A Spatially Distributed Energy Balance Snowmelt Model for Application in Mountain Basins

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tainous regions of the western United States. Information on the timing, magnitude, and contributing

area of melt under variable or changing climate conditions is required for successful water and

resource management. A coupled energy and mass-balance model, ISNOBAL, is used to simulate

the development and melting of the seasonal snowcover in several mountain basins in California,

Idaho, and Utah. Simulations are done over basins varying from 1 to 2,500 km2, with simulation

periods varying from a few days for the smallest basin, Emerald Lake watershed in California, to

multiple snow seasons for the Park City area in Utah. The model is driven by topographically cor-

rected estimates of radiation, temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation. Simulation results in

all basins closely match independently measured snow water equivalent, snow depth, or runoff dur-

ing both the development and depletion of the snowcover. Spatially distributed estimates of snow

deposition and melt allow us to better understand the interaction between topographic structure,

climate, and moisture availability in mountain basins of the western United States. Application of

topographically distributed models such as this will lead to improved water resource and watershed

management.

USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Northwest Watershed Research Center, 800 Park Boulevard, Suite

105, Boise, Idaho 83712, USA

2 Oregon State University, USEPA-NHEERL, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97333, USA

3 U.S. Geological Survey, 1745 West 1700 South, Room 1016 Administrative Building, Salt Lake City, Utah

84104, USA

4 USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Water and Climate Center, 101 SW Main Street, Suite

1600, Portland, Oregon 97204-3224, USA