The streamflow seasonality in mountain catchments is often influenced by snow. However, a shift from snowfall to rain is expected in the future. Consequently, a decrease in snow storage and earlier snowmelt is predicted, which will cause changes not only in seasonal runoff distribution in snow-dominated catchments, but it may also affect the total annual runoff. The objectives of this study were to quantify (1) how inter-annual variations in snow storages affect spring and summer runoff, including summer low flows, and (2) the importance of snowmelt in generating runoff compared to rainfall. The snow storage, groundwater recharge and streamflow were simulated for 59 mountain catchments in Czechia in the period from 1980 to 2014 using a bucket-type catchment model. The model output was evaluated against observed daily runoff and snow water equivalent. Hypothetical scenarios were performed, which allowed for analysing the effect of inter-annual variations in snow storage on seasonal runoff separately from other components of the water balance.
Jenicek, M., Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Ledvinka, O., Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Prague, Czech Republic
Recommended Citation:
Jenicek M.,Ledvinka O.. Importance of snowmelt contribution to seasonal runoff and summer low flows in Czechia[J]. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences,2020-01-01,24(7)