Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Boise, Idaho » Northwest Watershed Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256877

Title: Modeling the water and energy balance of vegetated areas with snow accumulation

Author
item KELLENERS, T - University Of Wyoming
item CHANDLER, D - Kansas State University
item MCNAMARA, J - Boise State University
item GRIBB, M - Boise State University
item Seyfried, Mark

Submitted to: Vadose Zone Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/2009
Publication Date: 11/1/2009
Citation: Kelleners, T.J., Chandler, D.G., Mcnamara, J.P., Gribb, M.M., Seyfried, M.S. 2009. Modeling the water and energy balance of vegetated areas with snow accumulation. Vadose Zone Journal, 8:1013-1030.

Interpretive Summary: The ability to quantify soil–atmosphere water and energy exchange is important in understanding agricultural and natural ecosystems, as well as the earth’s climate. We developed a one-dimensional vertical model that calculates solar radiation, canopy energy balance, surface energy balance, snowpack dynamics, soil water fl ow, and snow–soil– bedrock heat exchange, including soil water freezing. The processes are loosely coupled (solved sequentially) to limit the computational burden. The model was applied to describe water and energy dynamics for a northeast-facing mountain slope in the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed near Boise, ID. Calibration was achieved by optimizing the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity. Validation on results showed that the model can successfully calculate seasonal dynamics in snow height, soil water content, and soil temperature. Both the calibration and valida'' on years confi rmed earlier results that evapotranspiration on on the northeast-facing slope consumes approximately 60% of yearly precipitation, while deep percolation from the soil profile constitutes about 40% of yearly precipitation.

Technical Abstract: The ability to quantify soil–atmosphere water and energy exchange is important in understanding agricultural and natural ecosystems, as well as the earth’s climate. We developed a one-dimensional vertical model that calculates solar radiation, canopy energy balance, surface energy balance, snowpack dynamics, soil water fl ow, and snow–soil– bedrock heat exchange, including soil water freezing. The processes are loosely coupled (solved sequentially) to limit the computational burden. The model was applied to describe water and energy dynamics for a northeast-facing mountain slope in the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed near Boise, ID. Calibration was achieved by optimizing the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity. Validation on results showed that the model can successfully calculate seasonal dynamics in snow height, soil water content, and soil temperature. Both the calibration and valida'' on years confi rmed earlier results that evapotranspiration on on the northeast-facing slope consumes approximately 60% of yearly precipitation, while deep percolation from the soil profile constitutes about 40% of yearly precipitation.