Model Sophistication in Relation to Scales in Snowmelt Runoff Modeling

Snowmelt induced runoff from river basins is usually successfully simulated using a simple degree-day approach and conceptual rainfall-runoff models. Fluctuations within the day can not be described by such crude approaches. In the present paper, it is investigated which degree of sophistication is required in snow models and runoff models to resolve the basin runoff from basins of different character, and also how snow models and runoff models must adapt to each other. Models of different degree of sophistication are tested on basins ranging from 6,000 km2 down to less than 1 km2. It is found that for large basins it is sufficient to use a very simple runoff module and a degree day approach, but that the snow model has to be distributed related to land cover and topography. Also for small forested basins, where most of the stream flow is of groundwater origin, the degree-day method combined with a conceptual runoff model reproduces the snowmelt induced runoff well. Where overland flow takes place, a high resolution snow model is required for resolving the runoff fluctuations at the basin outlet.