Drivers of Dust-Enhanced Snowpack Melt-Out and Streamflow Timing

The presence of dust on the snowpack accelerates snowmelt. This has been observed through and hydrometeorological measurements at a small study watershed in southwestern Colorado. For 13-year period, we quantified annual dust-enhanced energy absorption (DEAE) used this information to model melt-out under (with present) clean conditions (no dust). We determine difference snow cover duration between actual (dust simulated ideal (clean) (?SAG) characterize shifts melt timing for each year. compute center mass runoff (tQ50) as characteristic DEAE, ?SAG tQ50 vary from year year, are dictated by quantity accumulation, lesser extent number events, loading, springtime snowfall.