Effect of Snow Cover Conditions on the Hydrologic Regime: Case Study in a Pluvial‐Nival Watershed, Japan<sup>1</sup>

Whitaker, Andrew; Sugiyama, Hironobu; Hayakawa, Kaichi

doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2008.00206.x

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The dependence of the DOY with minimum 7-day discharge on the DOY of maximum SWE was confirmed in our study. Similar dependences were found also in Whitaker et al (2008), using the timing of the first significant snowmelt event instead of the DOY of maximum SWE. A negative trend in the number of days with discharge below a specified threshold in the case of increasing maximum SWE was proved.…”

Section: The Role Of Catchment Propertiessupporting

confidence: 62%

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Jeníček

Seibert

Zappa

et al. 2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Winter snow accumulation obviously has an effect on the following catchment runoff. The question is, however, how long this effect lasts and how important it is compared to rainfall inputs. Here we investigate the relative importance of snow accumulation on one critical aspect of runoff, namely the summer low flow. This is especially relevant as the expected increase of air temperature might result in decreased snow storage. A decrease of snow will affect soil and groundwater storages during spring and might cause low streamflow values in the subsequent warm season. To understand these potential climate change impacts, a better evaluation of the effects of inter-annual variations in snow accumulation on summer low flow under current conditions is central. The objective in this study was (1) to quantify how long snowmelt affects runoff after melt-out and (2) to estimate the sensitivity of catchments with different elevation ranges to changes in snowpack. To find suitable predictors of summer low flow we used long time series from 14 Alpine and pre-Alpine catchments in Switzerland and computed different variables quantifying winter and spring snow conditions. In general, the results indicated that maximum winter snow water equivalent (SWE) influenced summer low flow, but could expectedly only partly explain the observed inter-annual variations. On average, a decrease of maximum SWE by 10 % caused a decrease of minimum discharge in July by 6-9 % in catchments higher than 2000 m a.s.l. This effect was smaller in middle-and lower-elevation catchments with a decrease of minimum discharge by 2-5 % per 10 % decrease of maximum SWE. For higher-and middle-elevation catchments and years with below-average SWE maximum, the minimum discharge in July decreased to 70-90 % of its normal level. Additionally, a reduction in SWE resulted in earlier low-flow occurrence in some cases. One other important factor was the precipitation between maximum SWE and summer low flow. When only dry preceding conditions in this period were considered, the importance of maximum SWE as a predictor of low flows increased. We assessed the sensitivity of individual catchments to the change of maximum SWE using the non-parametric Theil-Sen approach as well as an elasticity index. Both sensitivity indicators increased with increasing mean catchment elevation, indicating a higher sensitivity of summer low flow to snow accumulation in Alpine catchments compared to lower-elevation pre-Alpine catchments.

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Section: The Role Of Catchment Propertiessupporting

confidence: 62%

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Jeníček

Seibert

Zappa

et al. 2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…was found to be relatively more sensitive to future temperature and precipitation scenarios than lower-elevation bands. Further, Zappa and Kan (2007) demonstrated that the presence of above-average snow resources contributed to mitigating the effects of the 2003 summer drought in some highelevation areas within the Swiss Alps.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Jeníček¹,

