An energy balance method and remote sensing data were used to simulate snow distribution and melt in an alpine watershed in Northwestern China within a complete snow accumulation-melt period. Spatial energy budgets were simulated using the meteoro-logical observations and digital elevation model of the watershed. A linear interpolation method was used to discriminate daily snow cover area under cloudy conditions, using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data. Hourly snow distribution and melt, snow cover extent, and daily discharge were included in the simulated results.The bias error between field snow water equivalent samplings and simulated results is −2.1 cm, and Root Mean Square Error is 33.9 cm. The Nash and Sutcliffe efficiency statistic (R²) between measured and simulated discharges is 0.673, and the volume difference (Dv) is 3.9%. Using the method introduced in this article, modeling spatial snow distribution and melt runoff will become relatively convenient.

Download