Principles Of Snow Hydrology

Principles of Snow Hydrology describes the factors that control the accumulation, melting and runoff of water from seasonal snowpacks over the surface of the earth. The book addresses not only the basic principles governing snow in the hydrologic cycle, but also the latest applications of remote sensing, and techniques for modeling streamflow from snowmelt across large mixed land-use river basins. Individual chapters are devoted to climatology and distribution of snow, snowpack energy exchange, snow chemistry, ground-based measurements and remote sensing of snowpack characteristics, snowpack management, and modeling snowmelt runoff. Many chapters have review questions and problems with solutions available online. This book is a reference book for practicing water resources managers and a text for advanced hydrology and water resources courses which span fields such as engineering, earth sciences, meteorology, biogeochemistry, forestry and range management, and water resources planning.

Snow hydrology is a specialized field of hydrology that is of particular importance to study the composition, dispersion and movement of snow and ice. Accumulation and melting of snow in watersheds at high altitude and mountain terrain is an important hydrological process and includes mass and energy balance calculations of snow packs over a time. This field is influenced by the location, morphology, vegetation, and redistribution of wind during watershed. Terrestrial measurements, remote sensing, thermatic mapping, radiometer, spectrometer and scanners are used to understand the movements of glaciers and snow. The field aims to understand the density, depth, composition and possible runoff of snow. This book outlines the principles and applications of snow hydrology in detail. It studies, analyses and upholds the pillars of snow hydrology and its utmost significance in modern times. As this field is emerging at a rapid pace, the contents of this book will help the readers understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject.

This manual provides technical background and guidance for computing basin snowmelt runoff as is necessary in the design and operation of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) water control projects. This manual discusses the basic theoretical principles of snow hydrology and the practical applications of this theory in forecasting and design. It summarizes several important snowmelt runoff models and offers guidelines for model selection. This manual represents an update of EM 1110-2-1406, Runoff from Snowmelt, dated 5 January 1960, which is now obsolete. While many of the basic principles and techniques presented in that manual have been retained, numerous advancements in computer, communications, and data acquisition technologies are now reflected. This manual is applicable to USACE offices in which snow hydrology considerations affect runoff and streamflow derivations.

The scientific field of hydrology that is concerned with the composition, dispersion and movement of snow and ice is referred to as snow hydrology. Important hydrological processes include snowfall, accumulation and melt in watershed at high altitudes and latitudes. Snow melt is useful in many areas as it supplies water to reservoirs and populations, and is also used for agricultural activities. Snow hydrology provides knowledge which is used in weather forecasting. Information of snow composition and movement is gathered through density, depth and composition readings and by using various remote sensing techniques. This book outlines the processes and applications of snow hydrology in detail. It strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. It will serve as a valuable source of reference for graduate and post graduate students.

This book provides an updated discussion of snow and glacier hydrology, drawing on the results of recent investigations. It serves as a source of reference at the senior undergraduate or beginning graduate level and stimulates further interest in this important part of the hydrologic cycle.

The principles of glacier physics are developed from basic laws in this up-to-date third edition for advanced students and researchers.