Modeling Snow Ablation over the Mountains of the Western United States: Patterns and Controlling Factors

Abstract When compared with differences in snow accumulation predicted by widely used hydrological models, there is a much greater divergence among otherwise “good” models their simulation of the ablation process. Here, we explore performance Variable Infiltration Capacity model (VIC), Noah land surface multiparameterization options (Noah-MP), Catchment model, and third-generation Simplified Simple Biosphere (SiB3) ability to reproduce observed water equivalent (SWE) during season at 10 Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) stations over 1992–2012. During period, net radiation generally has stronger correlations melt rates than does air temperature. Average tend be higher (in both predictions observations) large SWE. The dates last between observations range from several days approximately month (on average 5.1 earlier observations). If cover changed vegetation bare soil all only rate VIC increases. responses canopy removal are directly related snowpack energy inputs, which further affected different algorithms for albedo allocation across models. We also find that become lower Noah-MP if shrub/grass present observation sites switched trees.