Model Details

Study period corresponds to two cycles of melting period from 2007 to 2009: September 11th 2007 - February 29th 2008 and September 10th 2008 - February 28th 2009.

The main aim of this model is to perform a reconstruction of snow water equivalent day by day at a spatial scale of 500 m (0.3 miles). In order to do so, it is necessary to spatially distribute each variable involved in the simulation.

There are 7 basic variables which this model will include: (i) solar radiation, (ii) snow albedo, (iii) snow covered area, (iv) cloud coverage, (v) mean air temperature, (vi) surface snow temperature, and (vii) snow emissivity.

Snow albedo, snow covered area, cloud coverage, temperature and snow emissivity will all be acquired through satellite image information, while solar radiation and mean air temperature data will be obtained through on field measurements.

It is always important to stick to a structure or a modeling plan. I developed and followed the following methodology in order to optimize results and visualize in a better way how to proceed.

Figure: Followed methodology

   

In the next posts I will explain how I treated and modeled all the variables listed above.