Ablation of avalanched and undisturbed snow, Himalaya Mountains, Pakistan

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Water Resources Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90WR01434· OSTI ID:5673913

de Scally, F A ^[1]; Gardner, J S ^[2]

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1. Okanagan College, Kelowna, British Columbia (Canada)
2. Univ. of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)

Avalanche deposits represent a significant storage of winter snow on the south slope of the Himalaya Mountains, Pakistan, complicating the annual snowmelt cycle because of the differences in ablation of avalanche-transported snow and undisturbed snow. Measurements show very high rates of melting of both snow types, particularly of avalanche sow late in the melt season. The high rates are a function of the low latitude of the study area and the low elevation of the avalanche snow deposits, as well as heat release by condensation. Air temperature was closely correlated with daily snowmelt and appears to hold promise as a predictor, however, data constraints prevent an energy balance analysis of this relationship. Gravimetric measurements show that condensation is important in the snow surface energy exchange and can represent a significant source of energy for snowmelt. Rainfall during warm conditions also makes a more significant contribution to snowmelt than shown in previous studies. The derived temperature-based melt factors or coefficients compare well with published figures from other mountain areas, but their confidence limits are sufficiently wide to produce significant errors in the prediction of basin snowmelt runoff.

• OSTI ID: 5673913
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research; (USA), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (USA) Vol. 26:11; ISSN 0043-1397; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
ABLATION
ASIA
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY BALANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HIMALAYAS
MASS TRANSFER
MELTING
MOUNTAINS
PAKISTAN
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
RUNOFF
SNOW
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE