinctly larger time window for smoothing their HS data (5 h average), they calculated median ρ HN between 75 and 100 kg m −3 using the parameterizations of Jordan et al (1999) and Hedstrom and Pomeroy (1998), which is close to the results presented in this study.…”

Section: Density Parameterizationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although high-accuracy optical snow depth sensors have been more frequently used in practice over recent years (e.g. Mair and Baumgartner, 2010;Helfricht et al, 2016), longer time series of snow depths exist from ultrasonic measurements. Beside snow depth (HS), the water equivalent of the snowpack (SWE) is observed operationally using weighing devices such as lysimetric snow pillows (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obtaining sub-daily new snow density from automated measurements in high mountain regions

Hartl

Koch

Marty³

et al. 2018

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The density of new snow is operationally monitored by meteorological or hydrological services at daily time intervals, or occasionally measured in local field studies. However, meteorological conditions and thus settling of the freshly deposited snow rapidly alter the new snow density until measurement. Physically based snow models and nowcasting applications make use of hourly weather data to determine the water equivalent of the snowfall and snow depth. In previous studies, a number of empirical parameterizations were developed to approximate the new snow density by meteorological parameters. These parameterizations are largely based on new snow measurements derived from local in situ measurements. In this study a data set of automated snow measurements at four stations located in the European Alps is analysed for several winter seasons. Hourly new snow densities are calculated from the height of new snow and the water equivalent of snowfall. Considering the settling of the new snow and the old snowpack, the average hourly new snow density is 68 kg m −3 , with a standard deviation of 9 kg m −3 . Seven existing parameterizations for estimating new snow densities were tested against these data, and most calculations overestimate the hourly automated measurements. Two of the tested parameterizations were capable of simulating low new snow densities observed at sheltered inner-alpine stations. The observed variability in new snow density from the automated measurements could not be described with satisfactory statistical significance by any of the investigated parameterizations. Applying simple linear regressions between new snow density and wet bulb temperature based on the measurements' data resulted in significant relationships (r 2 > 0.5 and p ≤ 0.05) for single periods at individual stations only. Higher new snow density was calculated for the highest elevated and most wind-exposed station location. Whereas snow measurements using ultrasonic devices and snow pillows are appropriate for calculating station mean new snow densities, we recommend instruments with higher accuracy e.g. optical devices for more reliable investigations of the variability of new snow densities at sub-daily intervals.

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A simple method to combine snow height and meteorological observations to estimate winter precipitation at sub-daily resolution

Cited by 18 publications

References 28 publications

Advancing Precipitation Estimation and Streamflow Simulations in Complex Terrain with X-Band Dual-Polarization Radar Observations

Advancing Precipitation Estimation and Streamflow Simulations in Complex Terrain with X-Band Dual-Polarization Radar Observations

Towards a tracer-based conceptualization of meltwater dynamics and streamflow response in a glacierized catchment

Obtaining sub-daily new snow density from automated measurements in high mountain regions

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