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Spatial statistics of snowmelt flow: Data from lysimeters and aerial photos
Author(s) -
Sommerfeld Richard A.,
Bales Roger C.,
Mast Alisa
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/94gl02493
Subject(s) - meltwater , snowpack , snowmelt , snow , lysimeter , flow (mathematics) , environmental science , spatial analysis , geology , remote sensing , geomorphology , mathematics , soil science , geometry , soil water
The two‐dimensional, horizontal spatial statistics of meltwater flow through a Wyoming snowpack were investigated using two independent methods: meltwater flow from arrays of closely spaced lysimeters and a survey of snow surface brightness on aerial photos. Both methods suggested a characteristic distance of about 6 m over which the respective phenomena were correlated. If a characteristic distance for meltwater flow could be related to snow characteristics such as slope and aspect, modeling of meltwater related phenomena would be facilitated. If the aerial photo data could be shown to be related to the flow data, as these results suggest, a convenient technique for determining meltwater spatial statistics from aerial photos would be available.