Seibert²,

Zappa³

et al. 2015

Preprint

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Winter snow accumulation obviously has an effect on the following catchment runoff. The question is, however, how long this effect lasts and how important it is compared to rainfall inputs. Here we investigate the relative importance of snow accumulation on one critical aspect of runoff, namely the summer low flow. This is especially relevant as the expected increase of air temperature might result in decreased snow storage. A decrease of snow will affect soil and groundwater storages during spring and might cause low streamflow values in the subsequent warm season. To understand these potential climate change impacts, a better evaluation of the effects of inter-annual variations in snow accumulation on summer low flow under current conditions is central. The objective in this study was (1) to quantify how long snowmelt affects runoff after melt-out and (2) to estimate the sensitivity of catchments with different elevation ranges to changes in snowpack. To find suitable predictors of summer low flow we used long time series from 14 Alpine and pre-Alpine catchments in Switzerland and computed different variables quantifying winter and spring snow conditions. In general, the results indicated that maximum winter snow water equivalent (SWE) influenced summer low flow, but could expectedly only partly explain the observed inter-annual variations. On average, a decrease of maximum SWE by 10 % caused a decrease of minimum discharge in July by 6-9 % in catchments higher than 2000 m a.s.l. This effect was smaller in middle-and lower-elevation catchments with a decrease of minimum discharge by 2-5 % per 10 % decrease of maxi-mum SWE. For higher-and middle-elevation catchments and years with below-average SWE maximum, the minimum discharge in July decreased to 70-90 % of its normal level. Additionally, a reduction in SWE resulted in earlier low-flow occurrence in some cases. One other important factor was the precipitation between maximum SWE and summer low flow. When only dry preceding conditions in this period were considered, the importance of maximum SWE as a predictor of low flows increased. We assessed the sensitivity of individual catchments to the change of maximum SWE using the non-parametric Theil-Sen approach as well as an elasticity index. Both sensitivity indicators increased with increasing mean catchment elevation, indicating a higher sensitivity of summer low flow to snow accumulation in Alpine catchments compared to lower-elevation pre-Alpine catchments.

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“…Takiya River in northern Niigata Prefecture is a tributary of the Miomote River in the heavy snowfall Japan Sea Region (Figure 1). Long-term hydrological monitoring has been undertaken here since 2000, giving a valuable database on snow processes and the natural hydrological regime in a relatively undisturbed basin (Whitaker et al, 2008). Basin area is 19.45 km 2 with an elevation range of 40-950 m. The stream channel remains unfrozen even during the winter period, allowing stream gauging all year-round.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The value of the precipitation factor for Zone 1 (Table II) is largely accounting for the under-catch of snowfall by the Miomote AMeDAS gauge, which does not have a wind-shield. In addition, Whitaker et al (2008) analyzed the monthly water balance of the basin by using estimated evapotranspiration to derive values for the Table I. Calculation of precipitation for each elevation zone (mean zonal elevation given in parenthesis)…”

Section: Climate Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Climate Change Impacts on the Seasonal Distribution of Runoff in a Snowy Headwater Basin, Niigata

Whitaker

Yoshimura²

2012

Hydrological Research Letters

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In snowy regions, the seasonal runoff pattern is greatly influenced by winter season temperature and precipitation. Our objective is to forecast the change in seasonal and monthly runoff volumes resulting from regional climate change scenarios, especially concerning spring snowmelt runoff. Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) was applied to Takiya River (19.45 km 2 ) to simulate daily runoff over the period [2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007]. Snow accumulation and melt was simulated for each of three elevation zones using air temperature data at high and low elevations to estimate the lapse rate. Key model parameters were determined by analysis of the basin monthly water balance, in addition to model calibration using snowpack snow water equivalent and river discharge. Simulation of the IPCC Scenario A2 (high impact) for Niigata region showed that runoff would be 2-3 times greater in winter (Dec-Feb), and decrease by half in spring (Apr-May). Even with warming restricted to +2.0°C, major changes in monthly runoff volumes occur because of large shifts in the proportions of snow versus rain. In Niigata, and other regions that receive heavy snowfall at temperatures close to 0°C, a small rise in temperature causes large changes in the size of the seasonal snowpack and the seasonal distribution of runoff.

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Effect of Snow Cover Conditions on the Hydrologic Regime: Case Study in a Pluvial‐Nival Watershed, Japan¹

Cited by 8 publications

References 27 publications

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Climate Change Impacts on the Seasonal Distribution of Runoff in a Snowy Headwater Basin, Niigata

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Effect of Snow Cover Conditions on the Hydrologic Regime: Case Study in a Pluvial‐Nival Watershed, Japan1

Cited by 8 publications

References 27 publications

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Importance of maximum snow accumulation for summer low flows in humid catchments

Climate Change Impacts on the Seasonal Distribution of Runoff in a Snowy Headwater Basin, Niigata

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Effect of Snow Cover Conditions on the Hydrologic Regime: Case Study in a Pluvial‐Nival Watershed, Japan¹