Articles | Volume 23, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3553-2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3553-2019
Research article
 | 
03 Sep 2019
Research article |  | 03 Sep 2019

Partitioning snowmelt and rainfall in the critical zone: effects of climate type and soil properties

John C. Hammond, Adrian A. Harpold, Sydney Weiss, and Stephanie K. Kampf

Model code and software

HYDRUS-1D model output for study of rainfall and snowmelt partitioning by climate and soil type J. Hammond https://doi.org/10.4211/hs.4ff4b2391fe54bd2b6052b53500fb7fb

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Short summary
Streamflow in high-elevation and high-latitude areas may be vulnerable to snow loss, making it important to quantify how snowmelt and rainfall are divided between soil storage, drainage below plant roots, evapotranspiration and runoff. We examine this separation in different climates and soils using a physically based model. Results show runoff may be reduced with snowpack decline in all climates. The mechanisms responsible help explain recent observations of streamflow sensitivity to snow loss.