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Evaluation of a water equivalent of snow cover map in a small catchment area using a geostatistical approach
Author(s) -
Hosang Jürg,
Dettwiler Katrin
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.3360050308
Subject(s) - kriging , interpolation (computer graphics) , regression analysis , snow , hydrology (agriculture) , multivariate interpolation , drainage basin , regression , elevation (ballistics) , statistics , environmental science , land cover , mathematics , linear regression , soil science , geology , geography , land use , geomorphology , cartography , bilinear interpolation , geometry , ecology , animation , computer graphics (images) , geotechnical engineering , computer science , biology
We describe an objective method for evaluating the spatial distribution of water equivalents of the snow cover within a small catchment. Regression analysis is used to quantify the relationship between elevation, presence or absence of forest, and potential direct solar radiation as independent variables and water equivalent as measured at a number of sites. First, this regression relationship is used to interpolate water equivalent data all over the basin area. Then we interpolate the residuals of the regression using a geostatistical approach. Superimposing the results obtained by interpolating the regression relationship and the interpolated residuals eventually yields the water equivalent distribution over the test area. The advantages of the interpolation method used lie in the optimal (effective, unbiased) estimation of the interpolated values as well as in the possibility to quantify the associated estimation variances.