Analysis of the Snow Water Equivalent Distribution and the Snowmelt Rate Factor Using the Snow Model and Satellite Information of Snow in the Tohoku District, Japan

Abstract

Daily SWE (Snow Water Equivalent) distribution was estimated by SWE model developed using the meteorological data, satellite data, and DEM (Digital Elevation Model). SWE model was composed of the snowfall model and the snowmelt model.The daily snowfall was estimated using Weighted Average Distance Method with correction for high elevation area from AMeDAS data.Degree-day method in the snowmelt model estimates the daily snowmelt.Comparing snow distribution by SWE model of various snowmelt rate factors with the snowmaps from satellite information data, JAIDAS (Japan Image Database), the snowmelt rate factor was evaluated in the Tohoku district and was discussed. As the results, the daily SWE distribution with the optimum snowmelt rate factor was estimated.