Technical note: A physically based correction of WRF temperature using atmospheric lapse rates for high-resolution hydrological simulations in a glacierized catchment

Hofmeister, Florentin; Fan, Xinyang; Pfeiffer, Madlene; Marzeion, Ben; Schaefli, Bettina; Chiogna, Gabriele

doi:10.5194/hess-30-6265-2026

Articles | Volume 30, issue 19

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6265-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6265-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 30, issue 19

Technical note

|

13 Oct 2026

Technical note |

| 13 Oct 2026

Technical note: A physically based correction of WRF temperature using atmospheric lapse rates for high-resolution hydrological simulations in a glacierized catchment

Florentin Hofmeister, Xinyang Fan, Madlene Pfeiffer, Ben Marzeion, Bettina Schaefli, and Gabriele Chiogna

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6265-2026-supplement

Data sets

WRF-downscaled hourly meteorological dataset for the upper Kauner Valley, Austria (1960–2015) F. Hofmeister et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22794995

Austrian glacier inventory 1969 (G I) G. Patzelt https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.807098

The Austrian glacier inventory GI 2, 1998, in ArcGIS (shapefile) format M. Kuhn et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.844984

The third glacier inventory of North Tyrol, Austria, for 2006 J. Abermann et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.806960

The Austrian Glacier Inventory GI 4 (2015) in ArcGis (shapefile) format J. Buckel and J.-C. Otto https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.887415

WRF-downscaled hourly meteorological dataset for the upper Kauner Valley, Austria (1960–2015) F. Hofmeister et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22794995

Model code and software

Hydrological and meteorological records from the Vernagtferner Basin -- Vernagtbach station H. Escher-Vetter et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.829530

Short summary

We developed a new approach to improve the climate data used to study water and glaciers in high-mountain regions. By correcting unrealistic air temperatures and moisture while keeping the data physically consistent, we achieved much better agreement with measurements and more accurate simulations of snow, glacier change, and river flow. The method also preserved long-term warming trends, making it useful for studying future climate impacts in mountain areas.