Evaluating L-band InSAR snow water equivalent retrievals with repeat ground-penetrating radar and terrestrial lidar surveys in northern Colorado

˜The œcryosphere, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 18(8), С. 3765 - 3785

Опубликована: Авг. 22, 2024

Abstract. Snow provides critical water resources for billions of people, making the remote sensing snow equivalent (SWE) a highly prioritized endeavor, particularly given ongoing climate change impacts. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is promising method SWE because penetrates snow, and SAR interferometry (InSAR) can be used to estimate changes in (ΔSWE) between acquisitions. We calculated ΔSWE retrievals from 10 NASA L-band (1–2 GHz, ∼25 cm wavelength) uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAVSAR) acquisitions covering ∼640 km2 swath northern Colorado during winters 2020 2021. UAVSAR coincided with ∼117 mm accumulation ∼282 were evaluated against measurements repeat ground-penetrating (GPR) terrestrial lidar scans (TLSs) collected SnowEx time series campaigns at two field sites (total area =∼0.2 km2) as well seven automated stations distributed throughout swath. For single InSAR pairs, yielded an overall r 0.72–0.79 RMSE 19–22 when compared TLS GPR retrievals. showed some scatter measured both study years, but cumulative 0.92 42 total by stations. Further, RMSEs differed <10 coherences (i.e., complex interferometric coherence) 0.10 0.90, suggesting that coherence has only small influence on retrieval accuracy. Given evaluations presented here other recent studies, upcoming NASA-ISRO (NISAR) satellite mission, 12 d revisit period, offers exciting opportunity apply this methodology globally.

Язык: Английский

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Fire influence on land–water interactions in aridland catchments

BioScience, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 75(1), С. 30 - 46

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Abstract Wildfires have increased in size, frequency, and intensity arid regions of the western United States because human activity, changing land use, rising temperature. Fire can degrade water quality, reshape aquatic habitat, increase risk high discharge erosion. Drawing from patterns montane dry forest, chaparral, desert ecosystems, we developed a conceptual framework describing how interactions feedbacks among material accumulation, combustion fuels, hydrologic transport influence effects fire on streams. Accumulation flammability fuels shift opposition along gradients aridity, influencing materials available for transport. Hydrologic products accumulated after propagate to unburned stream–riparian corridors, episodic precipitation characteristic lands cause lags, spatial heterogeneity, response. Resolving uncertainty catchments will require monitoring across hydroclimatic precipitation.

Язык: Английский

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Wildfire and climate change amplify knowledge gaps linking mountain source-water systems and agricultural water supply in the western United States

Agricultural Water Management, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 286, С. 108377 - 108377

Опубликована: Май 26, 2023

Agricultural production in the western United States relies on water supplies from mountain source-water systems that are sensitive to impacts wildfire and a changing climate. The resultant challenges supply forecasting directly impact agricultural producers irrigation managers who rely snowmelt streamflow forecasts for crop selection scheduling. To date, much research has focused system processes separately, but this short communication we highlight substantial need new connecting these disparate improve accuracy. We identify key knowledge data gaps regarding functioning of source watersheds their contributions resources with associated uncertainties context In doing so, encourage researchers, resource managers, consider interdependency sink relationships through improved observations, monitoring, modeling ensure sustainable food US.

Язык: Английский

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Response of Land Surface Albedo to Fire Disturbance in the Sierra Nevada Seasonal Snow Zone Over the MODIS Record

Earth s Future, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 12(6)

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2024

Abstract Wildfires in the snow zone can brighten winter and spring landscapes by removing forest canopy, revealing underlying cover. Land surface albedo (LSA) alterations associated with transitioning from a canopied, snow‐hiding vegetation regime to snow‐revealing landscape have impacts on energy balance, implications for climate water supply. Forest fires are increasing frequency, size, elevation, but change LSA due fire seasonal (SSZ) is poorly understood. This study addresses this knowledge gap Sierra Nevada, where recent climatic changes contributed droughts, earlier more rapidly declining snowpacks, worsening wildfire impacts. Remotely sensed fraction data Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer were used assess impact of Nevada SSZ comparing burn scars unburned control areas historical average LSA, then quantifying radiative forcing (RF) LSA. Among high moderate severity fires, varied depending cover, land characteristics, severity, ranging 0.12 low‐snow 0.47 snow‐covered scars. adds understanding how respond wildfires subsequent balance.

Язык: Английский

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Changing climate and disturbance effects on southwestern US forests

Forest Ecology and Management, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 575, С. 122388 - 122388

Опубликована: Ноя. 14, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Modelling postfire recovery of snow albedo and forest structure to understand drivers of decades of reduced snow water storage and advanced snowmelt timing

Hydrological Processes, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 38(7)

Опубликована: Июль 1, 2024

Abstract Forest fires darken snow albedo and degrade forest structure, ultimately reducing peak snow–water storage, advancing snowmelt timing for up to 15 years following fire. To date, no volumetric estimates of watershed‐scale postfire effects on storage have been quantified over decades recovery. Using parameterizations in a spatially‐distributed mass energy balance model, SnowModel, we estimated recovery fire equivalent (SWE) this hydrology across chronosequence eight sub‐alpine forests burned between 2000 2019 the Triple Divide western Wyoming. We found that immediately fire, reduced by 6.8% (SD = 11.2%) advanced disappearance date 31 days 9 days). Across 15‐year 4.5% 11.4%). Postfire generally recovered time, but still persisted beyond 15‐years due observed shift from open meadow. Estimates reductions SWE summed entire period were 18 times greater than immediate losses first winter alone. These lasting highlight importance more accurate resources.

