Physically based cold regions river flood prediction in data?sparse regions: The Yukon River Basin flow forecasting system

The Yukon River Basin (YRB) is one of the most important river networks shared between Canada and United States, largest basins in subarctic region North America. Canadian part YRB characterized by steeply sloped, partly glaciated mountain headwaters that generate considerable runoff during melt glaciers seasonal snowcover. Snow redistribution, snowmelt, glacier freezing–thawing soil processes winter spring along with summertime rainfall-runoff evapotranspiration are thus key components streamflow generation basin, making conceptual models unsuitable for this cold region. Due to remote high latitudes altitudes there a paucity observational data, heavily calibrated modeling approaches infeasible. At request Government, project developed operationalized forecasting system several its tributary rivers using distributed land surface approach large-scale implementation regions. This represents substantial advance bringing operational hydrological first time. experience will inform future research operation improvements as develops nationally coordinated flood forecast system.