资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

Guided by 30 m terrain and forest cover data, snow sublimation from the Salt River basin in the Southwest U.S. is simulated for years 2008 (wet year) and 2007 (dry year). Downscaled meteorological input correlates well (r similar to 0.80) with independent observations at AmeriFlux sites. Additionally, model correlation and bias with eddy-covariance vapor flux observations is comparable to previous localized modeling efforts. Upon a 30% reduction in effective leaf area index, canopy sublimation decreases by 1.29 mm (27.0%) and 1.05 mm (23.0%) at the basin scale for the 2008 and 2007 simulations, respectively. Ground sublimation decreases 0.72 mm (4.75%) in 2008 and only 0.17 mm (1.5%) in 2007. Canopy snow-holding capacity and frequent unloading events at lower elevations limit the variability in canopy sublimation from wet year to dry year at the basin scale. The greater decrease in snowpack sublimation in the wet year is partly due to decreased longwave radiation from the canopy reduction over a more extensive snowpack than the dry year. This decrease overcomes the increased solar radiation and wind speed during winter. A second factor is that a greater extent of the snowpack persisted into spring in 2008 than 2007, and the large increase in shortwave flux upon canopy reduction increases melt rates, reducing duration. Only in heavily forested high elevations (>2900m above sea level) in 2008 does the snowpack persist long enough into spring to result in increased ground sublimation upon canopy reduction. As forest cover change can occur rapidly, these results are critical from water resource and ecosystem function perspectives.