Snow accumulation and ablation rule the temporal dynamics of water availability in mountain areas and cold regions. In these environments, the evaluation of the snow water amount is a key issue. The spatial distribution of snow water equivalent (SWE) over a mountain basin at the end of the snow accumulation season is estimated using a minimal statistical model (SWE-SEM). This uses systematic observations such as ground measurements collected at snow gauges and snow-covered area (SCA) data retrieved by remote sensors, here MODIS. Firstly, SWE-SEM calculates local SWE estimates at snow gauges, then the spatial distribution of SWE over a certain area using an interpolation method; linear regressions of the first two order moments of SWE with altitude. The interpolation has been made by both confining and unconfining the spatial domain by SCA. SWE-SEM is applied to the Mallero basin (northern Italy) for calculating the snow water equivalent at the end of the winter season for 6 years (2001¿2007). For 2007, SWE-SEM estimates are validated through fieldwork measurements collected during an ¿ad hoc¿ campaign on March 31, 2007. Snow-surveyed measurements are used to check SCA, snow density and SWE estimates.

BAVERA Davide;  DE MICHELE Carlo; 

2009-07-07

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

JRC52939

0885-6087,   

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/4125/home,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC52939,   

10.1002/hyp.7328,