Extreme values of snow-related variables in Mediterranean regions: trends and long-term forecasting in Sierra Nevada (Spain)

Pérez-Palazón, María José; Pimentel, Rafael; Herrero, Javier; Aguilar, Cristina; Perales, José María; Polo, María José

doi:10.5194/piahs-369-157-2015

Cited by 27 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In this context, the partitioning of ablation into melting and evaporation-sublimation determines the water return to the atmosphere and the replenishment of surface and groundwater. This is particularly relevant in a scenario of global warming that implies a potential snow regression in these areas because of impacts on the energy and mass flux regimes (Pérez-Palazón et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaposublimation from the snow in the Mediterranean mountains of Sierra Nevada (Spain)

Herrero

Polo

2016

The Cryosphere

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Abstract. In this study we quantify the evaposublimation and the energy balance of the seasonal snowpack in the Mediterranean semiarid region of Sierra Nevada, Spain (37 • N). In these kinds of regions, the incidence of this return of water to the atmosphere is particularly important to the hydrology and water availability. The analysis of the evaposublimation from snow allows us to deduct the losses of water expected in the short and medium term and is critical for the efficient planning of this basic and scarce resource. To achieve this, we performed 10 field campaigns from 2009 to 2015, during which detailed measurements of mass fluxes of a controlled volume of snow were recorded using a modified version of an evaporation pan with lysimeter. Meteorological data at the site of the snow control volume were extensively monitored during the tests. With these data, a point energy balance snowmelt model was validated for the area. This model, fed with the complete meteorological data set available at the Refugio Poqueira Station (2500 m a.s.l.), let us estimate that evaposublimation losses for this site can range from 24 to 33 % of total annual ablation. This ratio is very variable throughout the year and between years, depending on the particular occurrence of snowfall and mild weather events, which is generally quite erratic in this semiarid region. Evaposublimation proceeds at maximum rates of up to 0.49 mm h −1 , an order of magnitude less than maximum melt rates. However, evaposublimation occurs during 60 % of the time that snow lies, while snowmelt only takes up 10 % of this time. Hence, both processes remain close in magnitude on the annual scale.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaposublimation from the snow in the Mediterranean mountains of Sierra Nevada (Spain)

Herrero

Polo

2016

The Cryosphere

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“…It is an alpine/Mediterranean climate region with a highly variable rainfall regime. Annual cumulative values range from 1000 mm in wet years to 200 mm in dry years [14]. Snow appears recurrently at altitudes above 1000 m a.s.l.…”

Section: The Pilot Area In Southern Spainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in the Definition of Needs and Specifications for a Climate Service Tool Aimed at Small Hydropower Plants’ Operation and Management

et al. 2020

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The operation feasibility of small hydropower plants in mountainous sites is subjected to the run-of-river flow, which is also dependent on a high variability in precipitation and snow cover. Moreover, the management of this kind of system has to be performed with some particular operation conditions of the plant (e.g., turbine minimum and maximum discharge) but also some environmental flow requirements. In this context, a technological climate service is conceived in a tight connection with end users, perfectly answering the needs of the management of small hydropower systems in a pilot area, and providing a forecast of the river streamflow together with other operation data. This paper presents an overview of the service but also a set of lessons learnt related to the features, requirements, and considerations to bear in mind from the point of view of climate service developers. In addition, the outcomes give insight into how this kind of service could change the traditional management (normally based on past experience), providing a probability range of the future river flow based on future weather scenarios according to the range of future weather possibilities. This highlights the utility of the co-generation process to implement climate services for water and energy fields but also that seasonal climate forecasting could improve the business as usual of this kind of facility.Energies 2020, 13, 1827 2 of 15 that is subject to RoR flow, which in turn is highly variable depending on the duration of rainfall and snow cover. Since RoR plants usually have a small or non-existent storage facility that allows for very short-term water storage, the hydropower plant does not have enough water to continue operating when the inflow falls below the turbine's minimum discharge value. Another drawback of these systems is that when the inflows are extremely high and the turbine capacity is exceeded, the water will be wasted (spill) and will become a lost opportunity for generation [4].Europe is the market leader in small-scale hydropower technology, with Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and Sweden being the main producers [5]. However, the potential of RoR plants has not yet been fully explored and exploited, so there is interesting scope for the development of this technology and its optimization [5]. Management has to be done with some particular plant operating conditions but also with some environmental requirements. In this context, decision makers need to have information on the flow in the river in the short and medium term. If they could forecast the energy that will be produced in the following months, they could better adjust market prices and plan maintenance or other energy resources when the water availability falls below the minimum operating flow.Although some forecasting models already exist in the area of small-scale hydropower production [6-9], there is still a gap in linking forecasting with decision support systems. In most cases, water system managers usually make decisions based on historical statistica...

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“…The basin is located in Sierra Nevada Mountains, National Park and Biosphere Reserve, which explains why it is especially important to carry out an adequate management of the water resources respecting the minimum environmental flow. It is also an Alpine/Mediterranean climate region where the annual precipitation regime in the site is highly variable and ranges between values close to 1000 mm in wet years and 200 mm in dry years [14]. Snow recurrently appears in the mountain range at altitudes above 1000 m a.s.l.…”

Section: 1the Pilot Area In Southern Spainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in the Definition of Needs and Specifications for a Climate Service Tool Aimed at Small Hydropower Plants Operation and Management

Contreras¹,

Herrero²,

Crochemore³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The operation feasibility of small hydropower plants in mountainous sites is subjected to the run-of-river flow which is also depending on a high variability in precipitation and snow cover. Moreover, the management of this kind of systems has to be performed with some particular operation conditions of the plant (e.g. turbine minimum and maximum discharge) but also some environmental flow requirements. In this context, a technological climate service is conceived in tight connection with end users, perfectly answering the needs of the management of small hydropower systems in a pilot area, and providing forecast of river streamflow together with other operation data. This paper presents an overview of the service but also a set of lessons learnt related to features, requirements and considerations to bear in mind from the point of view of climate services developers. In addition, the outcomes give insight into how this kind of services could change the traditional management (normally based on the past experience), providing a probability range of future river flow based on future weather scenarios according to the range of future weather possibilities. This highlights the utility of the co-generation process to implement climate services for water and energy fields but also that seasonal climate forecast could improve the business as usual of this kind of facilities.

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Extreme values of snow-related variables in Mediterranean regions: trends and long-term forecasting in Sierra Nevada (Spain)

Cited by 27 publications

References 16 publications

Evaposublimation from the snow in the Mediterranean mountains of Sierra Nevada (Spain)

Evaposublimation from the snow in the Mediterranean mountains of Sierra Nevada (Spain)

Advances in the Definition of Needs and Specifications for a Climate Service Tool Aimed at Small Hydropower Plants’ Operation and Management

Advances in the Definition of Needs and Specifications for a Climate Service Tool Aimed at Small Hydropower Plants Operation and Management

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