Abstract
Snow cover depletion curve (SDC) is one of the important variables in snow hydrological applications, and these curves are very much required for snowmelt runoff modeling in a snowfed catchment. Remote sensing is an important source of snow cover area which is used for preparation of SDC. Snow cover maps produced by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites are one of the best source of satellite-based snow cover area at a regular interval. Therefore, in this study, snow cover maps have been prepared for the years 2000–2005 using MODIS data. The study area chosen viz. Beas basin up to Pandoh dam falls in western Himalayan region. For snowmelt runoff modeling, catchment is divided into number of elevation zones and SDC is required for each zone. When sufficient satellite data are not available due to cloud cover or due to some other reasons, then SDC can to be generated using temperature data. Under changed climate conditions also, modified SDC is required. Therefore, to have SDC under such situations, a relationship between snow cover area and cumulative mean temperature has been developed for each zone of the catchment. This procedure of having snow cover maps has two main purposes. First, it could potentially be used to generate snow cover maps when cloud-free satellite data are not available. Second, it can be used to generate snow-covered area in a new climate to see the impact of climate change on snowmelt runoff studies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ault T, Czajkovski K, Benko T, Coss J, Spongberg A, Templin M, Gross C (2006) Validation of the MODIS snow product and cloud mask using the student and NWS cooperative station observations in the lower great lakes region. Remote Sens Environ 105:341–353
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2001) In: Houghton JT et al. (eds) The third assessment report of working group I of the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC). Cambridge Univ. Press, New York, p 881
Dozier J (1989) Spectral signatures of alpine snow cover from the landsat thematic mapper. Remote Sens Environ 28:9–22
Gunreisussen T, Johnsen H, Lauknes I (2001) Snow cover mapping capabilities using RADARSAT standard mode data. Can J Remote Sens 27:109–117
Gupta RP, Duggal AJ, Rao SN, Sankar G (1982) Snow cover area vs. snowmelt runoff relation and its dependence on geomorphology—a study from Beas catchment (Himalaya, India). J Hydrology 58:325–339
Gupta RP, Haritashya UK, Singh P (2005) Mapping dry/wet snow cover in the Indian Himalayas using IRS multispectral images. Remote Sens Environ 97:458–469
Hall DK, Riggs GA, Salomonson VV (1995) Development of methods for mapping global snow cover using moderate resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS) data. Remote Sens Environ 4:127–140
Hall DK, Riggs GA, Salomonson VV, DiGirolamo EN, Bayr JK (2002) MODIS snow- cover products. Remote Sens Environ 83:181–194
Hall DK, Riggs GA, Salomonson VV (2007) updated daily MODIS/Aqua Snow Cover Daily L3 Global 500 m Grid
IPCC (2007) Climate Change. The physical science basis, contribution of working group 1 to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. In: Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis MC, Averyt K, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) Intergovernmental panel on climate change, Cambridge and New York
Jain SK (2001) Snowmelt runoff modeling and sedimentation studies in Satluj basin using remote sensing and GIS. PhD Thesis unpublished, University of Roorkee
Jain Sanjay K, Goswami A, Saraf AK (2008) Accuracy assessment of MODIS, NOAA and IRS data in snow cover mapping under himalayan condition. Int J Remote Sens 29(20):5863–5878
Jarvis A, Reuter HI, Nelson A, Guevara E (2008) Holefilled seamless SRTM dataV4, International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT. available from http://www.srtm.csi.cgiar.org
Kattleman R (1997) Rapid changes in snow cover at lower elevations in Sierra Neveda, California. USA Ann Glaciol 25:367–370
Kaya I (1999) Application of snowmelt runoff model using remote sensing and GIS, Msc. Thesis. Civil Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
Li B, Zhu A-X, Zhou C, Zhang Y, Pei T, Qin C (2008) Automatic mapping of snow cover depletion curves using optical remote sensing data under conditions of frequent cloud cover and temporary snow. Hydrol Process 22(16):2930–2942, 30
Liang T, Zhang X, Xie H, Wu C, Feng Q, Huang X, Chen Q (2008) Toward improved daily snow cover mapping with advanced combination of MODIS and AMSR-E measurements. Remote Sens Environ 112:3750–3761
Martinec J, Rango A, Roberts R (1998) Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) user’s manual. In: By Baumgartner MF, Apfl GM (eds), University of Berne, Switzerland
Parajka J, Bl¨oschl G (2006) Validation of MODIS snow cover images over Austria. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 10:679–689. http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/10/679/2006/
Parajka J, Bl¨oschl G (2008) Spatio-temporal combination of MODIS images–potential for snow cover mapping. Water Resour Res 44:W03406. doi:10.1029/2007WR006204
Rango A (1996) Space borne remote sensing for snow hydrology application. J Hydrol Sci 41:477–494
Riggs G, Hall DK, Salomonson VV (2006) MODIS snow products users guide to collection 5. http://www.modis-snow-ice.gsfc.nasa.gov (last accessed June 2008)
Singh P (1991) A temperature lapse rate study in Western Himalayas. Hydrol J (Indian As Hydrol) 14:156–163
Singh P, Jain SK (2003) Modelling of streamflow and its components for a large Himalayan basin with predominant snowmelt yield. J Hydrol Sci 48(2):257–276
Singh P, Kumar N (1997) Impact of climate change on the hydrological response of a snow and glacier melt runoff dominated Himalayan River. J Hydrol 193:316–350
Singh P, Bengtsson L, Berndtsson R (2003) Relating air temperature to the depletion of snow covered area in a Himalayan basin. Nordic Hydrol 34(4):267–280
Strovold R, Malnes E (2004) Snow covered area retrieval using ENVISAT ASAR wideswath in mountainous areas. In: IEEE international geosciences and remote sensing symposium proceedings, vol 1–7. pp 1845–1848
Tekeli AE, Aky¨urek Z, Sorman AA, Sensoy A, Sorman AU (2005) Using MODIS snow cover maps in modeling snowmelt runoff process in the eastern part of Turkey. Remote Sens Environ 97:216–230
Tekeli AE, Sensoy A, Sorman A, Sula A, Sorman U (2006) Accuracy assessment of MODIS daily snow albedo retrievals with in situ measurements in Karasu basin, Turkey. Hydrol Process 20:705–721. doi:10.1002/hyp.6114
USGS (2004) http://srtm.usgs.gov/. Access on 14 May 2008
Wang X, Xie H, Liang T (2008) Evaluation of MODIS snow cover and cloud mask and its application in Northern Xinjiang China. Remote Sens Environ 112:1497–1513
Wang X, Hie H, Liang T, Huang X (2009) Comparison of validation of MODIS standard and new combination of Terra and Aqua snow cover products in northern Xinjiang, China. J. Hydrol Process 23:419–429
Zhou X, Xie H, Hendrickx JMH (2005) Statistical evaluation of remotely sensed snow-cover products with constraints from streamflow and SNOTEL measurements. Remote Sens Environ 94:214–231
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jain, S.K., Thakural, L.N., Singh, R.D. et al. Snow cover depletion under changed climate with the help of remote sensing and temperature data. Nat Hazards 58, 891–904 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9696-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9696-1