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Identification of snow cover depletion patterns in the Boise River Basin using satellite imagery; Phase II Item Info

The purpose of this research was to investigate methods of enhancing the runoff prediction capabilities for the Boise River Basin through the use of low level Landsat satellite imagery. The major topics that were addressed are: (1) Development and comparison of simplistic and typical snow covered area maps. (2) Determination of the distribution of slope aspect within and between subbasins. (3) Determination of average snow line elevations. (4) Investigation of the relationship between heat input, snow covered area, and runoff. The development and comparison of the simplistic and typical snow covered area maps revealed that there were differences between the two representations. Since the SSARR model, which is presently used for runoff forecasting by the Corps of Engineers uses the simplistic representation of snow depletion, these differences could lead to some possible problems in the model's snowmelt prediction routines. The slope aspect studies revealed that the distribution of slope aspects within and between subbasins was not equal. Since slope aspect can affect snow melt patterns, this unequal distribution could present problems to the runoff modeling process if these distributions are not accounted for in the model. The average snow line studies revealed that snow lines were not at constant elevations for given snow covered areas as is assumed in the present modeling scheme. Graphs are provided to help determine a realistic snow covered area after estimates of snow line are determined from snow flight data. The heat input studies were made as preliminary investigations into development of a simpler model to describe the runoff process. Due to constraints in time, no rigorous statistical analysis were performed but some promising prediction schemes were presented.

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Title:
Identification of snow cover depletion patterns in the Boise River Basin using satellite imagery; Phase II
Authors:
Heitz, Leroy F.
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1986-06
Description:
The purpose of this research was to investigate methods of enhancing the runoff prediction capabilities for the Boise River Basin through the use of low level Landsat satellite imagery. The major topics that were addressed are: (1) Development and comparison of simplistic and typical snow covered area maps. (2) Determination of the distribution of slope aspect within and between subbasins. (3) Determination of average snow line elevations. (4) Investigation of the relationship between heat input, snow covered area, and runoff. The development and comparison of the simplistic and typical snow covered area maps revealed that there were differences between the two representations. Since the SSARR model, which is presently used for runoff forecasting by the Corps of Engineers uses the simplistic representation of snow depletion, these differences could lead to some possible problems in the model's snowmelt prediction routines. The slope aspect studies revealed that the distribution of slope aspects within and between subbasins was not equal. Since slope aspect can affect snow melt patterns, this unequal distribution could present problems to the runoff modeling process if these distributions are not accounted for in the model. The average snow line studies revealed that snow lines were not at constant elevations for given snow covered areas as is assumed in the present modeling scheme. Graphs are provided to help determine a realistic snow covered area after estimates of snow line are determined from snow flight data. The heat input studies were made as preliminary investigations into development of a simpler model to describe the runoff process. Due to constraints in time, no rigorous statistical analysis were performed but some promising prediction schemes were presented.
Subjects:
Runoff forecasting Satellite technology Snow cover
Location:
Boise River Basin; Snake River Basin; Southern Idaho
Latitude:
43.71
Longitude:
-116.76
Collection:
Boise Basin
Series:
Water for Idaho
IWRRI number:
198605
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
Publisher:
Idaho Water Resources Research Institute; University of Idaho
Contributing Institution:
University of Idaho
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Cataloger:
KIT
Date Digitized:
2017-08-31

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Source
Preferred Citation:
"Identification of snow cover depletion patterns in the Boise River Basin using satellite imagery; Phase II", Idaho Waters Digital Library, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iwdl/items/iwdl-198605.html
Rights
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
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