Contribution of Snow-Melt Water to the Streamflow over the Three-River Headwater Region, China
Snowmelt water is essential to the water resources management over the Three-River Headwater Region (TRHR), where hydrological processes are influenced by snowmelt runoff and sensitive to climate change. The objectives of this study were to analyse the contribution of snowmelt water to the total str...
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/8/1585 |
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| author | Sisi Li Mingliang Liu Jennifer C. Adam Huawei Pi Fengge Su Dongyue Li Zhaofei Liu Zhijun Yao |
| author_facet | Sisi Li Mingliang Liu Jennifer C. Adam Huawei Pi Fengge Su Dongyue Li Zhaofei Liu Zhijun Yao |
| author_sort | Sisi Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Snowmelt water is essential to the water resources management over the Three-River Headwater Region (TRHR), where hydrological processes are influenced by snowmelt runoff and sensitive to climate change. The objectives of this study were to analyse the contribution of snowmelt water to the total streamflow (f<sub>Q,snow</sub>) in the TRHR by applying a snowmelt tracking algorithm and Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model. The ratio of snowfall to precipitation, and the variation of the April 1 snow water equivalent (SWE) associated with f<sub>Q,snow</sub>, were identified to analyse the role of snowpack in the hydrological cycle. Prior to the simulation, the VIC model was validated based on the observed streamflow data to recognize its adequacy in the region. In order to improve the VIC model in snow hydrology simulation, Advanced Scanning Microwave Radiometer E (ASMR-E) SWE product data was used to compare with VIC output SWE to adjust the snow parameters. From 1971 to 2007, the averaged f<sub>Q,snow</sub> was 19.9% with a significant decreasing trend over entire TRHR (<i>p</i> < 0.05).The influence factor resulted in the rate of change in f<sub>Q,snow</sub> which were different for each sub-basin TRHR. The decreasing rate of f<sub>Q,snow</sub> was highest of 0.24%/year for S_Lantsang, which should be due to the increasing streamflow and the decreasing snowmelt water. For the S_Yangtze, the increasing streamflow contributed more than the stable change of snowmelt water to the decreasing f<sub>Q,snow</sub> with a rate of 0.1%/year. The April 1 SWE with the minimum value appearing after 2000 and the decreased ratio of snowfall to precipitation during the study period, suggested the snow solid water resource over the TRHR was shrinking. Our results imply that the role of snow in the snow-hydrological regime is weakening in the TRHR in terms of water supplement and runoff regulation due to the decreased f<sub>Q,snow</sub> and snowfall. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:10:34Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:10:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-6283f62209314909a66c25bf4f7a86732023-11-21T16:13:38ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-04-01138158510.3390/rs13081585Contribution of Snow-Melt Water to the Streamflow over the Three-River Headwater Region, ChinaSisi Li0Mingliang Liu1Jennifer C. Adam2Huawei Pi3Fengge Su4Dongyue Li5Zhaofei Liu6Zhijun Yao7Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization Jointly Built by Henan Province and Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, ChinaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USAKey Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization Jointly Built by Henan Province and Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaDepartment of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USAInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaSnowmelt water is essential to the water resources management over the Three-River Headwater Region (TRHR), where hydrological processes are influenced by snowmelt runoff and sensitive to climate change. The objectives of this study were to analyse the contribution of snowmelt water to the total streamflow (f<sub>Q,snow</sub>) in the TRHR by applying a snowmelt tracking algorithm and Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model. The ratio of snowfall to precipitation, and the variation of the April 1 snow water equivalent (SWE) associated with f<sub>Q,snow</sub>, were identified to analyse the role of snowpack in the hydrological cycle. Prior to the simulation, the VIC model was validated based on the observed streamflow data to recognize its adequacy in the region. In order to improve the VIC model in snow hydrology simulation, Advanced Scanning Microwave Radiometer E (ASMR-E) SWE product data was used to compare with VIC output SWE to adjust the snow parameters. From 1971 to 2007, the averaged f<sub>Q,snow</sub> was 19.9% with a significant decreasing trend over entire TRHR (<i>p</i> < 0.05).The influence factor resulted in the rate of change in f<sub>Q,snow</sub> which were different for each sub-basin TRHR. The decreasing rate of f<sub>Q,snow</sub> was highest of 0.24%/year for S_Lantsang, which should be due to the increasing streamflow and the decreasing snowmelt water. For the S_Yangtze, the increasing streamflow contributed more than the stable change of snowmelt water to the decreasing f<sub>Q,snow</sub> with a rate of 0.1%/year. The April 1 SWE with the minimum value appearing after 2000 and the decreased ratio of snowfall to precipitation during the study period, suggested the snow solid water resource over the TRHR was shrinking. Our results imply that the role of snow in the snow-hydrological regime is weakening in the TRHR in terms of water supplement and runoff regulation due to the decreased f<sub>Q,snow</sub> and snowfall.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/8/1585snowmeltVIC modelstreamflowSWEThree-River Headwater Region |
| spellingShingle | Sisi Li Mingliang Liu Jennifer C. Adam Huawei Pi Fengge Su Dongyue Li Zhaofei Liu Zhijun Yao Contribution of Snow-Melt Water to the Streamflow over the Three-River Headwater Region, China Remote Sensing snowmelt VIC model streamflow SWE Three-River Headwater Region |
| title | Contribution of Snow-Melt Water to the Streamflow over the Three-River Headwater Region, China |
| title_full | Contribution of Snow-Melt Water to the Streamflow over the Three-River Headwater Region, China |
| title_fullStr | Contribution of Snow-Melt Water to the Streamflow over the Three-River Headwater Region, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contribution of Snow-Melt Water to the Streamflow over the Three-River Headwater Region, China |
| title_short | Contribution of Snow-Melt Water to the Streamflow over the Three-River Headwater Region, China |
| title_sort | contribution of snow melt water to the streamflow over the three river headwater region china |
| topic | snowmelt VIC model streamflow SWE Three-River Headwater Region |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/8/1585 |
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