Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
8-1-2014
Abstract
Snow cover depletion curve (SDC) is very much required for snowmelt runoff modeling in any snow-dominated catchment. The present study deals with the change in depletion curve of snow covered Nuranang river basin of Arunachal Pradesh under A1B, A2 (High carbon emission), B1 (Low carbon emission) and IPCC commitment projected climatic scenarios. Snow covered area (SCA) percentages were determined by using NDSI model. The temperature change under different scenarios shows that A1B climatic scenario has the highest incremental temperature change. Under IPCC commitment scenario, as the temperature and precipitation are expected to be restored to present condition after some years, change in temperature as well as change in cumulative snowmelt depth with respect to present climatic condition were observed to decrease with advancement of time. Changes in cumulative snowmelt depth from present climate for different future years were observed to follow the same trend as temperature change under all four projected climatic scenarios. Changes in cumulative snowmelt depth for different future years (2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050) were obtained highest under A1B and lowest under IPCC Commitment. A2 and B1 values were in-between A1B and IPCC. It has been observed that the A1B climatic scenario affected the depletion pattern most, as a result, the depletion of snow completes faster under this scenario. While IPCC having the lowest effect on depletion pattern showed longer expected duration of snow depletion in 2050 compared to present climate. Advancing of depletion curves for different future years were obtained higher under A1B and lower under IPCC Commitment. A2 and B1 values were in-between A1B and IPCC. In changed climates, shifting of end dates are higher compared to shifting in start dates which increase the rate of depletion. Hence, climate change has considerable effect on the depletion rate and impact in advancing the entire depletion curve.
Comments
Session R66, Hydrology and Climate Change II