THE ESTIMATE OF SNOW DEPTH DISTRIBUTION IN A DAM BASIN USING AIRBORNE LASER SCANNING

Abstract

For better estimation of snow water equivalents for a dam basin in cold snowy regions, the relationship between snow depth distribution and topography (elevation, slope, curvature and slope aspect) in the forest was investigated using a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) created from an airborne laser scanning survey conducted on a certain day in the snowy period and another one in the snow-free period. Based on the results, a snow water equivalent estimation model was developed.

The model was used to estimate snow water equivalents in the Jozankei Dam, and resulted in the estimate with a higher level of accuracy than those based on snow surveys and existing models.