Difference in snowmelt processes between an opening and three Japanese cedar stands

• Published in: Annals of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Murakami, Shigeki, Takeuchi, Yukari
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2018
• Subjects: Annals of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2018.21; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0260305518000216

Abstract Snowmelt was measured on a daily basis for 17 days at the open site and 18 days at three Japanese cedar sites with canopy closure of 17.8% (cedar stand A), 5.2% (B) and 2.4% (C) in April. Measured daily snowmelt at each site was reproduced by heat-balance calculation with an accuracy of <±1 mm w.e. From 1st April to the date of snow disappearance net radiation accounted for 88.4, 43.0, 32.7 and 34.2% of total snowmelt energy at the open site, the cedar stands A, B and C, respectively. The ratio of sensible and latent heat to total snowmelt was 33.1–37.9 and 25.9–29.4%, respectively, at three cedar stands. The ratios of sensible and latent heat increased over time in accordance with the rise in temperature at all cedar sites. They became large on a daily basis when air temperature and/or wind speed were high. Wind speed is dependent on morphology around each site that also dictated snowmelt.