Spatiotemporal index for analyzing controls on snow climatology : application in the Colorado Front Range

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

RICHER, E.E.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins, Etats-Unis

KAMPF, S.K.

Dept. of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Etats-Unis

FASSNACHT, S.R.

Dept. of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Etats-Unis

MOORE, C.C.

Dept. of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Etats-Unis

Description :
The AA. used remote sensing to derive a spatiotemporal index of snow climatology that reveals patterns in snow accumulation, persistence, and ablation. Then they examined how this index relates to climate, terrain, and vegetation. Analyses were based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer eight-day snow cover from 2000 to 2010 for a mountain watershed in the Colorado Front Range, USA. The Snow Cover Index (SCI) was calculated as the fraction of years that were snow covered for each pixel. The proportion of SCI variability explained by independent variables was evaluated using regression analysis. Elevation was the dominant control on SCI patterns, due to its influence on both temperature and precipitation. Grouping SCI values by elevation, the AA. identified 3 distinct snow zones in the basin : persistent, transitional, and intermittent. The transitional snow zone represents an area that is sensitive to losing winter snowpack.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 2013, vol. 34, n°. 2, p. 85-107, nombre de pages : 23, Références bibliographiques : 3 p.

Date :
2013

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis

Langue :
Anglais