Methods for Developing Time-Series Climate Surfaces
to Drive Topographically Distributed Snowmelt Models
David Susong1, Danny Marks2, Tim Link3, and David Garen4
Topographically distributed snowmelt models can accurately simulate both the development and
melting of a seasonal snowcover in mountain basins. To do this they require time-series climate
surfaces of air temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and solar and thermal radiation. If data are
available, these parameters can be adequately estimated at time steps of 13 hours. Unfortunately,
climate monitoring in mountain basins is very limited, and the full range of elevations and exposures
that effect climate conditions, snow deposition, and melt is seldom sampled. Detailed time-series
climate surfaces have been successfully developed using limited data and relatively simple methods.
We present a synopsis of the tools and methods used to combine limited data with simple corrections
for the topographic controls to generate high temporal resolution time-series images of these climate
parameters. Methods used include simulations, elevational gradients, and detrended kriging. The
generated climate surfaces are evaluated at points and spatially to determine if they are reasonable
approximations of actual conditions. Future methods development is discussed in light of increas-
ingly complex methods of parameter estimation. Recommendations are made for the addition of
critical parameters and measurement sites into routine monitoring systems in mountain basins.
1 U.S. Geological Survey, 1745 W 1700 S, Salt Lake City, Utah 84104, USA
2 USDA Agricultural Research Service, NW Watershed Research Center, 800 Park Boulevard, Plaza IV, Suite
105, Boise, Idaho 83712, USA
3
Oregon State University, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97333, USA
4
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Water and Climate Center, 101 SW Main Street, Suite
1600, Portland, Oregon 97204-3224, USA
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