Forest impacts on snow accumulation and melt in a semi-arid mountain environment

Abstract

Snowmelt is complex under heterogeneous forest cover due to spatially variable snow surface energy and mass balances and snow accumulation. Forest canopies influence the under-canopy snowpack net total radiation energy balance by enhancing longwave radiation, shading the surface from shortwave radiation, in addition to intercepting snow, and protecting the snow surface from the wind. Despite the importance of predicting snowmelt timing for water resources, there are limited observations of snowmelt timing in heterogeneous forest cover across the Intermountain West. This research seeks to evaluate the processes that control snowmelt timing and magnitude at two paired forested and open sites in semi-arid southern Idaho, USA. Snow accumulation, snowmelt, and snow energy balance components were measured at a marginal snowpack and seasonal snowpack location in the forest, sparse vegetation, forest edge, and open environments. At both locations, the snow disappeared either later in the forest or relatively uniformly in the open and forest. At the upper elevation location, a later peak in maximum snow depth resulted in more variable snow disappearance timing between the open and forest sites with later snow disappearance in the forest. Snow disappearance timing at the marginal snowpack location was controlled by the magnitude and duration of a late season storm increasing snow depth variability and reducing the shortwave radiation energy input. Here, a shorter duration spring storm resulted in more uniform snowmelt in the forest and open. At both locations, the low-density forests shaded the snow surface into the melt period slowing the melt rate in the forest. However, the forest site had less cold content to overcome before melting started, partially canceling out the forest shading effect. Our results highlight the regional similarities and differences of snow surface energy balance controls on the timing and duration of snowmelt.

Alignment between water inputs and vegetation green‐up reduces next year's runoff efficiency

“…In each new seasonal runoff model, SNOTEL sites in the low to intermediate elevation zones (1900–2100 m) were selected as the best predictors of streamflow (Figure 7). Previous work has shown that ET and vegetation greenness in intermediate elevation zones are more responsive to changes in annual precipitation and snowpack (Christensen et al, 2008; Kraft et al, 2022; Tague & Peng, 2013; Trujillo et al, 2012). This finding suggests that mid‐elevation forests, which are able to optimally use available water, may exert a larger influence on storage deficits and runoff efficiency than forests that are more strongly water‐ or energy‐limited.…”

“…Forests impact the magnitude and timing of streamflow generation, yet there is a substantial gap in relating forest processes to downstream water supplies, particularly in irrigated areas (Barnard et al, 2023). In seasonally snow‐covered areas, forest structure, such as stem density and canopy cover, affects the amount of precipitation that is intercepted and sublimated (Montesi et al, 2004; Sexstone et al, 2018) and the energy balance of the surrounding snowpack (Kraft et al, 2022; Lawler & Link, 2011; Lundquist et al, 2013; Musselman et al, 2012). Forests also stabilize soils and provide clean water, making them crucial for watershed health and function (Bonan, 2008).…”