Abstract
A simulation is performed for the time variation in depth of seasonal snow with variable air temperature and precipitation in Japan. Processes of snow densification and snowmelt are considered for snow depth calculation. The using parameters are a precipitation gage deficiency parameter b, the solid/liquid precipitation portion of total precipitation at air temperature Tc1, temperature dependence of the compactive viscosity factor, the snowmelt at surface of snowcover, and snowmelt at the bottom of the snowcover. The calculated snow depth is well fitted to the observed snow depth using the same parameters over eight years.
The characteristics of the parameters are discussed. The value of b is found to be 0.6–1.0. The Tc1 is 0°C at Hokkaido (northern Japan) and 2°–3°C at Honshu (central Japan). The melting index for calculating surface snowmelt is larger in Honshu than in Hokkaido. The viscosity factor takes a low value when the snowcover warms or becomes wet.
If air temperature shifts ±2°C, the period of continuous snowcover will be changed by 10–15 days, and the maximum snow depth will change about 0.5–1.0 m.