Язык: Английский

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Quantifying Aspect‐Dependent Snowpack Response to High‐Elevation Wildfire in the Southern Rocky Mountains

Water Resources Research, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 60(9)

Опубликована: Сен. 1, 2024

Abstract Increasing wildfire frequency and severity in high‐elevation seasonal snow zones presents a considerable water resource management challenge across the western United States (U.S.). Wildfires can affect snowpack accumulation melt patterns, altering quantity timing of runoff. While prior research has shown that generally increases rates advances disappearance dates, uncertainties remain regarding variations complex terrain energy balance between burned unburned areas. Utilizing paired situ data sources within 2020 Cameron Peak burn area on Front Range Colorado, U.S., during 2021–2022 winter, we found no significant difference peak equivalent (SWE) magnitude However, south aspect reached SWE 22 days earlier than north. During ablation period, were 71% faster rates, whereas north 94% aspects. Snow disappeared 7–11 areas Net differences at weather station sites seasonally variable, lost more net but gained spring. Increased incoming shortwave radiation site was 6 x impactful decline surface albedo. These findings emphasize need for post‐wildfire planning accounts aspect‐dependent mass to accurately predict storage runoff timing.

Язык: Английский

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Wildfire Impacts for Temperature Index Snowpack Model Parameters

Hydrological Processes, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 38(11)

Опубликована: Ноя. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Streamflow derived from snowmelt is a key source of water for communities and agricultural producers in the western U.S. As wildfires become larger more frequent West (due part to climate change), it increasingly important understand their potential impacts on snowpack. Temperature‐index models remain widely used simulate snowpack post‐wildfire assessments due low data requirements. However, there limited information how parameters such change wildfires. The objectives this study are (1) quantify observed changes melt‐rate function rain‐snow temperature threshold (2) develop methods adjust (or Px Temperature) To accomplish these goals, snow equivalent 42 SNOTEL sites that have been impacted by wildfire estimate functions Temperatures between pre‐and periods. Then, general linear (GLMs) developed model based readily available topographic, climatic, land cover information. results indicate late season melt‐rates typically increase after northern central ecoregions Temperature also many sites, but direction magnitude highly variable sites. Nearly all GLMs can parameter better than simply using average changes. substantial variation values not explained GLMs.

Язык: Английский

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Quantifying Aspect-Dependent Snowpack Response to High-Elevation Wildfire in the Southern Rocky Mountains

Authorea (Authorea), Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Дек. 3, 2023

Increasing wildfire frequency and severity in high-elevation seasonal snow zones presents a considerable water resource management challenge across the western U.S. Wildfires can affect snowpack accumulation melt patterns, altering quantity timing of runoff. While prior research has shown that generally increases rates advances disappearance dates, uncertainties remain regarding variations complex terrain energy balance between burned unburned areas. Utilizing multiple paired in-situ data sources within 2020 Cameron Peak burn area during 2021–2022 winter, we found no significant difference peak equivalent (SWE) magnitude However, south aspect reached SWE 22 days earlier than north. During ablation period, were 71% greater rates, whereas north 94% aspects. Snow disappeared 7 to 11 areas Net differences at AWS sites seasonally variable, with losing more winter but gaining significantly spring. shortwave radiation was 56% 137% spring driving ~60% cumulative net site May. These findings emphasize need for post-wildfire planning accounts aspect-dependent mass accurately predict storage runoff timing.

Язык: Английский

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Forest Fire Effects on Snow Storage and Melt Across Scales of Forest Recovery in the Western Oregon Cascades

Опубликована: Сен. 29, 2023

Snow is the largest component of water storage in western United States, it serves as a key moisture source for forested ecosystems and fundamentally linked to streamflow nutrient cycling. vulnerable climatic warming, consequence declining mountain snowpack escalation wildfire frequency, extent, intensity, duration across seasonal snow zone. Fire modifies spatial extent watersheds, reducing timing melt burned forests. Forested supplies are facing shifts their structure, function, succession. Previous research has focused on short-term forest fire effects hydrology. However, no previous study empirically investigated recovery snow-storage over decades following fire. With intensity frequency fires increasing common question how reduce risk while watersheds efficiency at generating supplies? Here we present potential answer such question, where observations taken from Oregon Cascades illustrate that fire, forests store more volume delay similar an open area. We evaluate long-term accumulation melt. combined in-situ point based measurements, continuous time-lapse photography within three forests, remote sensing multivariate analysis basin scale cover Cascades. found increase eventually snowmelt around 10 days later years compared immediately Decades may retain longer spring result long term benefits resources. Allowing burn dominated headwaters resources management.

Язык: Английский

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