Snow is an important component of the hydrologic cycle. The seasonal storage of water in the snowpack may last over months, and its delayed release is a major factor in guaranteeing a reliable water supply for ecosystems and human needs during dry periods. On the other hand, rapid snowmelt can cause destruction through sudden floods, mostly in combination with rainfall.
The spatial heterogeneity of snow accumulation and ablation in complex terrain is as a result of multiple processes, and accurate snow cover estimations remain a challenge. Increasing air temperatures and changing precipitation patterns, driven by climate change, will modify snow conditions and thus lead to changing water supplies. The consequences of reduced snow duration and the fact that rain will make up an increasing share of overall precipitation will completely change the hydrology of many regions and may lead to severe water problems.
Traditional snow measuring methods provide accurate information at the point scale, but they lack spatial coverage. Latest remote sensing techniques on the other hand are able to monitor the snowpack over large spatial domains, but may be limited by temporal resolution and are often biased. Hydrological models require reliable input data, but the availability of such data is particularly limited for mountainous regions. The simulation of snowmelt often lacks sufficient spatial and temporal detail, so that the forecasting of snowmelt runoff for operational purposes is still a challenging task.
The SnowHydro conference will address a range of topics relevant to snow and its particular significance for hydrology. It seeks to bring together experience from experimental research, hydrological modelling and remote sensing, in order to facilitate joint research on snow science. We welcome contributions on all aspects of snow and hydrology, with an emphasis on the following specific topics:
- Snow cover dynamics in mountains
- Snow in semi-arid environments
- Spatial variability of snow
- Snow-vegetation interaction
- Remote sensing of snow properties
- Experimental research and new measurement techniques
- Simulation models of snow, model comparisons
- Snow data assimilation for modelling purposes
- The prediction of snow melt and runoff
- Climate change, snow conditions and water supply
- Teaching concepts in snow hydrology
Important dates:
30 September 2019: Deadline for abstract submission
8 November 2019: Notification to authors of abstract acceptance
30 November 2019: Deadline for early bird registration and presenters
6 December 2019: Preliminary program available online